Create A 3-D Community Model
The documentary A BROOKLYN FAMILY TALE follows a Sunset Park, Brooklyn
family and its connection with the Center for Family Life and Sister Geraldine
in particular. Sister Geraldine talks about understanding rather than
trying to change the community she is trying to help. A community program
must first understand the community it serves. In this lesson, students
will learn to understand and appreciate their own and their classmates'
communities through art. The students will listen to a short story for
telling details about the community presented. They will then collect
materials from their communities and create a 3-D piece to present at
a class show. In preparing for the art show, students will learn to appreciate
and discuss their own and their classmates' artwork.
2-3 weeks (ten to fifteen 50-minute class periods)
Language Arts, Visual Arts
Students will be able to:
- Listen to a short story and take notes on the details
- Fill in a graphic organizer about what makes up their community
- Identify and collect items (paper, plastic, wood, metal, anything)
to construct a 3-D piece that tells viewer something about their community
- Solve the problem of constructing a 3-D piece with limited resources
(glue, string, wire, tape)
- Ask thoughtful questions about their classmates work and discuss
their own work, from process to intention and implication
- Use email to invite family, community and school to their art opening
MCREL VISUAL ARTS, Level 4, Standard
Applies media, techniques, and processes with sufficient skill, confidence,
and sensitivity that one's intentions are carried out in artworks.
MCREL VISUAL ARTS, Level 4, Standard 1
Identifies intentions of those creating artworks.
MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 6
Understands the philosophical assumptions and basic beliefs underlying
an author's work (e.g., point of view, attitude, and values conveyed by
specific language; clarity and consistency of political assumptions).
MCREL LISTENING AND SPEAKING Level 4, Standard 8
Responds to questions and feedback about own presentations (e.g., clarifies
and defends ideas, expands on a topic, uses logical arguments, modifies
organization, evaluates effectiveness, sets goals for future presentations).
This lesson was prepared by: Valerie Kelemen