Talking Rocks Lesson Plan: Carol Olson's Teacher Reflections

Students will complete two projects in clay applying basic knowledge of the pattern, shape, line, contrast, balance and compositional skills as they become familiar with the work of American sculptor Ernest Whiteman, pectroglyphs/pictoglyphs and the artsnetmn.org website. Technical skills will be developed as student work with the clay. Opportunity to do research on the Internet will provide information on the artist pectroglyphs and pictoglyphs as well as teach them how to access the web.

2 days background study using Internet and work sheets o "Symbols"
2 days construction of mock pectroglyph or pictoglyph in red clay
2 days making "talking rocks"
(optional) 1 day responding to other students in sate working with ArtsNet site/Whiteman project

Task Description

Your teacher will give you a couple of sheets filled with symbols. ID what you believe each means.
Your teacher will give you a third sheet for you to write a short story about yourself on the back. On the front of that sheet you will find space for you to choose three objects/things/ideas from your story and draw a symbol for them. Complete the work sheet to simplify the symbols into geometric designs. Your teacher will critique your symbols, naming suggestions if necessary, for you to use on; your clay slab (pectroglyph/pictoglyph) and "talking rock".
You have been supplied with a 12" square slab of clay. Using the tools provided, create a pectroglyph or pictoglyph suing your simplified symbols. Observe your teachers demonstration in using the tools and the majolica under glaze. Be sure that the symbols create a balanced composition on the slab.
After observing your teachers demonstration on making a "talking rock", create your own "rocks", at least two. (See attached instructions)
Using familiar tools, recreate you pictoglyph or pectroglyph on your "rocks". Burnish with a spoon. Dry and your teacher will fire them.
Throughout the process, be sure to contact other schools (connected to artsnetmn.org site) working on the same lesson throughout the state. Ask them what stories they have told. Find out what symbols they used. Send jpegs or printouts via snail mail.
Critique your work by writing 3 sentences about what you like best about your clay slab and two sentences about your "talking rock".



Page 1 MINNESOTA PROFILE OF LEARNING Cover Sheet ISD 2142 1999-2000 Ms. Carolyn Olson, Cotton art specialist, K-12 Standard taught: The Arts: Apply and Interpret Artistic Expression (3.P.1) Course/Level/Grade: Art/Primarily/Grade 3 This package was completed during 3rd quarter. See performance package attached.
		Page 2 3rd Grade ART Carolyn Olson, Petroglyphs & Pictroglyphs/Clay 3501.04462 PREPARATORY CONTENT STANDARDS IN LEARNING ARA THREE: THE ARTS Primary-level Content Standards Artistic and interpret artistic expressions The student will create and describe a variety of artistic works Evidence Sketches, critiques, completed work Overview Students will complete two projects in clay applying basic knowledge of the pattern, shape, line, contrast, balance and compositional skills as they become familiar with the work of American sculptor Ernest Whiteman, pectroglyphs/pictoglyphs and the artsnetmn.org website. Technical skills will be developed as student work with the clay. Opportunity to do research on the Internet will provide information on the artist pectroglyphs and pictoglyphs as well as teach them how to access the web. Time line 2 days background study using Internet and work sheets o "Symbols" 2 days construction of mock pectroglyph or pictoglyph in red clay 2 days making "talking rocks" (optional) 1 day responding to other students in sate working with ArtsNet site/Whiteman project Task Description Your teacher will give you a couple of sheets filled with symbols. ID what you believe each means. Your teacher will give you a third sheet for you to write a short story about yourself on the back. On the front of that sheet you will find space for you to choose three objects/things/ideas from your story and draw a symbol for them. Complete the work sheet to simplify the symbols into geometric designs. Your teacher will critique your symbols, naming suggestions if necessary, for you to use on; your clay slab (pectroglyph/pictoglyph) and "talking rock". You have been supplied with a 12" square slab of clay. Using the tools provided, create a pectroglyph or pictoglyph suing your simplified symbols. Observe your teachers demonstration in using the tools and the majolica under glaze. Be sure that the symbols create a balanced composition on the slab. After observing your teachers demonstration on making a "talking rock", create your own "rocks", at least two. (See attached instructions) Using familiar tools, recreate you pictoglyph or pectroglyph on your "rocks". Burnish with a spoon. Dry and your teacher will fire them. Throughout the process, be sure to contact other schools (connected to artsnetmn.org site) working on the same lesson throughout the state. Ask them what stories they have told. Find out what symbols they used. Send jpegs or printouts via snail mail. Critique your work by writing 3 sentences about what you like best about your clay slab and two sentences about your "talking rock".
	Page 3 3rd Grade ART Petroglyphs & Pictroglyphs/Clay 3501.04462 PREPARATORY CONTENT STANDARDS IN LEARNING ARA THREE: THE ARTS Primary-level Content Standards Artistic and interpret artistic expressions The student will create and describe a variety of artistic works Student Name ________________________________________________ Student/Date Teacher/Date Evidence Sketches Symbol Creation Sheet Sketches Petroglyphs and Pictoglyphs in Clay Sketches Talking Rock Written Critique Symbol Creation Sheet Verbal Critique Petroglyphs and Pictoglyphs in Clay Verbal Critique Talking Rock Written Critique Correspondance with Ernest Whiteman Completed Work Symbol Creation Sheet Completed Work Petroglyph and Pictoglyph in Clay Completed Work Talking Rock Spent time on artsnetmn.org site
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