Distance Learning Art: Poetry and a Portrait
Students will create a half self-portrait and write a poem about themselves in the background. Students can choose to write an 'I Am' poem, an Acrostic, or any other type of poem that they choose. Students will use proportion to learn how to draw a portrait and how to draw eyes, nose, mouth, ears, eyebrows, hair, etc. This lesson can easily be adapted using the materials students have available at home.
Lesson Created By: AllisonPitre
Essential Question
How can visual art connect to poetry?
Grade(s):
- 3
- 4
- 5
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
To view lesson resources students will need an internet device such as a cell-phone, or wifi access and a laptop or tablet.
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
A variety of materials can be used for this project including paper, pencil, crayons, markers, sharpies, colored pencils, and oil pastels.
Lesson Progression
1. Students will begin by writing a poem about themself on a separate sheet of lined paper as a rough draft.
2. Next, students will proofread and edit their poems to correct spelling, capitalization, grammar, or punctuation errors.
3. Students will begin drawing their portraits on another sheet of paper using the demonstration video.
4. Students will start by drawing the outline of their face and neck, then add features: eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears, hair, and any other details.
5. Students will use colored pencils or crayons to color in their self-portraits. Students can create values and shadows in their portrait by pressing down harder or lighter with their drawing tool.
6. Students will draw lines in the background of their artwork for each line of their poem.
7. Last, students will write their poem creatively in the background using a sharpie, marker, or pencil.
8. Students will shade the background with different colors and values.
Creating Poetry and a Portrait with Allison Pitre | Asynchronous Studio Lessons
Allison Pitre (Meadowfield Elementary School) leads an art lesson on creating poetry in a portrait, which is half of a portrait, containing a poem in the background.
View AssetPoetry and a Portrait Powerpoint
View ResourceWriting an 'I Am' Poem
This worksheet will help you write an 'I Am' Poem
View Resource