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Artistic Roots

Students will discuss what it means to be artistic, then illustrate the concept in a colorful way.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students form small groups to discuss what it means to be artistic. Encourage them to think of the word in many ways. For example, it could mean appreciating art; creating art in a variety of ways including painting, dancing, playing music, writing stories, etc.; or it could mean putting imagination into action in any aspect of life.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a viusal that displays the many ways the word "artistic" can be applied. They can base the image on a theme of growth and underground roots as they convey their ideas in words and/or images. They might write synonyms for the word artistic, one on each branch of a root. On the leaves or buds above the ground they might write prompts or the names of artistic endeavors or art media.

  • Step 3

    Have the groups present their art, then have a discussion about how the word "artistic" applies to every aspect of life and how many who work in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) have added an A for Arts to form the acronym STEAM.

Standards

ARTS: Analyze ways that artistic components and cultural associations influence ideas, emotions, and actions. 

LA: Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).

Adaptations

Have students explore how an artistic mindset is important in any field. For example, it involves the capacity to connect seemingly unrelated dots, being able to create something that wasn't there before, the ability to try a different path when one way doesn't work, etc.

Have students explore the concept of artivism (art + activism) and collaborate to design a campaign for an issue that moves them.