L. Lova Jones Home Sweet Home Provided by the South Dakota Art Museum Brookings, South Dakota
South Dakota Artists Curriculum Unit Unit of Study: L. Lova Jones, painter Title of Lesson Plan: Home Sweet Home Grade Level: 3 5
South Dakota Content Standards Fine Arts: Visual Arts Standard One 3-4: Students will describe how visual arts tell stories, express moods, or convey ideas. Visual Arts Standard Two 3-4: Students will understand selected techniques which give artwork detail. Visual Arts Standard Two 5-8: Students will describe the various techniques which give artwork definition and detail.
South Dakota Content Standards U.S. History: 3.US.1.1 Students are able to identify the obstacles and successes of the early settlers and Native Americans in creating communities. 4.US.1.1 4.US.2.1 Students are able to explain factors affecting the growth and expansion of South Dakota. Students are able to describe the impact of significant turning points on the development of the culture in South Dakota.
South Dakota Content Standards Geography: 3.G.2.1 Students are able to identify reasons people move and how it affects their communities. 4.G.2.1 Students are able to describe how the resources of various regions and the state of South Dakota affected the growth of each.
Assessment Strategies Class discussion Observation using VTS Observation of research skills Creation of a frame house following guidelines listed in a rubric
Learning Objectives Students will learn about South Dakota artist Lova Jones. Students will evaluate the painting using VTS techniques. Students will explain how the railroads affected the growth of South Dakota. Students will construct a replica of a frame house.
Time Required Two class periods of 30 40 minutes each Materials/Technology Needed Images of frame houses in South Dakota (prior to statehood) Popsicle sticks Tongue depressors Glue (hot glue if available)
Background Information L. Lova Jones father was the first person to build a frame house in Brandon Township, SD in 1875. He had to go 50 miles east to Worthington to haul the lumber because that was the closest railroad station. You could show students the differences between sod houses and frame houses.
Lesson Description Explain to students that L. Lova Jones is a South Dakota artist who lived from 1874-1951. Discuss with students what all Lova Jones father had to go through to build the first frame house in Brandon Township, SD. Tell students that he had to travel by wagon 50 miles to the east to Worthington, MN to pick up the lumber from the nearest railroad station (at that time). Have students research and calculate how long that would have taken her father to make the round trip from Brandon Township to Worthington and back. The trip was about 50 miles one way. Explain to students that a frame hose was quite unusual in this part of the country during this time, mainly because of access to building supplies.
Lesson Description continued Discuss with students the elements of building a frame house (foundation, walls, roof, etc.). Show students pictures of frame houses back in the late 1870 s and early 1880 s. For their assignment, have students create a replica of a frame house from this time period using tongue depressors for the frame and popsicle sticks for the roof and siding. There are many examples of how to make a popsicle stick house online. Another Suggestion: You could have 1/2 of the class make sod houses out of plastic strawberry baskets, mud, and grass seed, and the other 1/2 create frame houses.
Enrichment Have students research the impact of the railroads in the community where the students live. Examples: Aberdeen Pierre Deadwood
Bibliography/Resources South Dakota Art Museum Collection L. Lova Jones
L. Lova Jones Presentation to Students
L. Lova Jones Image Courtesy of the South Dakota Art Museum
L. Lova Jones 1874 1951 Attended the Art Institute of Chicago Taught and painted art in Chicago and California Painted portraits and scenery Painted portraits of 3 notable South Dakotans Senator R. F. Pettigrew Governor Frank M. Byrne, 1913 1917 L. T. Dunning, pioneer druggist and land developer of Sioux Falls, SD
Bibliography South Dakota Art Museum Collection L. Lova Jones *For more information about L. Lova Jones, contact the South Dakota Art Museum
Examples of L. Lova Jones Artwork
Falling Snow Image Courtesy of the South Dakota Art Museum
Anthill Image Courtesy of the South Dakota Art Museum