Art and Culture Center/Hollywood Distance Learning Integrated Art Lesson Title: Jack O Lantern: Illuminating Its History October 28, 2016 at 9:30 10:15 am Description and Overall Focus: This project will allow students to learn how to create volumetric (3-dimensional) light cube based on a mixture of Celtic and American traditions. Length of Lesson Grade Range 45 minutes 1 hour Elementary School Objective(s) Students will learn the brief history of the Jack-O-Lantern of the Celtic tradition. Students will also learn about the concepts of positive and negative space, as well as measuring, cutting and layering methods they can use to create decorative geometric art. Materials: PLEASE NOTE: Some materials must be acquired/prepared prior to the broadcast. Please print and cut-out templates for students the day before. Please acquire a Roll of Wax Paper or Parchment or Freezer Paper (from the grocery store) the day before (see pic on p. 6). (Suggested colors of construction paper: orange/red/yellow/purple.) Extra Directions on page 5. Teacher Materials: 1. Templates (see page 4) printed on white card stock or thick paper- 1 SET PER 2-4 STUDENTS (Time Saver Suggestion - best to be pre-cut by teacher) 2. Paper punch 3. Roll of Waxed Paper or Parchment or Freezer Paper (from the grocery store) 4. Flashlight(s) or battery operated tea light(s) (to demonstrate only). Student Materials: 8 ½ X 11 sheets of colored construction paper 2 SHEETS PER STUDENT 8 ½ X 11 black construction paper 1 SHEET PER STUDENT Ruler Scissors Drawing pencil and eraser Stick Glue 1
Introductory activity Core activity Closure activity Assessment Teacher follow-up idea Student follow-up idea Book/Web references Students will learn a brief history of the Jack O Lantern (Jack-O-Lantern) and its origins. They will then see examples of Jack O Lantern faces from other countries of the world. Students will begin by folding and cutting their base pieces. They will continue by tracing and cutting-out their design pieces onto their colored paper. The luminary will then be built in three stages. Students will complete their creations making sure that the design components are secured properly. Several students will share their completed sculptures with the rest of their classmates. Students will have learned the brief history of the Jack-O- Lantern from the Celtic tradition. They will also have learned how positive and negative and cutting and layering are effective principles for creating a sculpturally decorative and traditional form that glows. The classroom teacher can use the websites below to present more of the information surrounding the artistic world of luminary art. Students can continue to create progressively sophisticated luminaries based on imagery of other celebrations. www.apieceofrainbow.com/20-magical-diy-luminaries/ www.instructables.com/id/how-to-carve-a-jacko-lantern Books: Papercraft: Design and Art with Paper by Robert Klanten Pumpkin Carving by Edward Palmer The Legend of Stingy Jack by Jeremiah Witting Art and Culture Center/Hollywood www.artandculturecenter.org Lesson plan prepared by Traci Petersen, MFA 2
Images from www.wheretheimaginationgrows.com, www.hubpages.com, www.crafthubs.com. History of the Jack O Lantern In Brief from www.history.com Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. Jack O Lantern, as the name describes, was originally called Jack of the Lantern, and was meant to be carried around like a lantern (an old-fashioned flash light) at night to ward off bad things. Again, the actual carving of pumpkins comes from the Celtic tradition of hollowing out and sculpting root vegetables into forms, then lighting them with candles. Today, Halloween is celebrated on October 31 st. The practice of decorating Jack-o- Lanterns the name comes from an Irish folktale about a scary man named Stingy Jack originated in Ireland. A mixture of spiritual traditions, the practice of making Jack O Lanterns in America now often encompasses All Saints Day on November 1 st, Day of the Dead on November 2 nd, as well as the much older cultural beliefs from Europe. 3
Template: These 4 templates are enough for 1-16 students. 4
Extra Directions: 5
Suggested Brands: Wax Paper, Parchment paper or freezer paper in a roll: 6