Curriculum / ELA / 1st Grade / Unit 5: Inspiring Artists and Musicians / Project
ELA
Unit 5
1st Grade
Project
Jump To
Create a mural tile inspired by Diego Rivera.
Book: Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
6x6 mural tiles
Computer and projector
Pencils
Markers or crayons
Tape
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Suggested objectives and lesson structures for this project
Ask your students: Why does Diego Rivera make his murals? (To celebrate things that make Mexican culture special and to inspire people to feel proud of their history and culture/.)
Explain to students that today we are going to create our own classroom mural and we are going to be inspired by Diego Rivera's work. Reiterate his purpose in making art.
Turn and Talk: What is something special about your life that you feel proud of?
Give each student a 6x6 square to draw with pencil a picture of something that is special about their life and that they are proud of. Model and circulate to make sure that students are choosing things that fit both. (Example: "I play video games" doesn’t qualify because that’s not something I’m proud of from my life. "I show courage by standing up for what’s right at recess" does count because it’s from my life and I’m proud of it.)
After students have done a first draft in pencil you can give them crayons (or cray-pas) to color in their murals. Show samples of Diego’s work and highlight that there is no white space in his murals so they should color in their entire square.
Share Out: What is one thing that you put on your mural tile?
Compile all mural tiles to make a complete class mural. Save this mural for the gallery at the end of the unit.
RI.1.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
SL.1.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups
Observe and describe paintings by different artists.
SL.1.1 SL.1.4 SL.1.6
Describe two key events from Horace’s childhood or early life.
L.1.1.j RI.1.3 RI.1.6 RI.1.7 SL.1.1
Describe what makes Horace Pippin’s art remarkable.
L.1.1.g L.1.1.j RI.1.3 RI.1.6 RI.1.8 SL.1.1
Explain why Jackson’s work is original.
L.1.1.g L.1.1.j RI.1.3 RI.1.8 SL.1.1
Describe two key facts about Don Lupe’s early life.
L.1.1.j RI.1.2 RI.1.3 SL.1.1
Explain why Don Lupe, or Posada, was influential.
Explain why Diego Rivera’s art is important.
Explain why Frida Kahlo was resourceful.
Explain what Jean-Michel was courageous.
Writing – 2 days
Write an opinion piece stating which artist is your favorite.
L.1.1.g L.1.1.j L.1.2.a L.1.2.b L.1.6 SL.1.1 W.1.1 W.1.5 W.1.7 W.1.8
Narrative – 3 days
Write a poem that describes one of the paintings studied in the unit.
L.1.2 SL.1.1 SL.1.2 W.1.3 W.1.5
Listen to and describe music by different artists.
Explain how the author shows that Duke Ellington was a genius.
L.1.1.j RI.1.3 RI.1.8 SL.1.1
Explain how prejudice and segregation influenced Marian.
Explain why Marian Anderson was courageous.
Describe Art Tatum using vocabulary from the unit.
Analyze why Robbie was persistent.
Explain why Robbie Robertson is an important part of the music world.
Explain what experiences Carlos had with music as a child and how they influenced him.
Analyze why the author titled the book When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana by Michael Mahin.
Explain three of the key elements of Hip Hop and how DJ Kool Herc helped to create each of them.
Explain what makes Trombone Shorty remarkable.
Opinion Writing – 3 days
Write an opinion piece stating which musician is your favorite and why.
L.1.1.g L.1.1.j L.1.2.a L.1.2.b L.1.2.c L.1.6 SL.1.1 W.1.1 W.1.5 W.1.7 W.1.8
Discussion & Writing
Discuss and debate unit essential questions.
SL.1.1 SL.1.4 SL.1.6 W.1.2
Assessment
Writing – 5 days
Participate in a shared research project about Misty Copeland.
W.1.2 W.1.5 W.1.7 W.1.8
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