Level 2: ART 211

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT PLAN

Central Focus Portrait using concepts and aesthetic to represent an individual.
Grade Level Early Sr. High (year 1!
Class Size "
Time "# $inutes per class: % days
Class emo!ra"#ics #&' PSAE( 1&' lo) inco$e students( 12' students )ith disa*ilities( +2' graduation rate )ithin "
years
National $isual Arts Standards Addressed
,opy and paste the %#ole standard and code -or the grade.speci-ic /ational visual arts standards this lesson )ill address.
"
th
grade lesson e0a$ple:
1.1a: 1enerate and conceptuali2e art)or3. ,olla*oratively -or$ulate creative pro*le$s *ased on e0isting )or3.
1.%a: ,onvey $eaning through presentation o- )or3. 4a3e( e0plain( and 5usti-y connections *et)een artists( social(
political( and cultural history.
1. &a: 6nteroperate intent and $eaning in )or3 and identi-y types o- intellectual in-or$ation use-ul in the process o-
constructing art.
1.1a: Synthesi2e and relate 3no)ledge and personal e0periences to create art. 7tili2e $ethods o- o*servation and
research to e0plore un-a$iliar su*5ects.
UNIT O&'(CTI$(S
Forms
28 98 "8
Frames
,ultural Su*5ective Structural Post$odern
Conce"tual
Frame%or)
Art)or3 Artist Audience :orld
L(ARNING O&'(CTI$(S
As a result o* t#is lesson+ students %ill ,e a,le to-
1. 7se $edia photographs( portraits( and discussion to analy2e and interoperate the i$ages o- others.
2. Students )ill )rite a re-lective paragraph e0a$ining )ho they are and ho) they )ould li3e to *e perceived.
9. Students )ill create portraits o- each other that illustrate their paragraph.
". They )ill engage in a group criti;ue and analy2e the $eaning o- their art)or3 and the e--ectiveness o- their use o- $aterials
to $a3e a state$ent.
T(ACH(R .AT(RIALS
Po)erPoint a*out artists and
history o- their )or3.
<=inding >ivian 4aier? $ovie
trailer on @ouTu*e.
Teacher e0a$ples o- *oth
re-lective paragraphs and
portraits
,a$era and Printer
Paper cutter
Handouts a*out artistAs )or3(
history o- portraiture( and
cultural re-erences.
8a)oud Bey *oo3s <,lass
Pictures? and
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12
The students )ill loo3 at the art )or3 o- 8a)oud Bey and other photographers ta3e portraits. The students )ill )rite re-lective
paragraphs a*out the$selves and create a portrait to convey the $essage in their )riting.
Level 2: ART 211
STU(NT .AT(RIALS
,a$eras
4at Board (each cut to an &01
sheet!
Photo paper (print at a #0+!
Pencils and Paper
E0acto 3nives
,utting Boards
4as3ing Tape
Rulers
,o$puter
Tripod (optional!
ARTISTS IN CONT(/T
0e1 Artists 8a)oud Bey( >iviane 4aier( and ,huc3 ,lose
0e1 Art%or)s 8a)oud Bey( <,lass Pictures? 2+G >ivian 4aier photos -ro$ the Hohn 4aloo- collectionG ,huc3
,lose( Sel-.portrait 8aguerreotypes
0e1 Critical 2uestions
1. :hat $a3es photograph a portraitI
2. Ho) is this di--erent -ro$ an advertise$ent or a candid snapshotI
9. :hat $ood does the portrait convey to the vie)erI
". :hat does this say a*out the su*5ect (the person in the photo!I
#. Ho) do the sy$*ols in the *ac3ground in-luence the interpretation o- this photoI
%. Ho) has the artist used *oth setting and lighting to convey a $oodI
$OCA&ULARY AN LANGUAG( AC2UISITION
$oca,ular1 E$phasis: so$ething given great i$portance
=oreground: parts o- a co$position situated in the -ront
Bac3ground: parts o- a co$position situated in the *ac3
,ontrast: light areas near dar3 areas
Street photography: non.-or$ali2ed genre o- photography that -eatures itAs su*5ects in candid
situations )ithin pu*lic places.
Lan!ua!e Functions analy2e( co$pareJcontrast( criti;ue( descri*e( interpret( ;uestion( etc.
Lan!ua!e emands
Synta0 8iscourse
Lan!ua!e Tas)s and
Activities
1. 8escri*e the art)or3G analy2e $eaning through the construction o- the art)or3G co$pare and
contrast artists )or3 in con5unction )ith historical and conte$porary i$ages.
2. 6nterpreting the $eaning o- the issues in their o)n art)or3 as )ell as their class$ates.
9. 8eter$ining i- their o)n art)or3 is success-ul as )ell as their class$ates art)or3.
Lan!ua!e Su""orts
1. Handouts )ith ;uestions and de-initions
2. ,lass discussion and ver*al ans)ers
INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT(GI(S AN L(ARNING TAS0S3 L(SSON 4
Set Induction Instruction .et#ods
:rite speci-ic ;uestions you )ill as3 and descri*e )hat you )ill do to
engage the students actively in thin3ing a*out things they already $ay 3no)
(prior 3no)ledge! that are so$eho) related to the lesson that is going to *e
taught.
This is NOT )here you start giving students ne) in-or$ation (the lesson!
*ut in-or$ation that )ill se!ue into 1our lesson in a %a1 t#at %ill
connect %it# t#e students and get the$ readyJe0cited a*out )hat you
are going to teach.
List all $ethods you intend to use( such
as direct instruction( teacher
de$onstration( hands.on student
involve$ent( group discussion( s$all
group )or3( di--erentiated group )or3(
independent student )or3( Thin3 Pair
Share( etc.
Instruction Instruction .et#ods
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12
Level 2: ART 211
A-ter the Set 6nduction( )hat e0actly )ill you do )ith the students and say to
the students during the lessonI
List your procedures here in order o* occurrence starting each *ullet
point )ith either <The teacher )illK? or <Students )illK?
=ro$ these points any reader should *e a*le to easily i$agine all that )ill
happen during this lesson -ro$ *eginning to end.
Throughout this section *e sure to list at least % speci-ic pro$pt ;uestions
(and alternatives )hen applica*le! in age.appropriate language that you
plan to use along )ith so$e accepta*le student responses and several
pro*ing -ollo).up ;uestions to 3eep the lesson -lo)ing. T#ese 5uestions
s#ould #el" students reason+ t#in) criticall1+ and en!a!e in
#i!#er order t#in)in!6
Re$e$*er to *rea3 any de$onstrations and se;uential instructions do)n
into step.*y.step( age.appropriate language.

Lesson Closure Instruction .et#ods

:hat activities( pro$pts( directions( attention gra**ers( etc. )ill you use to
signal students that the lesson is co$ing to a closeI
Thin3 a*out activities( etc. that rein*orce students7 learnin! in this
lesson or #el" students re*lect on their learning e0perience.
Remem,er+ Lesson Closure is NOT 8ust clean9u" or a :t%o9
minute %arnin!;< ,losure activities $ay happen surrounding clean.up
ti$e( *ut putting supplies a)ay and )ashing ta*les does not rein-orce
learning or incite re-lection.
,ontinue )ording these state$ents as you did a*ove starting each *ullet
point )ith either <The teacher )illK? or <Students )illK?

INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT(GI(S AN L(ARNING TAS0S AY3 L(SSON =

Set Induction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor as3s class to list so$ething they re$e$*er a*out ,huc3 ,lose
and his art)or3.
Revie) the co$pare and contrast activity a*out portrait( $edia( and snap
shot photography.
:hole ,lass
Instruction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor sho)s a Po)erPoint o- the )or3 o- 8a)oud Bey( >ivian 4aier(
and ,huc3 ,lose. 9 o- the slides )ill contain one o- the artists )or3 )ith a
$edia i$age( a portrait done *y another artist( or an i$age -ro$ art history.
As3 the -ollo)ing ;uestions:
o :hat is the -irst thing your eye is dra)n to in this i$ageI :hy do you thin3
that isI
o :hat is the ne0t thing you noticeI
o :hy do you thin3 the artist chose to sho) this person in this settingI
o Ho) does the setting in-luence the $ood or $essage o- this photographI
o :hat other sy$*ols or o*5ects does the artist use in the portrait to tell you
a*out person *eing photographedI
o ,an this type o- sy$*olis$ still *e used in snapshot photographyI :hy and
)hy notI
6nstructor gives students 8a)oud Bey handouts. Tal3 a*out his artistic
process and )riting re-lective paragraphs. Let the students -lip through his
*oo3s o- art)or3 (speci-ically <,lass Pictures?!. Have the$ read e0a$ples o-
student paragraphs to help the$ *rainstor$ a*out their o)n paragraphs.
:hole ,lass 6nstruction
S$all 1roups
Lesson Closure Instruction .et#ods
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12
Level 2: ART 211
6nstructor tal3s to the students a*out )hat they thin3 they $ay include in
their paragraphs. Revie) so$e o- the sy$*olis$ and i$agery the artists
included in their photos to convey a $essage and have the$ thin3 a*out
)hat they $ay use -or their photos.
:hole ,lass 8iscussion
INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT(GI(S AN L(ARNING TAS0S AY3 L(SSON >
Set Induction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor )ill as3 students to list so$e di--erent sy$*ols they re$e$*er
loo3ing at in the Po)erPoint and )hat e--ect they had on the $eaning in the
photograph. Have the$ share so$e o- their ideas a*out )hat sy$*olis$
they )ill use in their photos.
:hole ,lass 8iscussion
Instruction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor re$inds the students that they )ill *e creating portraits o- each
other *ased on the re-lective paragraphs they have )ritten a*out
the$selves and sho)s the teacher e0a$ple.
6nstructor passes out >ivian 4aier handout.
6nstructor sho)s the <=inding >ivian 4aier? $ovie trailer.
Students )ill co$pare and contrast >ivian 4aierAs photos )ith 8a)oud
BeyAs and ,huc3 ,loseAs )or3 to deter$ine i- they should *e considered
portraits.
Students present their ideas to the rest o- the class.
6nstructor )ill lead a short discussion a*out ho) lighting and contrast
in-luence $ood.
6nstructor passes out )or3sheet )ith ;uestions to help pro$pt students to
start )riting their re-lective paragraphs.
:hole ,lass
S$all 1roup 8iscussion
:hole ,lass 8iscussion
6ndividual :or3
Lesson Closure Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor tells students they )ill photograph each other ne0t class period
and re$inds the$ to have their )riting co$plete.
:hole ,lass
INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT(GI(S AN L(ARNING TAS0S AY3 L(SSON ?
Set Induction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor revie)s ru*ric re;uire$ents. :hole ,lass
Instruction Instruction .et#ods
Students choose a partner they )ould li3e to )or3 )ith.
6nstructor passes out ca$eras.
Students read their partnerAs paragraph and are -ree to photograph each
other through out the school.
Students need to $eet *ac3 in the art roo$ 1 $inutes *e-ore class ends.
Partners
Lesson Closure Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor tells students they need to have a photo chosen and ready to print
out ne0t class period. They also need to have their paragraph typed and
ready to *e printed as )ell.
:hole ,lass
INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT(GI(S AN L(ARNING TAS0S AY3 L(SSON @
Set Induction Instruction .et#ods
6nstructor sho)s their e0a$ple to the class to introduce $atting :hole ,lass
Instruction Instruction .et#ods
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12
Level 2: ART 211
Students )ill print their photo and paragraphs.
6nstructor )ill sho) the students ho) to cut a )indo) $at using an E0acto
3ni-e. They )ill sho) students ho) to $ount their photos and paragraphs to
the $at *oard.
Students )ill hang their $ounted photos and paragraphs on the criti;ue
space.
6nstructor leads class in a criti;ue discussion. As3 the -ollo)ing ;uestions:
o Have the artist e0plain they sy$*olis$ they used in their photo in
con5unction )ith their paragraph. Ho) do the photo and paragraph relate to
each otherI 8o you consider yoursel- success-ul in co$pleting this
assign$entI :hy or )hy notI
o As3 other students: :hat do you notice -irst a*out this photoI
o 8o you thin3 the sy$*olis$ used in the co$position conveys the $essage
in the paragraphI :hy or )hy notI
o 6n )hat )ay could the artist add or su*tract things -ro$ the photo to $a3e it
strongerI
6ndependent )or3ing
:hole ,lass 8iscussion
Lesson Closure Instruction .et#ods
o 6nstructor as3s ho) the student )or3 is si$ilar to the artists )or3 and ho)
itAs di--erent.
:hole ,lass 8iscussion
ACCO.OATIONS FOR SP(CIFIC I$(RS( L(ARN(RS
Ada"tations and Accommodations
o Providing pro$pts to -acilitate the creation o- $eaning-ul re-lective paragraphs.
o =ocus individual attention on students )ho are reluctant to participate.
o Provide 8a)oud Bey *oo3s as e0a$ples o- real student paragraphs and photos.
o Teacher e0a$ples o- paragraphs and photographs.
o ,reating conversations )ith students a*out their interests to *rainstor$ ideas -or re-lective paragraphs.
(nric#ment and (Atensions
o 7sing a ca$era (or a phone ca$era! and snap photos o- people in pu*lic venues. Try out di--erent ca$era angles and
co$positions( -ilters( and contrast levels to change the $eaning o- the photo. Ta3e one and )rite a short re-lection
descri*ing )ho$ you thin3 the su*5ect is.
Activit1 *or (arl1 Finis#ers
o Early -inishing students )ill e0peri$ent )ith collaging photographs together in order to change the setting( the
co$position( and introducing other props into the photos. They can use Photoshop to create the collage or physically
create collages using photographs and i$ages -ro$ $aga2ines. A-ter creating their i$age they )ill )rite a short
re-lective paragraph descri*ing the $eaning in the collage and )hy they $ade the decisions they did.
O&'(CTI$(9RI$(N ASS(SS.(NTS
1. Students used visual cues to convey $eaning through the portraits they create. (1a!
2. Students )ill present and de-end the $eaning o- their art)or3 in )ritten -or$. (%a!
9. Student actively participates in class discussion and recogni2es the visual sy$*olis$ 8a)oud Bey( >ivian 4aier( and ,huc3
,lose use to convey $eaning in their art)or3. (&a!
". Students co$pared and contrasted -ine art and popular $edia i$ages to identi-y portraiture through )hole class discussion.
(1a!
INT(RISCIPLINARY CONN(CTIONS
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12
Level 2: ART 211
o English
o Social Studies
R(F(R(NC(S
Bey( 8 (2#!. Class Pictures- P#oto!ra"#ed ,1 a%oud &e16 /e) @or3( /@: Aperture.
Bey( 8 (29! a%oud &e1- T#e C#ica!o Pro8ect in Colla,oration %it# an and (liza,et# .eister6 ,hicago(
6L: The 8avid and Al-red S$art 4useu$ o- Art.
4. =uchs( H. 4aloo- (21"!. >ivian 4aier. http:JJ))).vivian$aier.co$J
H. 4aloo-( ,. Sis3el (21"! =inding >ivian 4aier. http:JJ))).-indingvivian$aier.co$J
B evelo"ed and %ritten ,1 'ulia Gala%a1 and 'essica Cilson+ Art (ducation+ Illinois State Universit1+ =D4?
B
(( C Early Ele$entary grades D.9 E L( C Late Ele$entary grades ".% E .S C 4iddle School grades %.F
(HS C Early High School grades 1.11 E LHS C Late High School grade 12