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Autumn Leaves Value and Mid-tones in Creating Depth Jenette Noe, November 16, 2011, Drawing, Parma High School Rationale: The concept of value (lights and darks) is core to art. Artists use changes in value to simulate light and shadow, making their subject matter look more three dimensional. This lesson will review the concept of value as well as introduce a new concept: mid-tone. This lesson will use autumn leaves to help demonstrate the use of value and mid-tones, making it a fun, season appropriate lesson. Introduction: I will introduce myself again, and write my name on the board. I will then dump a bag of autumn leaves onto a large counter in the room, and ask students to pick one leaf of their choice from the pile. This should spark their curiosity, as they were not expecting something like this to happen. After students quickly choose a leaf, they will be instructed to return to their seats. While they are selecting leaves I will pass out colored index cards for the exit ticket strategy. Assessing Students Prior Knowledge: I know that Ms. McMillin has assigned drawing projects using black and white, but Im not sure if she has defined the vocabulary. I plan to do a very brief review session using questions and answers to bring up background knowledge. Miss Noe: Do you remember the drawing you just did with the black and white pastels? How did you use just the black and the white to draw your image? Possible & Desired Responses: To show lighting. White = light, black = shadow. Drew what I saw in the picture. Miss Noe: Its true that we use black and white to capture lighting in a drawing. This use of black and white, light and dark, is called value. [Writing definition on board] Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Each one of you should have an index card in front of you. Please write down the definition of value on the lined side of your card. If anyone does not have an index card, raise your hand and Ill bring you one. Goals or Key Concepts: Define value in regards to art. How artists use value. Using value to draw light and shadow. Objectives:

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Students will be able to define value (the lightness or darkness of a color). Students will be able capture light and shadow in a drawing through the application of value. Students will be able to utilize the mid-tone of paper when working with black and white. Students will be able to simulate depth in drawing a leaf with value.

Language/Reading Objectives: Students will create exit tickets to demonstrate their comprehension of value and midtones before they are allowed to begin a drawing with these concepts.

Materials: index cards pencils charcoal pencils white and black chalk pastels assorted autumn colors of construction paper a bag of autumn leaves Optional: Spheres, cones, cubes, and other shapes for additional practice Activities: Ms. Noe: Most of us are used to drawing with value, light and dark, on white paper. We use our pencils to draw the dark, and leave areas blank that we want to be light. But what happens when we draw on a piece of paper that isnt white? (hypothetical) [modeling on a large piece of gray or mid-toned construction paper] This is what you did when you did the black and white pastel drawings. You worked on a piece of gray paper. Its neither very light, nor very dark. So you were able to put down black pastel and white pastel on the gray background to make it pop. The gray paper acted as the mid-tone of your drawing. I say midtone because it is in the middle of the value scales. [holds up picture of value scale, then writes definition on board] Mid-tone: tonal value mid-way between highlight and shadow. Write this down on your index card as well, on the lined side. Does anyone have any questions so far? Is there something I need to clear up? You can use other colors as your mid-tone, too, so long as you are working with black and white. Wherever you would want a middle value, you leave the paper showing. Ill show you what I mean. [models use of highlight and shadow to make a circle look like a threedimensional sphere, taking care to leave the mid-tone of the construction paper showing through]

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Today I would like you to draw the leaf you chose, using white to show light, and black to show shadow, and leaving the mid-tone of the colored paper to show through. Construction paper is at the front of the room [points]. When you look at the back of a leaf, you can see the veins/skeleton of the leaf in relief. Relief means it stands out from the surface. [writes definition of relief on board. Relief: the elevation of figures or shapes from a flat surface, as seen in sculpture, or their apparent elevation, as seen in painting/drawing.] If you look closely at the vein on the back of your leaf, you can see how the light on the relief makes highlights and shadows. Id like you to draw these for me as your next project. Its ok to trace the outline of your leaf on the construction paper, so long as you draw the veins in by yourself. [Quickly models on a sheet of construction paper what I expect.] Differentiation: This lesson includes lots of visuals and teacher modeling, so ELL learners wont struggle with much text. The definitions will be clearly written on the board, for all to see. Evaluation/Assessments: Normally this lesson would be graded with a rubric of participation, complexity, control of the medium, and overall neatness. However, my lesson will be taught as a fun and short lesson before Thanksgiving break to those who have finished all of their projects so far. In this situation my teacher may not include it in the grade book, or she may ask that I simply grade for participation points. Participation Complexity Control Neatness Total: 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 100 pts

Closing Activity/Summary: You see the index card in front of you? Thats called an exit ticket. You have to give me your ticket before you can start our next project. What Id like you to do, before you draw your leaf, is to fill out the exit ticket. On the lined side I want the three definitions on the board, and on the blank side Id like you to practice a sphere using value and mid-tone, like the one I showed you how to do. Draw a circle and then add black and white, leaving the mid-tone showing. Once youve finished your exit ticket, raise your hand and Ill pick it up. If you have questions, go ahead and raise your hand, Ill come by to help you.