UNIT PLAN

University of North Texas

Art Education

I. Unit Plan
Grade Level: High School. Course: Art I
Title: This is Me
Duration: 3 weeks, Fourteen 1-hour class periods
II. Unit Rationale:
The big idea for this unit is identity. Identity is important for people to think about because as humans, we are
all trying to figure out who we are. We want to be happy with ourselves. In this sense, identity is connected to
ones self-esteem and confidence. The beginning of searching for ones identity generally starts as a teenager, so
it is important to teach high school students how to effectively explore this area of their lives. This unit will
challenge students to explore and express their identity in various ways, focusing on the watercolor medium to
convey who they are as unique individuals.
III. Key Concepts:

Identity includes how you perceive yourself

Identity includes how others perceive you
Identity is connected to self-esteem and confidence
Culture and environment influence identity
Identity changes over time

IV. Essential Question:

How do you perceive yourself?

How do others perceive you?
How does identity affect your self-esteem or confidence?
How does your culture and environment influence who you are as a person?
How has your identity changed over time?

V. Unit Objectives:

On completion of this unit, students will be able express their identity visually through words, in an
abstract manner, and in relation to their culture or environment.
On completion of this unit, students will be able to paint a watercolor composition that showcases an
aspect(s) of their identity, taking into consideration what they have learned about words, abstract
representation, and culture/environment.

VI. Specific Art Content:

Students will use words as a form of art.

Students will practice watercolor techniques (flat wash, graded wash, graded wash (color into another
color), masking with rubber cement, wet on wet, sgraffito, salt, rubbing alcohol, lifting, dry brush,
spattering, stamping, glazing).
Students will practice watercolor value scales.
Students will apply elements of art and principles of design.

VII. Resources & Materials for Teacher:

Computer
Projector
Powerpoint presentations for artists:
o Kelli Connell
o Wassily Kandinsky; Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler
o Nikki S. Lee and Lora Zombie
o Review of Connell, Kandinsky, Rohtko, Frankenthaler, Lee, and Zombie
Identity short film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikGVWEvUzNM
Word map/word cloud websites http://wordle.net, http://wordclouds.com, or http://tagul.com
9 print-out images of Kandinsky, Rothko, and Frankenthaler artworks
Watercolor techniques video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KYHJriivw
Watercolor paint
Watercolor brushes
Watercolor paper
Masking tape or painters tape
Salt
Rubbing alcohol
Paper towels
Rubber cement
Pins
Paper towel tubes
Interview video with Nikki S. Lee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI8xpJItPVI
Video on subcultures - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fZqWmrdZU

VIII. Resources & Materials for Students:

Pencil
Sketchbook
Thesaurus
Watercolor Sketchbook
Watercolor techniques video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KYHJriivw
Watercolor paint
Watercolor brushes
Watercolor paper
Masking tape or painters tape
Salt
Rubbing alcohol
Paper towels
Rubber cement
Pins
Paper towel tubes
Watercolor paper at least 9 x 12, no bigger than 22 x 30