Domain 1

Domain 1: Planning and Preparation

1a. Knowledge of content and pedagogy.
Interdisciplinary 4th grade curriculum connecting reading, math, science, and social studies.

The interdisciplinary approach used in this curriculum taught art concepts such as perspective, proportion, color, and design, using math, science, language arts, and history to help students make creative statements through visual art.

Students with diverse learning styles were able to achieve a greater understanding of difficult historical themes through the artistic process, which allowed them to connect more fully with the meaning of historical events. Their work and reflections are both purposeful and imaginative, resulting in the achievement of a depth of knowledge about the Battle of Lake Erie and Niagara unusual for this grade level.

1b. Knowledge of students.
Art lessons are designed around what students' feel is important to their life, school, and community.

The mural projects depicted below showcase what the students' feel is valuable. Please download the pdf for lesson plans and descriptions.

Parent communication log: Green book, located on my desk counter.

Fifth grade students were busy working on a restroom restoration project during art. We learned that art is a powerful tool to express our opinions and beliefs When art is placed in a public location for many people to see, meaningful messages can be shared. Eight murals have been carefully designed and crafted to be showcased in the restrooms in our building's main hallway. These restrooms were chosen since they are used by the most students, as well as during events held in the gym after school hours. Students were tasked to work together to answer the question, "What do you want a visitor to know about your school...What is important to showcase about your school or community?" Math was used in all stages of the mural production: measuring the canvas, drawing and measuring an accurate grid, drawing to scale, finding area, taking measurements of the walls, and finding the percentage of space the mural will occupy on the wall.

community_units.pdf
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1c. Setting instructional outcomes.
Lesson units are designed backwards, using the Backwards Design method. The unit below that investigates the big idea of Family Structure is an example of deconstructing something that is familiar to students so that understanding is deeper.

Video assessments were used so students could talk through their sculpture in a visual and metaphorical way.