Still Life Paintings

Lesson Plan
Prepared by Ms. Lempola
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
sessions

Duration of the lesson: 4- Half hour

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the idea of drawing from life. Students will
understand what a still life is and how artist will draw by looking at what they are
drawing and break it down by drawing simple shapes. They will use these techniques
to create a still life of their own.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE STANDARDS

1. 4.3.1 Understand how a variety of subjects, themes, symbols and ideas* are
incorporated in a selection of works of art.
2. 4.1.2 Know the different techniques* used to create* visual art.

OBJECTIVES
1. Students will design and create unique still life painting of 3 fruits on drawing
paper.
2. Students will practice the new skill of drawing from observation.
3. Students will use creativity skills in deciding what fruits they want, how to
arrange those fruits, and the decoration of the tabletop and background.
4. Students will practice their painting skills by painting with the metallic
watercolors in the lines
5. Students will practice the process of drawing lightly with pencil, then outlining
with sharpie to make their shapes pop.
6. Students will consider the elements of shape and color in this lesson.
Language Objectives:

Identify and properly implement the following terms:

Still life
Background
Shapes
Overlapping
Colors
Outlining
Texture
Behavioral Objectives:
1. Respect classroom materials used for this project
2. Respect all persons in the classroom
3. Follow the ART Expectations of this classroom

MATERIALS NEEDED
1. Drawing paper
2. Cut outs of fruit shapes
3. Pencils
4. Sharpies
5. Metallic paints

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE / PREREQUISITE LEARNING

1. Painting skills
2. Outlining skills
3. Overlapping skills
4. How to draw simple shapes

PROCEDURE
Introduction/ Motivation: Still life video: Still Life with Apples and Peaches, c. 1905,
Paul Cezanne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0SrEiEcpRM
Instructional Strategies:

Day 1:
-Watch the still life video

-Think-pair-share: What shapes do you see in this painting?

-Discuss what a still life is. Exaggerate: LIFE THAT IS STILL.

- If I stand still, am I a still life? No, that would be a portrait.
-Could we make a still life of these scissors? Yes!
- Demonstrate how to overlap shapes to have an interesting composition
-Have students practice by choosing and arranging their three
fruits
-Demonstrate how to draw from observation using a pencil. Looking at
both the picture and my drawing, back and forth.
-Students practice drawing their still life for the remainder of the

half hour.

Day 2:

- Refresh students on:

-

What is a still life? Act out a still life by giving another

example and practicing being still.

-

How do we draw from observation?

- Students finish drawing their still life

- Once students finish their still life, demonstrate how they can add a
table, plate, and table cloth
-

Students add a table, plate (if they want) and table cloth

Day 3:
-

Refresh

Demonstrate how to add a background

-

Students, what would it look like if I added a refrigerator, table,

come coffee, a sink, a window, kids outside on a playset, a painting,
some curtains . Ext
-

A mess!!! Our Artist Eye says no, thats toooo much!

Lets add a simple background, two or three items max!

Student outline their still life with sharpie and erase the extra lines.

Work time / Catch up time

Day 4:
-

Demonstrate how to very carefully paint the the still life using metallic
watercolors
-

Students paint their projects

ACCOMMODATIONS / MODIFICATIONS
Extension and Enrichment:

For gifted and talented students, I will encourage them to take their time in really
considering each step of the process and how they can master the skill by practicing
and working hard.
Additional supports:

For students on an IEP or 504 I will help them by checking in more often and
demonstrating for them 1:1 any ideas or concepts they are struggling with.

ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
Formative or summative assessments after instruction:
Still life Assessment