1. +
EMBRACING ART
THROUGH COMMUNITY
Stephanie, Hannah, Danielle, Shannon, Ashley

2. +
Community
 3rd grade level
 Overview:
 Creating artwork that will be seen by people in the community is a great way to provide
confidence and excitement among your students. The students will also be able to make art
outside of the classroom which is a great way to keep student interest and enrich the
community. The focus of this unit will be on murals, the environment, visual symbols with in
our community and the Yoruba culture. Through exploring these different avenues the student
will have a strong understanding of ways to impact the community through art, how other
cultures create art for their community and the importance of collaborating with other artist. In
compiling this unit there was research of the Yoruba culture, community mural
projects, recycling projects and anthological research. It is important for the student to gain
knowledge holistically when studying a community. The format and lessons are based on the
idea of creating a better understand and awareness of the community the students live in and
communities from other parts of the world.
 Key Concepts:
 Culture
 Collaboration
 Environment
 Essential Questions:
 How can using recycled materials benefit your community?
 How does art impact a community within a culture?
 Why is it important as artist to learn to collaborate with another artist in your community?

3. Lesson 1: Green Lanterns for
Tree Dressing
Students will create and design lanterns from recycled plastic bottles to be hung on the
school tree in hopes of bringing awareness to trees and their environmental importance.
Green Recycle Eco-friendly Environment
Essential Question:
How does hanging green lanterns bring awareness to trees?
How does using recycle water bottles benefit the community?
+
After the lesson, students will be more aware of the environment by creating eco-friendly lanterns to be
hung on the school tree. Students will be able to explore different mediums and materials, and will be
evaluated by completion.
Specific Art Content:
Form: to introduce and experiment with recycled materials to create green lanterns
Harmony: to understand the environmental importance of trees and how to dress them with proper
materials
Color: to bring attention to trees by celebrating National Tree Week and Tree Dressing Ceremony with
the hanging of colorful green lanterns
National Tree Week: http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/

4. + Tree lanterns

5. Lesson 2: Experiencing Community through
Examination of Celebration Traditions of the
Yoruba
Key Concepts: Celebration. Traditions. Community Interactions.
Essential Question: How does art impact a community within a culture?
Lesson Objectives: After the lesson the child should be able talk about how art impacts a
+
community through means of celebration. They should also be able to perform with their own
drum.
Specific Art Content: We will examine how art is used in different cultures. We will also discuss
different ways the Yoruba people in particular use art in their communities. We will also look at the
aesthetic styles of Yoruba art making.
Yoruba dancing and drum music:
http://www.youtube.com/user/debraklein%23p/u/9/sCv03EolhMQ

6. Example of completed drum

7. Lesson 3: Community Quilt
Key Concepts: Acknowledges the variety of cultures that make up our class room
Identifies symbols of their personal culture and those of their class mates.
Essential Questions:
What cultures make up our classroom?
What are some of the symbols of your culture?
What are some of the symbols of your classmate’s culture?
+
Lesson Objectives:
Students will be able to associate symbols with the cultures that make up our class.
Students will be able demonstrate a knowledge of their own background.
Quilt: http://web.me.com/nancywalkup/Site/FAE%3A_Personal_Quilt_Squares.html

8. +
Examples of ways to approach quilt

9. Lesson 4: 3rd Grade School Mural
Key concepts: murals, community, collaborative art
Essential Question:
What is a mural?
Where have you seen murals in your community?
Lesson Objectives:
To collaborate with students in classroom and school environment to create a collective
+
artwork that will be displayed in school
Students will utilize the elements of art in a variety of art materials.
Specific Art Content: Grid, collaboration, color, shape, size, line
Mural: http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/mural.html

10. +
Example of UNT Mural
Denton Square

11. +