LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Faces tell feelings - Part 3 - Drawing facial expressions

Students will learn how to draw facial expressions and paint a portrait which portrays a particular expression or emotion.

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Visual Arts Education

By Jan Kimosh

Learn more

Related pages

Related topics

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

This page copyright ©2008. Terms of use

Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • learn to draw simple facial expressions.
  • apply their learning by finishing a portrait conveying an emotion of their choice.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3 Days

Materials/resources

  • Handout on drawing expressions (see attachment)
  • Tempra paints
  • Brushes
  • Paper (12×18) or (18×24)
  • Water source
  • Paper towels
  • Paint smocks
  • Drying racks
  • For teacher: cover tables with newspaper
  • Optional: posters of artwork or photos of people wearing different facial expressions put up around room.

Technology resources

None

Pre-activities

Completion of “Faces Tell Feelings” Unit:

Part 1 - Computer Internet Search
Part 2 - View Powerpoint Presentation

Activities

Day One:

  1. Distribute handout (see attachment) and pencils.
  2. Lead discussion about how features (eyes, eyebrows, eyelids, and cheek/mouth area) change as expression changes.
  3. Have students trace over lines of faces on handout for practice. They may keep these sheets for reference.
  4. Recall and review images from Powerpoint Presentation (Faces and Feelings - Part 2) as well as observing any other examples such as posters in room. Have students choose the emotion they wish to portray.
  5. Students use pencil to lightly sketch a face with the chosen expression on their papers. Encourage large drawings which will fill the page to exaggerate the emotion chosen.
  6. Students will print their first and last name, teacher’s name, and grade level on back of paper and turn in.

Day Two:

  1. Distribute papers from last week.
  2. Review proper procedure for handling paint, brushes, and cleanup, and putting paint smocks on.
  3. Students choose facial color and paint.
  4. Students continue choosing colors and painting features and background. Encourage neatness, blending of colors in face, and using a contrasting or complementary color for the background. Students should paint to the edges of their paper, covering all white spaces.
  5. Proper cleanup and storing of paints, brushes, and paintings.

Day Three:

  1. Provide the needed time for painting.
  2. Use smaller brushes to add accents and details.
  3. Proper cleanup and storing of paints, brushes, and paintings.
  4. Distribute Rubric for assessment when student is finished and have them complete it.

Assessment

See attached rubric

Supplemental information

None

Related websites

N/A

Comments

This lesson in the second in a series of six lessons created by the computer teacher, Susan W. Getter and elementary art teacher, Jan Kimosh at Our Lady of Lourdes School during a summer LEARN NC/NCSSM/Ackland Art Museum workshop. Look for lessons 1, 4 and 5 in the Computer Technology Skills section of the lesson plans.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Visual Arts Education (2001)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will develop skills necessary for understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
    • Objective 2.03: Demonstrate increased fine motor skills.
    • Objective 2.04: Develop familiarity with specific media and processes.
    • Objective 2.06: Create portraits, still lifes and landscapes from real life observation or memory.
  • Goal 3: The learner will organize the components of a work into a cohesive whole through knowledge of organizational principles of design and art elements.
    • Objective 3.07: Recognize composition is using the elements of art to create an artwork.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness necessary for understanding and producing art.
    • Objective 1.02: Create work which approaches a higher level of realism.
  • Goal 2: The learner will develop skills necessary for understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
    • Objective 2.03: Increase skills with familiar materials.
    • Objective 2.04: Demonstrate one's own thought and feelings visually, using sequential, visual narrative.

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: The learner will develop skills necessary for understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
    • Objective 2.01: Use additional art media, techniques and processes, which may include:
      • Drawing - charcoal
      • Printmaking - easy cut, mixed media, collographs
      • 3-D - wire
      • Photography - pin-hole cameras
  • Goal 3: The learner will organize the components of a work into a cohesive whole through knowledge of organizational principles of design and art elements.
    • Objective 3.02: Recognize and apply the design principles used in composition.
    • Objective 3.04: Use variations to create interest in a composition.
    • Objective 3.06: Recognize the validity of one's feelings and impressions when solving visual problems.