Faces tell feelings - Part 2 - Observations
Students will view a PowerPoint presentation of various portraits by different artists. They will observe facial expressions and the emotions they convey in these works of art.
A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Visual Arts Education
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 3 - Drawing facial expressions
- Faces tell feelings - Part 4 - Computer Animation
- Faces tell feelings - Part 5 - Typefaces
- Faces tell feelings - Part 6 - Emotions collage
Learning outcomes
Students will:
- use accurate verbal descriptions while commenting on works of art.
- relate human emotions to works of art while observing facial features and how they change according to the inside emotion.
Teacher planning
Time required for lesson
45 Minutes
Materials/resources
Classroom area where all students are able to clearly view the projection screen.
If teacher does not have access to equipment to project a PowerPoint presentation, posters and photographs of facial expressions may be used to stimulate discussion.
Technology resources
- PowerPoint presentation
- Computer
- Computer projector
- Screen
Pre-activities
Teachers are strongly encouraged to complete the lesson plan Faces tell feelings - Part 1 - Understanding URLs with students prior to art class. (This is a search and find lesson on the internet done in computer class.)
Activities
- Review “Faces Tell Feelings Part 1.”
- What was the topic of your search?
- How did you go about finding the pictures?
- What was your favorite picture you found?
- Explain that today students will again see some of those images they found in computer lab. “Today we will be able to talk about the artwork, the artist, and what the artist was trying to convey.”
- Begin PowerPoint presentation. Stop presentation as necessary to discuss and answer questions. (*See attachment for Powerpoint program and discussion questions.)
- If you will go on to use lesson plan three, explain that the students will learn to draw some of those facial expressions.
Assessment
There is an attachment to the PowerPoint presentation that lists a set of possible discussion questions and some of the appropriate responses. This is a starting point only, other questions and comments may arise throughout discussion. Be flexible!
Assessment is immediate for students. (”Good observation”.…”Right answer”.….”You’re on the right track”… “Let’s think a little further”…) as the presentation/discussion progresses.
Supplemental information
Comments
This lesson is the second in a series of six lessons created by computer teacher Susan W. Getter, and elementary art teacher Jan Kimosh, of 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.
- We spent 45 minutes on the PowerPoint presentation and the discussion was very lively! (This was one class period, we could have used more time, but I feel containing it to one class time is best.) I showed the presentation slide by slide so we could pause for questions and answers. The students responded to the questions written in the slides, and also to additional questions from the teacher from.
- Getting the proper equipment ready was time consuming, as we had to obtain a screen, projector, and laptop computer on a cart. My computer teacher assisted with the setup. We are hoping sometime in the future to have a classroom (could be the art room) with a complete setup for PowerPoint presentations so classes may go to the classroom for viewing.
- This was a highly effective way of presenting material. The students were enthusiastic with their responses and enjoyed viewing the work of different artists. They had completed “Faces Tell Feelings - Part I” in computer class the week before. They were excited to see the images that they had “found” through their internet search. Seeing the images a second time reinforced the impact that they had seeing them again.
- I rate this as one of the most successful lessons I have completed with these students. The outcomes were up to my expectations and far exceeded the projected outcomes. Allowing students to “talk” about art in art class, versus “doing” is a very valid component of their education.
North Carolina curriculum alignment
Visual Arts Education (2001)
Grade 3
- Goal 1: The learner will develop critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness necessary for understanding and producing art.
- Objective 1.07: Elaborate on an idea or theme.
- Goal 4: The learner will choose and evaluate a range of subject matter and ideas to communicate intended meaning in artworks.
- Objective 4.05: Know, discuss, and/or write about how an artist's background and experiences are important in shaping that artist's work.
- Goal 6: The learner will reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
- Objective 6.07: Express one's own thoughts and feelings about a specific artwork.
Grade 4
- Goal 5: The learner will understand the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
- Objective 5.02: Make responses that are both knowledge-based and personal (objective and subjective).
- Goal 6: The learner will reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
- Objective 6.03: Critique artwork through the use of design principles: emphasis, movement, repetition, space, balance, and value.



