Submitted by: Priscilla Biddle
Collaborators: Michael Phillips, Keith Hollowell, Curtis Ramsdell
School: Henrico High School
Summary
This series of lessons puts students in the place of artists as well as audience in an age-old inspiration process called ekphrasis. Students are introduced through inference to the ekphrastic process by watching Sondheim’s musical, “Sunday in the Park with George.” This Pulitzer Prize winner was inspired by George Seurat’s pointillist painting, Un dimanche après-midi à l’Île de la Grande Jatte. Following reflection on the overlapping nature of the arts and the nature of art as knowledge, students are introduced the concept of ekphrasis via a Powerpoint in which art, music and poetry are related. They are given copies of poems referenced in the Powerpoint. Then they are shown virtual art galleries online and allowed to pick a piece of art to respond to. Once they have chosen, they research the artist. In a stream of consciousness reflection, they respond to the art. Once that is done, they describe it in detail. With those two responses, students then choose a perspective from which to write their poem. Once the poems are complete, students peer edit and revise, based on programmed responses and rubrics. The final products are published in a booklet, created in Publisher, and then shared by all.
TIPC Ratings
This lesson falls in the entry level of research and information fluency. Students use preselected websites to browse through artwork and select a painting to inspire their original poem.
This lesson falls in the developing level of communication and collaboration. Each student writes an original poem and collaborates with peers in class to edit and revise his or her poem. Poems are read aloud publicly and formally published in a book for distribution.
This lesson falls in the developing level of critical thinking and problem solving. Students criticaly analyze and evaluate a painting and consider how its meaning may be evaluated in another form.
This lesson falls in the approaching level of creativity and innovation. Students synthesize their impressions of a piece of art and write an original poem. They also discuss their poems with peers and provide feedback for the purpose of revision
Student Artifact
Download Files
- Lesson Plan and Rubric
- Ekphrasis Powerpoint
- Peer Editing Forms and Student Artifacts
