Notan Design!
My partner, Nora, and I began our lesson today with the
Eighth grade class. Notan design focuses on utilizing elements of design to
create either a symmetrical or asymmetrical image. (I will add photos of my
examples and student work soon.) The students are given a 6x6 in. black square
that they cut shapes from and rotate the pieces as if they were on a door hinge
to explore positive and negative space. This will be glued down to large white
paper.
Lesson Day one:
Nora and I began the class with a PowerPoint presentation
that we hoped would engage the students through questioning and participation.
Students were a little resistant and possibly a little intimidated by the
change of dynamics within the class; Nora and I haven’t spent an incredible
amount of time with them and have not been a significant part of any lesson up
to this point. We struggled a little to get students to participate, but we
reacted positively to comments and tried to appear open. In the PowerPoint were images of Notan design,
including history and examples of symmetry, asymmetry, positive space, negative
space, and balance. We also defined student expectations and due dates. We
explained our expectations for sketches and showed an example. Nora and I then
passed out both papers along with a self-assessment form for students to
complete after finishing the project. Students were given the remainder of the
period to sketch while Nora and I circulated through the room answering
questions. As closure we asked the students what Notan design is and asked them
to write their answers in their art notebooks. Students were assigned to have
three sketches finished and their favorite one drawn out on their black paper
for tomorrow.
I was so excited about teaching today that I almost started
to cry when we finished for the day. This was not expected; I just really loved
teaching the kids and working to engage them through questioning. It was
thrilling to answer their questions and work with them individually on their
designs. I was so excited about making myself seem accessible and approachable
to the students; the last thing I want is for them to feel like they can’t ask
me a question or talk with me about their work. This was an incredibly exciting
and eye-opening day. I feel like I learned so much from this initial
experience.
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