**Lesson Plan: Art History (Ancient to Medieval)**
**Grade:** Year 4
**Subject:** Art
**Duration:** 3 weeks (2 classes per week, each class 60 minutes)
**Objective:**
- Students will gain an understanding of major art from ancient to medieval times.
- Students will be able to identify key characteristics and techniques of artworks from various historical periods.
- Students will create an art piece inspired by one of the periods discussed.
**Week 1: Introduction to Ancient Art**
**Class 1: Ancient Egyptian Art**
- **Materials Needed:** Images of Egyptian art, paper, pencils, colored pencils, and markers.
- **Activities:**
1. **Introduction (10 min):** Brief discussion on ancient civilizations and their contributions to art. Focus on Egyptian art.
2. **Presentation (20 min):** Show images of Egyptian hieroglyphics, tomb paintings, and sculptures. Highlight features like the use of color, symbolism, and profile views.
3. **Drawing Activity (25 min):** Students create their own name in hieroglyphics on a piece of paper.
4. **Discussion (5 min):** Share and discuss drawings. Talk about what the students found interesting or challenging.
**Class 2: Ancient Greek and Roman Art**
- **Materials Needed:** Images of Greek and Roman art, clay or modeling dough, sculpting tools.
- **Activities:**
1. **Review (5 min):** Quick review of Egyptian art.
2. **Presentation (20 min):** Introduce Greek and Roman art, focusing on pottery, sculptures, and architecture. Show images and discuss the importance of realism and mythology.
3. **Sculpting Activity (30 min):** Students create a small clay sculpture inspired by Greek or Roman art.
4. **Discussion (5 min):** Discuss the sculptures and what students discovered while making them.
**Week 2: Transition to Medieval Art**
**Class 3: Early Christian and Byzantine Art**
- **Materials Needed:** Images of mosaics, paper, colored paper squares, glue.
- **Activities:**
1. **Review (5 min):** Recap Greek and Roman art.
2. **Presentation (20 min):** Introduce Early Christian and Byzantine art with a focus on mosaics and religious imagery.
3. **Mosaic Activity (30 min):** Students create a simple paper mosaic using colored squares.
4. **Discussion (5 min):** Reflect on the techniques and themes of Byzantine art.
**Class 4: Early Medieval Art**
- **Materials Needed:** Images of illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy pens, paper, colored inks.
- **Activities:**
1. **Review (5 min):** Review Byzantine art.
2. **Presentation (20 min):** Introduce early medieval illuminated manuscripts, discussing their use in religious texts and the intricate designs.
3. **Writing and Drawing Activity (30 min):** Students create an illuminated letter of their choice using calligraphy pens and colored inks.
4. **Discussion (5 min):** Share the illuminated letters and discuss the details and creativity involved.
**Week 3: High Medieval Art and Culminating Project**
**Class 5: Gothic Art and Architecture**
- **Materials Needed:** Images of Gothic cathedrals, paper, pencils, and rulers.
- **Activities:**
1. **Review (5 min):** Recap early medieval art.
2. **Presentation (20 min):** Introduce Gothic art and architecture, focusing on cathedrals, stained glass, and sculptures.
3. **Drawing Activity (30 min):** Students design a Gothic-style window or cathedral facade.
4. **Discussion (5 min):** Reflect on the significant features of Gothic art and architecture.
**Class 6: Culminating Project**
- **Materials Needed:** Variety of art supplies based on student choice (paper, paints, clay, markers, etc.)
- **Activities:**
1. **Review (5 min):** Quick recap of the entire unit.
2. **Project Work (50 min):** Students choose one of the periods discussed (Ancient Egyptian, Greek/Roman, Byzantine, Early Medieval, or Gothic) and create an art piece inspired by that period.
3. **Presentation (5 min):** Students present their projects to the class.
**Assessment:**
- Participation in discussions and activities.
- Completion of projects and activities with an understanding of the art period’s characteristics.
- Final project presentation.
**Extensions:**
- Field trip to a local museum, if possible, for students to view ancient and medieval art firsthand.
- Additional reading or videos on specific art periods for deeper understanding.
**Reflection:**
- Encourage students to write a short reflection on what they learned throughout the unit and which art period or activity was their favorite and why.