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Art Appreciation - Textbook

Grades 9-12
Course Description
Art Appreciation introduces students to the world
of art in a sophisticated way, providing them with
the language with which to discuss all types of art.
Students learn about the different types of visual art
and its historical classification, studying and viewing
ancient art from all over the world and progressing
through the eras to modern art. They keep an art
journal, in which they reflect upon and respond to
art of all kinds; they research an artist and engage
in studio projects. The class culminates in a final,
written project.

Learning Objectives:
• Students learn about the nature of art and its effect on and relation to culture.
• Students learn about art-related careers and the functions of art-related jobs.
• Students understand and apply the language and terminology of art and art criticism.
• Students survey a wide sampling of artists and art styles from all over the world.
• Students explore their own artistic abilities by performing various studio projects of
their own.
• Students learn to write about art and demonstrate their ability to think independently
by disagreeing with art criticism in essay form.
• Students can relate art periods and styles with their respective historical contexts and
apply and demonstrate their knowledge of the relationship of art and history in
selecting the sources they use to research an artist or period.
• Students perform independent research and write source-based essays.
• Students respond directly to art as seen in their textbooks, and interpret their thoughts
into writing using the terminology of art.
Lesson Sample
Art Appreciation A
Lesson 1: Why Study Art?

Welcome to Art Appreciation A. In this course, you will be learning about some of the
basic principles and genres of Art. Studio Projects will give you hands on experience
in creating art of your own, while the Art Journal lessons will allow you to reflect on
and respond to art in all its forms. The objective is to learn how to appreciate art by
developing your critical and technical knowledge of its various forms.

I. Art and You
Read pages 5 – 11.
1. Why do people study art? What makes people want to become artists?

II. Art Related Careers (pages 12-23)

Choose one of the following projects:
1. Choose an art related career and research the following: necessary
education, starting salary and typical work day.
2. List at least 10 art related jobs in California.
3. Job shadow an artist and write a report on their work day including
studio or office environment, materials needed and people with whom
they interact.

III. The Visual Vocabulary

Read pages 24 – 39.
2. What are the seven elements of Art?
3. Answer “Review Questions” 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 on page 39.
4. What color is opposite of green on the color wheel?
5. What is the difference between emphasizing and de-emphasizing
line in painting?

III. Applying What You’ve Learned

6. Look at Giorgione’s Adoration of the Shepherds, illustration 2.14 on page
38. Answer the questions next to the painting.

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Outline
Lesson 1: Why Study Art?
A) Understanding art - art criticism - art history - studying art - questions
B) Art related careers - project assignment
C) The language of design - elements of line, texture, shape, form, and
space - questions
Lesson 2: The Principles of Art
A) Principles of art - questions - studio exercise
B) Art journal introduction & assignment
Lesson 3: Drawing & Painting
A) Types and media of drawing & painting - questions
B) Print making & photography - review questions
C) Painting assignment & questions
Lesson 4: Sculpture and Three Dimensional Art
A) Types of sculpture - questions
B) Processes of sculpture - questions
C) Art journal assignments
Lesson 5: Studio Art Project
A) Studio lessons - art project
B) Museum report assignment
Lesson 6: Art History
A) Learning about works of art - questions
B) Art response assignment - definitions
C) Art journal assignment
Lesson 7: Critiquing Art
A) Art criticism & aesthetics - art response assignment
B) Questions - mid-term project assignment
Lesson 8: Still Life and Mid-Term Project
A) Studio art project assignment
B) Mid-term project assignment continues
Lesson 9: Writing Your Art Critique
A) First draft of art criticism essay due
Lesson 10: Ancient Art
A) Prehistoric art in Western Europe - questions
B) Section review - Mid-term paper revision
Lesson 11: The Art of Ancient Egypt

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 A) Ancient Egypt - definitions
B) Questions - art journal assignments
Lesson 12: The Age of Beauty
A) Greek art - questions - definitions
B) Art response assignment
C) Evolution of Greek sculpture - art response assignments
D) Questions - art comparison assignment
Lesson 13: The Art of Rome
A) The age of conquerors - Roman art - questions
B) Definitions - art response writing assignment
C) Art journal assignments
Lesson 14: The Art of India, China, and Japan
A) Traditions of eastern art - art response assignment - questions
B) Art of China - art response assignment - questions
C) Art of Japan - art response - questions
D) Term project assignment
Lesson 15: Native American and African Art Forms
A) Native arts of America - art response assignment - questions
B) African art - art response assignment - questions
C) Term project continues - art journal assignment
Lesson 16: Researching Your Artist
A) Final project assignment - source reviewing - note taking
B) Final project outline due
Lesson 17: Drafting the Final Report
A) Final project first draft due
Lesson 18: Revision and Review Exercise
A) Final project revisions - project due
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 19: Art after the Classical Age
A) Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic art - art response - questions
B) Byzantine studio project - art journal assignment
Lesson 20: The Art of the Middle Ages
A) Early Medieval and Romanesque art
B) Art response - questions
Lesson 21: Gothic Art
A) Gothic art - art response - questions
B) Gothic sculpture & illustrated books - art response - questions
C) Art journal assignment
Lesson 22: The Italian Renaissance

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 A) Italian Renaissance art
B) Art response - questions
Lesson 23: The Renaissance in Northern Europe
A) Northern European Renaissance art - art response - questions
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 24: European Art in the 16th Century
A) Sixteenth century art in northern Europe - art response – questions
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 25: Mid Term Project
A) Mid term assignment - choosing sources
Lesson 26: Mid Term Project
A) Writing essay - essay due
Lesson 27: Baroque Art
A) Baroque art - art response - questions
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 28: The Art of the 18th Century
A) Eighteenth century art - art response - questions
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 29: From Neoclassical and Romantic Art to Impressionism
A) Era of change: 19th century - art response - questions
B) Late 19th century - Impressionism - art response - questions
Lesson 30: The Art of the Later 19th Century
A) Europe in the late 19th century - art response - questions
Lesson 31: Modern Art for a New Century
A) Early 20th century art - art response - questions
B) Art journal assignment
Lesson 32: Exploring New Dimensions
A) Dada, Surrealism, fantasy painting, & the 20th century U.S.
B) Art response - questions
Lesson 33: Some Final Projects
A) Studio project assignment
B) Assessment assignment
Lesson 34: Researching Your Final Project
A) Final project assignment - sources
Lesson 35: Drafting the Final Report
A) Write 1st draft of paper - 1st draft due
Lesson 36: Conclusion
A) Review & revise paper - final draft due
B) Self evaluation - course evaluation

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