Topic Taught:
What it Takes to be a Superhero
In this unit we will focus on the exploration of identity, using a theme of superheroes to make it exciting for students. Students will look into their identity to create a superpower that they have as a superhero that helps the community. They then will create the different needed aspects of a superhero including a symbol and a costume focusing on the importance of symbols, color and meaning. To complete the unit, students will explore assemblage and bring it all together through creating a collection of artifacts in tribute to their superhero.
Lesson 1: Super Identity part 1
For more detailed documentation of this unit click the button below
In this unit we will focus on the exploration of identity, using a theme of superheroes to make it exciting for students. Students will look into their identity to create a superpower that they have as a superhero that helps the community. They then will create the different needed aspects of a superhero including a symbol and a costume focusing on the importance of symbols, color and meaning. To complete the unit, students will explore assemblage and bring it all together through creating a collection of artifacts in tribute to their superhero.
Lesson 1: Super Identity part 1
- In the first lesson students will be explore the idea of identity through a self-portrait. Students will be making a collage portrait by using images and personal drawings to communicate aspects of them. They will be working with elements of collage like placement, color and exaggeration to express their identity.
- Once students have identified talents and aspect of themselves and have assigned themselves a super power they will create a symbol that will represent them as a superhero. They will make a print of their symbol by creating a mono-print of their drawn symbol using markers on Plexiglas. The symbol must include shapes and designs that connect to their superhero identity.
- Students will take their new super identities and create a costume design to complement their new powers and show off their symbols. Using fabric and mixed materials students will create a part of their costume that they can wear. They will explore different methods of attaching pieces including tape, hot glue and sewing.
- As a class we will discuss our community. We will have students talk about how their super powers can help their community. Then the students will record a video stating who they are, what theirs powers are, and what they do for the (school) community. They will write a script addressing these questions before recording their video.
- Students will pretend they are their superhero’s biggest fan and create a collection of objects/artifacts of the super hero including a representation of their symbol, a small painting or drawing showing their superhero in action with a caption similar to an image in a newspaper article and another object they pick specifically relating to their superhero. This will all be assembled on a bulletin board.
For more detailed documentation of this unit click the button below
Relevance of the Topic to Content Standards
and Within Curricular Sequence:
and Within Curricular Sequence:
Significance to Topic:
-Globally:
Our unit allowed students to explore many materials, including fiber art techniques that are rarely offered to student in schools. Our focusing lens, identity, helped students to think about who they are and what makes them who they are. It is also a topic they were exploring in the other content areas of their class, helping it all be related. Students used new forms of technology and collaborated with each other to improve their 21st century skills. Literacy was also addressed throughout the different lessons including planning, discussion, new vocabulary and oral explanation.
-Personally:
When my co-teacher and I were creating this unit we were very excited about making our theme superheroes! I was enthusiastic to combine the expressive aspects of superhero culture with art and art making. I was eager to see the creativity of the students and how they were going to create a new super community with their awesome superpowers.
-For This Population:
Superheroes have always been a common interest for children and I think this generation is especially attracted to the idea of superheroes with all of the movies, TV shows and games being made recently. I think this makes it so students are able to relate, helping them to create personal connections in their artwork thus making it more meaningful. With the imagination of a child the magic of superpowers can come to life and be expressed in different ways including art.
-Globally:
Our unit allowed students to explore many materials, including fiber art techniques that are rarely offered to student in schools. Our focusing lens, identity, helped students to think about who they are and what makes them who they are. It is also a topic they were exploring in the other content areas of their class, helping it all be related. Students used new forms of technology and collaborated with each other to improve their 21st century skills. Literacy was also addressed throughout the different lessons including planning, discussion, new vocabulary and oral explanation.
-Personally:
When my co-teacher and I were creating this unit we were very excited about making our theme superheroes! I was enthusiastic to combine the expressive aspects of superhero culture with art and art making. I was eager to see the creativity of the students and how they were going to create a new super community with their awesome superpowers.
-For This Population:
Superheroes have always been a common interest for children and I think this generation is especially attracted to the idea of superheroes with all of the movies, TV shows and games being made recently. I think this makes it so students are able to relate, helping them to create personal connections in their artwork thus making it more meaningful. With the imagination of a child the magic of superpowers can come to life and be expressed in different ways including art.