### Lesson Plan: Art History (Medieval to Renaissance)
#### Grade: 7
#### Subject: Art
#### Duration: 90 minutes
#### Topic: Art History (Medieval to Renaissance)
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**Educational Standards:**
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of historical events, culture, and artistic movements.
- Students will identify and analyze characteristics of Medieval and Renaissance art.
- Students will create artworks inspired by historical art movements.
**Learning Objectives:**
- Understand and explain key differences between Medieval and Renaissance art.
- Identify key artists and pieces from both periods.
- Create a piece of art that combines elements from Medieval and Renaissance styles.
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**Materials Needed:**
- Projector and computer/Tablet for slides or video presentation
- Art History Handouts
- Examples of Medieval and Renaissance artworks
- Color pencils, markers, or paints
- Drawing paper or canvas
- Reference books on Medieval and Renaissance art (optional but encouraged)
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**Introduction: (10 minutes)**
1. **Hook:**
- Show a split image of a famous piece of Medieval art (like a Byzantine icon) and a Renaissance piece (like Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"). Ask students to observe and describe what they see.
2. **Brief Discussion:**
- Ask students what they know about the Middle Ages and the Renaissance periods.
- Highlight the timeline, emphasizing the transition from medieval times (circa 5th to late 15th century) to the Renaissance (14th to 17th century).
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**Instruction/Direct Teaching: (25 minutes)**
1. **PowerPoint Presentation/Video:**
- Provide a brief overview of Medieval art, characterized by religious themes, lack of perspective, flat figures, and elaborate, symbolic icons.
- Provide an overview of Renaissance art, marked by the use of perspective, humanism, realism, and famous techniques like chiaroscuro and sfumato.
2. **Discussion on Key Figures:**
- Medieval: Giotto, Cimabue.
- Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello.
3. **Compare and Contrast:**
- Show additional images of artworks from each period, encouraging students to identify differences and similarities.
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**Guided Practice: (20 minutes)**
1. **Group Activity:**
- Divide students into small groups and give each group a set of art history handouts with images and brief descriptions of notable pieces from both periods.
- Ask each group to identify what makes their assigned artworks characteristic of either Medieval or Renaissance periods, and then present their findings to the class.
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**Independent Practice: (25 minutes)**
1. **Art Creation Project:**
- Instruct students to create a unique piece of art that combines elements from both Medieval and Renaissance styles.
- Encourage them to plan their artwork first by sketching ideas before starting their final piece using color pencils, markers, or paints.
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**Closure: (10 minutes)**
1. **Art Gallery Walk:**
- Have students display their artworks around the room.
- Allow students to walk around and appreciate each other’s work, noting how Medieval and Renaissance elements have been combined.
2. **Reflection:**
- Engage students in a brief discussion on what they found challenging and interesting about combining the two styles.
- Ask them to reflect on how studying historical art periods can influence their own art practices and understanding of art history.
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**Assessment:**
- Participation in group discussions and activities.
- Quality and creativity of the final art project, demonstrating understanding of Medieval and Renaissance elements.
- Reflection discussion demonstrating comprehension of key concepts.
**Homework/Extension:**
- Write a short essay comparing two specific pieces from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, explaining how each work reflects the characteristics of its respective time period.
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**Accommodations:**
- Provide additional visual aids and close-up examples for students with visual impairments.
- Modify the assignment for students with motor skill difficulties by allowing digital art creation or collage using pre-cut images.
**Resources:**
- Khan Academy’s Art History resources
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
- Reference books like "Art: A World History" by Elke Linda Buchholz et al.
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End of Lesson Plan