Songs in Art: Elements and Principles in Design
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Songs in Art: Elements and Principles in Design

Grade 11Art5 days
In this project, 11th-grade art students creatively express the emotions and themes of their favorite song through the use of art elements and principles while incorporating contemporary art practices. The project begins with activities like redesigning iconic album covers and a treasure hunt to explore art principles in real-world settings. Students go through a structured process of creating preliminary sketches, revising them with design principles, and ultimately compiling their work into a reflective portfolio. The project is designed to deepen students' understanding of art as a communicative tool and align with National Core Arts Standards by fostering creativity, personal expression, and analytical skills.
Art ElementsDesign PrinciplesContemporary ArtEmotional ExpressionThematic InterpretationPortfolio Development
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we creatively express the emotions and themes of our favorite song through the use of art elements and principles while incorporating contemporary art practices?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the elements of art and principles of design, and how can they be applied in your composition?
  • How can contemporary art practices be incorporated into your artistic work?
  • In what ways can visual art communicate themes and emotions from a song?
  • What techniques can you use to express your personal interpretation of a song through art?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will demonstrate understanding and application of two elements of art in their compositions.
  • Students will apply two principles of design to effectively convey themes and emotions in their artwork.
  • Students will explore and incorporate contemporary art practices in their artistic process.
  • Students will analyze their chosen song to extract and express its themes and emotions visually.
  • Students will engage in an artistic investigation related to current life aspects through their chosen song.

National Core Arts Standards

VA:Cr1.1.IIIa
Primary
Shape an artistic investigation of an aspect of present-day life using contemporary practice of art or design.Reason: This standard aligns with the project's focus on using contemporary art practices to explore aspects of present-day life through art.
VA:Cn10.1.IIIa
Primary
Synthesize knowledge and personal experiences to inspire and inform artistic work.Reason: Students are tasked with using their favorite song, which is a personal element, to inspire and guide their artistic creation.
VA:Cr2.1.IIIa
Secondary
Engage in making a work of art or design without having a preconceived plan.Reason: The project encourages exploration and incorporation of elements and principles without a strict blueprint, favoring creative expression.
VA:Re8.1.IIIa
Supporting
Interpret an artwork or collection of works, supported by relevant and sufficient evidence found in the work and its various contexts.Reason: Interpreting their artwork and the themes of their chosen song fits this standard's focus on analysis and evidence-based interpretation.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Artistic Album Covers Showdown

Students will critically explore iconic album covers and participate in a challenge to redesign them using contemporary art styles. This activity connects famous songs with visual symbolism, inspiring students to communicate their own song choices through art.

Elements and Principles of Art Treasure Hunt

Students will embark on a treasure hunt around the school or local community to find examples of art elements and design principles in the environment. This aligns abstract concepts with their real-world applications, arousing curiosity about integrating these in their own work.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Visual Symphony Sketch

Students will begin their artistic journey by sketching ideas that visually represent themes from their favorite song. This preparatory exercise will help them explore and express their initial thoughts before embarking on the main piece.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Select your favorite song and listen to it attentively to grasp its themes and emotions.
2. Identify two elements of art (e.g., line, shape) that resonate with the song's themes.
3. Create preliminary sketches that incorporate these elements and convey the song's essence.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of sketches that visually represent the themes and emotions of the chosen song using elements of art.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with VA:Cr1.1.IIIa by initiating an artistic investigation influenced by contemporary practices.
Activity 2

Principled Composition Play

Building upon their initial sketches, students will experiment with two principles of design to enhance their visual representation. This creates depth and harmony in expressing their song's themes.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review your sketches and select two principles of design (e.g., balance, contrast) that will enhance the themes represented.
2. Revise your sketches, applying these principles to create more structured compositions.
3. Reflect on how these principles alter the visual message and emotional impact of your work.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA revised set of compositions demonstrating an integration of principles of design with art elements.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCorresponds with VA:Cr2.1.IIIa by enabling students to engage creatively without a strict plan, enhancing their expression.
Activity 3

Emotional Expression Analysis

Students will analyze and interpret the emotional aspects of their artworks in relation to their chosen song. This reflective activity deepens their understanding and articulation of art as a communicative tool.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Present your artwork to peers and explain the elements and principles used to express the song's themes.
2. Gather and reflect on feedback regarding the emotional and thematic interpretations of your artwork.
3. Prepare an analysis report detailing how your artwork visually communicates the themes of your song.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn analytical report supporting the emotional context of the artwork with reference to art elements and practices.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports VA:Re8.1.IIIa by encouraging interpretation and analysis through evidence-based reflection.
Activity 4

Reflective Artistic Portfolio

Finally, students will compile a portfolio that showcases their artistic journey, combining visual pieces and reflective insights. This portfolio will serve as a comprehensive display of their learning and creativity.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Organize all sketches, compositions, and analysis into a coherent portfolio format.
2. Write a reflective essay that ties together your artistic process, challenges faced, and insights gained.
3. Present your portfolio to the class, highlighting key aspects of your work and development.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn artistic portfolio featuring a complete 2D composition, sketches, design iterations, and reflective insights.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with VA:Cn10.1.IIIa by synthesizing personal experiences and knowledge to inform artistic work.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Artistic Expression and Design Rubric

Category 1

Artistic Elements and Principles

Assessment of students' use of art elements and design principles in their composition.
Criterion 1

Use of Art Elements

Evaluates the selection and application of two elements of art in the composition.

Exemplary
4 Points

Sophisticated use of art elements that enhances the themes and emotions of the song, demonstrating mastery and innovative application.

Proficient
3 Points

Thorough use of art elements that clearly supports the themes and emotions of the song, with effective application.

Developing
2 Points

Basic use of art elements with some support for the song's themes and emotions, but application is inconsistent.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited use of art elements, with little to no enhancement of the song's themes and emotions.

Criterion 2

Incorporation of Design Principles

Evaluates the integration of two principles of design in enhancing the composition.

Exemplary
4 Points

Exceptional integration of design principles, creating a visually compelling and harmonious composition that conveys the song's themes.

Proficient
3 Points

Effective integration of design principles, supporting a clear and balanced representation of the song's themes.

Developing
2 Points

Partial integration of design principles, with some areas demonstrating balance in theme depiction.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal integration of design principles, resulting in a disjointed composition with limited theme representation.

Category 2

Contemporary Art Practices

Assessment of students' exploration and application of contemporary art practices in their work.
Criterion 1

Application of Contemporary Techniques

Evaluates the integration of contemporary art techniques into the composition.

Exemplary
4 Points

Advanced application of contemporary art techniques, creatively enhancing the visual narrative and aligning with modern practices.

Proficient
3 Points

Clear application of contemporary art techniques that align well with the composition's narrative and artistic intent.

Developing
2 Points

Emerging application of contemporary art techniques, with limited enhancement of the visual narrative.

Beginning
1 Points

Basic or limited application of contemporary art techniques, with minimal impact on the overall composition.

Category 3

Interpretation and Analysis

Assessment of students' ability to interpret and analyze their work in relation to the chosen song.
Criterion 1

Artistic Interpretation

Evaluates the depth of interpretation and thematic articulation in the artistic work.

Exemplary
4 Points

Delivers a profound and insightful interpretation of the song through visual elements, supported by detailed thematic analysis.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a clear and coherent interpretation of the song through well-chosen visual elements and thematic analysis.

Developing
2 Points

Offers a basic interpretation with some thematic elements, but lacks depth in analysis and articulation.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides minimal interpretation, with vague thematic connections and limited analytical depth.

Category 4

Presentation and Reflection

Assessment of students' ability to present their work and reflect on their artistic process and development.
Criterion 1

Reflective Insights

Evaluates the quality of reflective insights and connections to the artistic process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Offers profound reflective insights and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the artistic process, challenges, and growth.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents clear reflective insights with a good understanding of the artistic process and personal development.

Developing
2 Points

Offers basic reflective insights with limited connections to the artistic process and personal growth.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides minimal reflection, offering obscure insights into the artistic process and personal development.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

On a scale from 1 to 5, how effectively do you think you communicated the themes and emotions of your chosen song through your 2D composition?

Scale
Required
Question 2

Choose the element of art or principle of design that you found most impactful in your work, and explain why. How did it contribute to conveying the song's themes?

Text
Optional