Floor Piece #4 Sol LeWitt		Isometric Pyramid Sol LeWitt		Synchroformic #18 - Horizontal Duo John Sennhauser
Observation Manierre Dawson		Forms in Space John Henry Bradley Storrs

back to top




• Print the above images onto overhead transparencies.

back to top




1. Begin the discussion about shapes:  Who can name a type of shape?  Where do you see this shape in the classroom?

2. Read a book about shapes to the students.

3. Ask a few students to draw different shapes on the board.  Label each shape (circle, cone, cube, rectangle, sphere, square, triangle).

4. Show the students images of artwork.  Have the students identify the different shapes in the artwork.

5. Explain to the students how shapes are combined to make other shapes.  Use examples such as people, animals, buildings, etc.

6. Hand out the materials to the students.  Instruct the students to cut out geometric shapes from the colored construction paper and make a picture.  Keep the theme simple, such as an animal or a building.

7. Have the students complete a journal entry about their piece of artwork using the new vocabulary.

Extensions
English-Language Arts: based on a theme studied in class, students can create portraits of animals, family members, or friends.

back to top




For kindergarten students, another option is for the teacher to precut shapes for the students to use.

back to top




CA Content Standards
Kindergarten Visual Arts:
1.3 Identify the elements of art (line, color, shape/form, texture, value, space) in the environment and in works of art, emphasizing line, color, and shape/form.

2.6 Use geometric shapes/forms (circle, triangle, square) in a work of art.

First Grade Visual Arts:
1.3 Identify the elements of art in objects in nature, in the environment, and in works of art, emphasizing line, color, shape/form, and texture.

4.1 Discuss works of art created in the classroom, focusing on selected elements of art (e.g., shape/form, texture, line, color).

Second Grade Visual Arts:
1.3 Identify the elements of art in objects in nature, the environment, and works of art, emphasizing line, color, shape/form, texture, and space.

Kindergarten English-Language Arts:
1.0 Students write words and brief sentences that are legible.

2.1 Describe people, places, things (e.g., size, color, shape), locations, and actions.

First Grade English-Language Arts:
2.2 Respond to who, what, when, where, and how questions.

1.0 Students write clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Their writing shows they consider the audience and purpose.

2.1 Write brief narratives (e.g., fictional, autobiographical) describing an experience.

1.0 Students listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication.

Second Grade English-Language Arts:
1.0 Students write clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Their writing shows they consider the audience and purpose.

2.1 Write brief narratives based on their experiences.

1.0 Students listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication.

Kindergarten Mathematics:
2.1 Identify and describe common geometric objects (e.g., circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, sphere, cone).

First Grade Mathematics:
2.1 Identify, describe, and compare triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles, including the faces of three-dimensional objects.

Second Grade Mathematics:
2.1 Describe and classify plane and solid geometric shapes (e.g., circle, triangle, square, rectangle, sphere, pyramid, cube, rectangular prism) according to the number and shape of faces, edges, and vertices.

back to top





Teachers
Garrels, Gary. Sol LeWitt: a Retrospective. San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.

Gray, Donna B. From the Eye of the Camera to the Hand of the Artist. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, 1992.  [section titled “Elements of Art and Principles of Design”]           

Sparkes, Roy. Teaching Art Basics. London: B. T. Batsford; New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1973.

Learning to Look at Art
Learn about the elements of art by looking at famous pieces of artwork.  This Web site provides background information on the piece of artwork and descriptions of how each piece is an example of an art element (line, color, texture, shape, form, space, and value.)  It also includes interactive and printable activities for students.

Foundations in Art, University of Delaware
An introduction to the elements of art that includes images of artwork and concise explanations.

Art Basics, San Diego State University
The seven formal elements of art are described on this Web site.

A Guide to Building Visual Arts Lessons, The J. Paul Getty Museum
This comprehensive Web site includes definitions and examples of art elements, as well as a grade-by-grade guide to creating lessons for the classroom.  It also includes several CA-standards aligned lesson plans for each grade level that focus on the elements of art.


Students
Browne, Anthony.  The Shape Game.  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003.

Bryant, Meg E. Shape Spotters. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2002.

Campbell, Kathy Kuhtz. Let’s Draw a Bear with Squares. New York: Rosen/PowerStart Press & Buenas Letras, 2004.           

Campbell, Kathy Kuhtz. Let’s Draw a Fish with Triangles (Vamos a dibujar un pez usando triángulos). New York: Rosen/PowerStart Press & Buenas Letras, 2004.

Klein, Adria. Formas. San Diego: Dominie Press, 1995.            [Spanish resource, oversize]

Micklethwait, Lucy.  I Spy Shapes in Art.  New York: Greenwillow Books, 2004

Steele, Margaret.  The Art of Shapes: for children and adults.  Los Angeles: MoCA, 1997.

Yanawine, Philip.  Shapes.  New York: Museum of Modern Art: Delacorte Press, 1991.

The Artist’s Toolkit: Visual Elements and Principles
Students can “Explore the Toolkit” to learn about and interact with the elements of art and create their own artwork.

back to top