Global Classroom Connect Logo

Global Classroom Connect Lesson Plan

Global Classroom Connect » Lessons » Artful Introduction

Artful Introduction

Author: Greg Gaiera
Grade Level(s): 3-5 | 6-8
Subject(s):

Lesson Objective

Students will introduce themselves to their Taiwanese friends through an art project.

Overview

U.S. students will introduce themselves to their Taiwanese counterparts by completing a 3 part  project that includes: 1) A picture of their profile. 2) A watercolor  background. 3) A complete set of answered questions that give details about themselves. The sentences will  be translated into Mandarin (traditional.)  Over the course of 3 lessons, students will have a chance to explain who they are and what is important to them.

Preparation

  1. Read aloud to students books about Taiwan to spark interest and to give them background information about Taiwan or have students watch and listen to Evi and Andrew’s Asian Adventures in Taiwan  or Typhoon Holiday.
  2. Cut watercolor paper to 8.5 x 11 if not sized already.
  3. Watch watercolor technique video.(Alternately the video could be viewed by your class during the watercolor portion of the lesson. Day 2)
  4. Watch how to use google translate video.

Day 1 – Take photos (20 minutes):

  1. Review what they know about Taiwan.
  2. Explain that they will be making friends with a student in Taiwan.
  3. Share the student list with the name(s) of the students that they will be partnered with.
  4. Take black and white profile pictures of students with a plain background. Students can have their mouths open as if  they are saying something :
  5. Print pictures
   

 

Day 2 – Watercolor background (30 minutes):

  1. Distribute watercolors and paper.
  2. Instruct students on proper water color technique or watch this video with them. Have them choose one of the techniques
  3. Students watercolor on their paper.
  4. Watercolor needs to dry overnight

 

Day 3 – Writing sentences that describe who they are (40 minutes):

  1. Share Who am I?  google doc with students.
  2. Students answer all questions with complete sentences.
  3. Students copy and paste sentences into Google Translate . (How-to video for Google Translate.)
  4. An example of a finished student document.
  5. All of the sentences with translations can fit on a 8 ½ x 11 watercolor paper relatively neatly.

 

Day 4 – Put it all together (30 minutes):

  1. Pass out all of the completed materials to students (water colored  background, picture, and printed “Who am I”  document with Chinese translations.
  2. Students  cut out  their picture and glue it to  the water colored background. (The teacher can cut out the photos beforehand in order to speed the process along.)
  3. Students carefully cut out “Who am I” sentences including the Chinese translation.
  4. Students glue sentences to the background in a way to make it look like the sentences are being spoken.
  5. Mail package to Taiwan!!!

Standards

 

Research and Technology  1.4 Create simple documents by using electronic media and employing organizational features (e.g., passwords, entry and pull-down menus, word searches, a thesaurus, spell checks)

Written and Oral English Language Conventions Sentence Structure: 1.1 Identify and correctly use prepositional phrases, appositives, and independent and dependent clauses; use transitions and conjunctions to connect ideas.

Grammar: 1.2 Identify and correctly use verbs that are often misused (e.g., lie/lay, sit/set, rise/raise),modifiers, and pronouns.

Capitalization: 1.4 Use correct capitalization.

Spelling: 1.5 Spell roots, suffixes, prefixes, contractions, and syllable constructions correctly.

Materials

  1. iphone (or other digital camera)
  2. printer
  3. watercolors
  4. watercolor brushes
  5. watercolor paper
  6. Watercolor technique video
  7. salt, kleenex, and plastic wrap for water color technique options.
  8. google translate
  9. Who am I?  idea document
  10. World map or google maps
  11. Taiwan read aloud
  12. Class list of Taiwanese students paired with US students
Lesson Resources