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

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Related pages

• Faces tell feelings - Part 6 - Emotions collage: Students will create a collage using magazine photos and words printed in computer lab to express a particular emotion.
• Faces tell feelings - Part 4 - Computer animation: In this lesson, students will create an animated face presented in a slide show using Kid Pix software.
• The Old Depot Association: The museum provides exhibits that honor the local and mountain heritage and crafts. A photographic exhibit in the Caboose Museum shows the pictures of the history of the depot and has railroad memorabilia and music of the era.

Related topics

• Learn more about arts, drawings, emotions, faces, facial expressions, paintings, and portraits.

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This lesson plan was designed as part of a collaborative unit between art and technology teachers. The other lessons in the unit are:

• Faces tell feelings - Part 1 - Understanding URLs
• Faces tell feelings - Part 2 - Observations
• Faces tell feelings - Part 4 - Computer Animation
• Faces tell feelings - Part 5 - Typefaces
• Faces tell feelings - Part 6 - Emotions collage

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

• Drawing expressions handout (PDF)
• Tempera 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 the first two lessons in the “Faces Tell Feelings” unit:

• Faces tell feelings - Part 1 - Understanding URLs
• Faces tell feelings - Part 2 - Observations

Activities

Day one

1. Distribute drawing expressions handout 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 the PowerPoint presentation in “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 the previous day.
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

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.