4 sessions; 45 minutes per session

1. SWBAT identify Surrealism.
2. SWBAT associate artist Rene Magritte with Surrealism.
3. SWBAT describe motif and juxtaposition.
4. SWBAT create a surreal composition using mixed media.

1. 12” x 15” white watercolor/drawing paper.
2. blue and white tempera paint.
3. 1” brushes
4. Paint palettes
5. Cut, pattern paper rectangles
6. 3" x 12", 4" x 15" brown paper (One set per student, cut ahead of time.)
7. Glue stick (bottles work fine too.)
8. Newspaper (for painting.)
9. Digital camera.
10. Cardstock (for printer.)
11. Gel Marker.
12. Scissors

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

SESSION ONE - (45 Minutes.)
Step 1: Introduce Surrealism and Rene Magritte via the PowerPoint presentation. Utilize the presentation to guide the pacing of the lesson expanding where needed.
Step 2: Discuss motif and juxtaposition.
Step 3: Class demo on painting a cloudy sky.
Step 4: Delegate student helpers to pass out 12" x 15" paper, brushes.
Step 5: Pass out paint palettes.
Step 6: Circulate through the room while students paint cloudy skies.

SESSION TWO - (45 Minutes.)
Step 1: Class demonstration of building creation.
Step 2: Delegate student helper to pass out bins of cut paper shapes, glue.
Step 3: Circulate through the room as students begin creating cut paper buildings for their composition.
Step 4: Use the Whiteboard to demonstrate addition of windows focus on perspective, highlights, shadows.
Step 5: Pass out gel markers and circulate through the room as students add detail.

SESSION 3 - (45 Minutes.)
Step 1: Reinforce concept, check for understanding of movement, key vocabulary. Reteach where necessary.
Step 2: Delegate student helpers to pass back materials and artwork.
Step 3: Students are to continue working on their buildings and when finished, glue them onto their sky paintings from Session One.
Step 4: While students are working call them up by table to have photographs taken for use next time.

SESSION FOUR - (45 Minutes.)
*Prior to Session Four it is necessary to upload, resize, and duplicate photos of each student. Roughly 16 photos per student. I utilized Photoshop to erase the backgrounds and resize. Afterwards I inserted the image into Word, further resized creating two sizes of each photo and copied each student photo onto an entire sheet to create about 15 photos of each student.

Step 1: Delegate student helper to pass out glue and artwork.
Step 2: Pass out sheets of student photos.
Step 3: Instruct students to carefully cut out each photo individually.
Step 4: When ready, discuss pattern.
Step 5: Instruct students to glue photos onto their composition in a pattern of choice.

Students will be assessed as per a modified version of the Art Department's general rubric, or via an exit slip discussing Surrealism, Magritte, Juxtaposition, and Motif.

Feel free to contact me for any suggestions, additional resources, or questions.

The students truly enjoyed this lesson. I taught it with my 3rd grade, but it could be modified for lower or higher grades easily.

[K-4] Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories

[K-4] Students use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner

[K-4] Students know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes

[K-4] Students use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas

[K-4] Students explore and understand prospective content for works of art

[K-4] Students know that the visual arts have both a history and specific relationships to various cultures

[K-4] Students identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places

[K-4] Students understand there are different responses to specific artworks

Rene Magritte

Surrealism

Space, Rhythm/Pattern, Proportion/Size

Marker, Digital, Collage, Paper

Technology

Magritte Presentation.pptx