Objectives

Students will discuss the relationship between emotions and visual representations and will create a painting that reflects their “internal weather.” Some students will have had a field trip to the University of Michigan Museum of Art and participated in the tour “Spring into Art! Weather, Seasons and Art.” In this tour they will have seen Joan Mitchell’s “White Territory.” 

National Core Art Standards

• Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
• Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work
• Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work
  

Grade

1st

Time Required

One class period

Materials

• pictures of landscapes in different kinds of weather or abstract paintings that evoke weather
• paint
• brushes
• paper
  
  

Lesson

Review the tour in general and “White Territory” in particular (if students participated in tour). Discuss the difference between a representational painting and Mitchell’s abstract canvas.

Ask what elements of art (colors, textures, lines) they noticed in the Mitchell painting. Ask how it made them feel and what they think the artist did to make them feel that way.

Discuss expressions for feelings and emotions that use weather: sunny disposition, stormy countenance, under a black cloud, fair weather friend, right as rain, snowed under, have one’s head in the clouds, haven’t the foggiest idea. Ask students to match colors to these weather phrases.

Ask students to close their eyes and imagine what their internal weather looks like. Have them make a painting that illustrates their internal weather and add three descriptive words to the bottom edge of their painting. Assist with writing as necessary.

Now ask them to make an ‘opposite painting’ of the feelings and colors they think are opposite of their first painting and colors. Add 2 or 3 descriptive words to the edge of these paintings, too.

Display paintings. Have students discuss, asking students to explain their color choices or what they think of their classmates’ choices of color for their first painting and their opposite painting.