ELEMENTS CHALLENGE – Colour, Texture, Line, Shape

Students will be able to:

• challenge themselves to create a non-objective design;
• use Model Magic to mix new colours and create lines, shapes and textures;
• recognize and use the principle of contrast in a composition;
• recognize and use the elements of colour, texture, shape and line in a composition;
• demonstrate technical accomplishment and creative thinking; 
• support their ideas with evidence found in the artworks.

​Have students:

• use their completed square as inspiration for a story in which they shrink to a tiny person and land on the square;
• describe their adventures as they travel through this unknown and strange land;
• glue a raised piece of clear acetate on top of their square;
• use a permanent marker to mark the path followed in the story with a broken line;
• work collaboratively to place their completed designs into a class quilt;
• place their stories around the quilt;
• create and display written prompts alongside the quilt to encourage viewers to guess which story goes with which square.

1. Purchase flawed mat board (or ask picture framers for donations) and cut to size - 1 per student.
2. OR purchase masonite and have it cut to size - 1 per student.
3. Download and display the Elements and Principles posters available on this website.
4. Prior to this lesson review or teach the elements of line, shape, colour and texture, and the principle of contrast.
5. Download several images of non-objective art from the Internet. For example,
   Hofheinz-Doring
   Delaunay
   Rozanova
6. Download and copy the Challenge form - 1 per student. (Downloads - ChallengeForm.pdf) 
7. Cut out or have students cut out cardboard tracers of geometric shapes - enough for groups of students to share. 

1. Ask students to share what they know about the elements of line, shape, colour and texture.
2. Write and illustrate their responses on a piece of chart paper.
3. View and discuss several images of non-objective art focussing on:
   - how the artist has used shapes, colours and lines to create the work;
   - areas of strong contrast and how it is created;
   - how the placement of colours, lines and shapes help move the eye through the composition.
4. Demonstrate various ways to work with Model Magic.
   - mix 2 primary colours together by kneading them with your fingers;
   - mix a very small amount of a colour with white to make a tint;
   - flatten a small ball and press it onto the foam core board to make it stick;
   - flatten a small ball by rolling it with the barrell of a marker;
   - cut a flattened piece with scissors;
   - squeesze a small piece through a garlic press;
   - poke a shape with a toothpick or other object. 
5. Introduce the challenge.
    

1. Ask students to work with a partner.
2. Have tthem take turns discussing the completed works. Encourage them to find:
   - 3 things that interest them about how the work was made;
   - what the artist found challenging;
   - what the artist thought was easy; and
   - how the artist felt about making this project and why.
3. Once everyone has had a chance to share ask students to report back to the whole class. Remind students tell what they learned about their partner’s work/process.

1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
2. Observe students as they discuss their designs – speaks with a clear voice, looks at audience while speaking, points to areas in the design, provides accurate information, answers questions from the audience effectively.
3. Observe students as they listen – looks at presenter, asks effective questions, supports ideas with evidence found in the artwork.
4. Use the checklist to track progress. (Downloads - ELEMENTS_tracking.pdf)
5. Have students complete the self-assessment portion of their challenge form. (Downloads - ChallengeForm.pdf)