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Study in Value

Study in Value

Students choose a primary color, add black and white to and write their names in an interesting way.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Apron/Smock
  • Container of Water
  • Paper Pad(s)
  • Paper Towels
  • Recycled Newspaper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Share with students a variety of black and white photos. Discuss the lightest and darkest part of the artwork. How does light and dark suggest feeling or mood?

  • Step 2

    Provide each student with a piece of white construction paper and a paper plate that has black and white Crayola Tempera Paint on it, plus the primary color of the student's choice.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to write their names in cursive across the construction paper in pencil. Then students use their primary color choice to go over the penciled name.

  • Step 4

    Encourage students to add white, a little at a time, to the primary color and go over the bottom edge of the name. Create at least 5 lighter values of the primary color before getting to white at the papers edge.

  • Step 5

    Students add black, a little at a time, to the primary color and go over the bottom edge of the name. Create at least 5 darker values of the primary color before getting to black at the papers edge. Allow time for all paint layers to dry.

  • Step 6

    When the class is ready, have a discussion about how value can add to a paintings mood as was discussed before the art making.

Standards

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

VA: Explore art-making techniques and approaches.

VA: Compare responses to a work of art before and after working in a similar media.

VA: Interpret art by analyzing characteristics of form and structure to identify mood.

Adaptations

Use only black and white paint and create a painting using the gray scale to convey mood.

Using only black, white and a primary color, create a painting to convey mood.