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Elements of Design

Lesson 2

by Savannah Johnson

Standards:

Standard L1.T.CR. 6: Apply basic research and skills to construct ideas about the visual composition of a drama/theatre work.

Standard L1.T.CR.1: Develop imagination to create artistic ideas and work.

Essential Questions:

  • What are the elements of design? 
  • What do these elements communicate? 

Enduring Understandings:

Students will understand that the elements of Design gives us a universal design language that we can use to better communicate our ideas.

Objective:

Students will understand how shape, space, and mass/form affect the story that is being told on stage through note taking, viewing of images used to identify these items in a stage, and through a simple art project.

Materials:

Slide show: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hRPLYXuGd29k8-jZHfBGQ4aEL3Ll_q2hd8QUPHmeiT4/edit?usp=sharing

Markers and Pencils and Crayons

Scissors

Notes wheel handout

Instruction:

HOOK:

  • Pass the pencil game 

    • Teach each student the following pattern

      • Grab, pass, flat, grab. 
      • Practice this to a rhythm a few times as a group 
    • Then have the students get out a pencil or a pen. 
    • Add this to the game.

      • Grab the pencil, pass the pencil from one hand to your other hand, then flatten out your hand so someone else can grab it, then grab it. 
    • Do this a few times to clapping rhythms, it is tricky, and that is okay.
  • Make sure that everyone gets their pencil back. 
  • Have them get out their notes and get supplies for their notes. 

SPACE:

  • Have the students take notes and read off of the slides
  • Shape: the area between, around, or within objects and/or images 
  • Example one: Waiting for godot

    • What is this space saying? 
    • What feelings does it make you feel?
  • Example two: Beetlejuice

    • What is this space saying? 
    • What feelings does it make you feel?

SHAPE:

  • Have the students take notes and read off of the slides
  • Shape: any line that encloses a space

    • Explain the difference between geometric and organic shapes

      • Geometric shapes are organized and mathematical 
      • Organic shapes are free flowing, most often found in nature 
  • Example one: The Crucible 

    • What shapes are you seeing? 
    • What organic shapes do you see? 
    • What geometric shapes do you see? 
    • How do these shapes make you feel? 
  • Example two: The huntsman 

    • What shapes are you seeing? 
    • What organic shapes do you see? 
    • What geometric shapes do you see? 
    • How do these shapes make you feel? 
  • Example three: old buildings 

    • What shapes are you seeing? 
    • What organic shapes do you see? 
    • What geometric shapes do you see? 
    • How do these shapes make you feel? 

MASS/FORM:

  • Have the students take notes and read off of the slides
  • Mass/Form: Shape….but 3D

    • A focus on creating depth and spatial arrangements 
  • Example one: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

    • How are they playing with size?
    • How are they playing with depth?
    • How does this make the cast look? 
    • How does this make you feel? 
  • Example two: no idea, but cool set design

    • How are they playing with size?
    • How are they playing with depth?
    • How does this make the cast look? 
    • How does this make you feel? 

ACTIVITY:

  • Have everyone go and get scissors
  • Pass out a paper to each student.

    • This paper will have a simple set design on it. 
  • Have the students cut out the box. 

    • IT IS KEY that they just cut out the outside lines, not each shape. 
  • Then have them fold the “legs” of the “platform” to create a 3D shape that can stand on its own. 

    • Point out that this shape has formed into a mass/form
  • Have the students then cut out a rectangle from the left over paper and fold it to create stairs for the platform.
  • If time permits, have them cut out a flat (a long thicker rectangle) and put it on the back to make a backdrop for the set. 

CLEAN UP:

  • Put away all of the crayons, the markers, the scissors, ect. 
  • Throw away scrap paper 
  • Clean up the room
  • Sit in your seats!
  • Release them at the bell.