Art Awareness Lesson Plan – Georgia O’Keeffe- Cow Skull with Calico Roses
ELA Theme:
Unit 1: Multiple Perspectives examines the different perspectives people have based on their
backgrounds and experiences. This unit challenges students to consider and respect differing
perspectives, which will lead them to become open-minded and accepting of others.
Unit 2: Making a Difference introduces students to activism by learning how others make a difference
in their communities. This unit will encourage students to make a positive difference in the classroom
community and beyond through their actions
Objectives:
 To examine unique personal experiences and what can be learned from them
 To understand that every person goes through a similar process that shapes who they are and will
become
 To analyze potential topics that the students would like to learn more about in the future
Materials:
 Power Point presentation
 Lined notebook paper (you could provide this or ask the teacher ahead of time of students have a
journal they could use for the activity)
Procedure:
 This lesson requires the students to think about their own experiences before looking at the art piece.
Begin with a discussion that has children complete the sentence “Because I _______, I learned/saw
_____.” As this if for third grade, it is advisable that you give them several examples. “Because I went
to the Field Museum, I learned about dinosaurs.” “Because I read a book about the American colonies,
I learned about the Salem Witch Trials.” “Because I volunteered at Hesed House, I saw homeless
families.” Once you have gone through 3 examples with the students, have them complete the
sentence for themselves. Try to get them to come up with at least one sentence, but optimally if they
can come up with 3 or more that would be wonderful.
 Have the students share their sentences with their tablemates. As a group, they should select one
sentence they would like to share with the whole class. This first portion of the presentation might
take 10-15 minutes. That is okay…it will get them ready to look at and analyze the art that follows.
 Without any introduction, show the primary picture (cow skull w/calico roses) and have the table
groups complete the “Because I____, I learned/saw___.” for O’Keeffe. They can come up with more
than one way to complete the sentence. Allow 3-5 minutes for the groups to work, then have them
share their favorite response with the whole class.
 Using the Power Point provided (or your own material), discuss the background of the artist, and
show/explain some of the artist’s major pieces.
 You may want to read about the artist online or at the library prior to giving this presentation. Here
are some websites to get you started:
http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/about-georgia-okeeffe/
http://www.biography.com/people/georgia-okeeffe-9427684

Final Product: Now is the moment for kids to look into the future and reconnect with the ELA theme
they are studying in class. Go back to the fill in statement from the very beginning, but change the
wording to, “I want to _______, so I can learn/see______.” Some kids may have grand plans, others
more simple, but hopefully the kids will realize that their experiences do shape who they are, and that
affects the impact they have on the world around them.
Parent Contact:
After completing the art awareness lesson with the students, please send a note home to explain what
you did and why to the caregivers. You can print out the note and send it home or email it to the classroom
teacher and ask him or her to forward it to families.
Parent Contact example letter:
Art Awareness Presentation – KW
March 26, 2014
Dear Caregivers,
Today in your child’s class, an Art Awareness presentation and art project was completed. After
reading How to Become a Perfect Knight in Five Days by Pierrette Dube, we talked about real knights and
heraldry. Noting that few people could read in the Middle Ages, pictures were an important way to tell people
something about yourself and your family. Also, the kids noticed that once in their armor, all of the knights
looked the same. Having a family crest (heraldry) on the shields helped soldiers identify each other in battle.
We talked about the meaning behind some of the colors and pictures that you might have found on a knight’s
shield, and then the kids had a chance to create their own shield. I hope you enjoy the final product!
There are many fiction and non-fiction books at the Naperville Public Library about knights and the
Medieval Era if you and your child would like explore the topic further. You can also check out this fun
website to create another coat of arms.
http://www.imaginon.org/fun/whippingboy/createacoatofarms.asp?themeid=2&activityid=8
Sincerely,
Sandy Beris
This program is brought to the students and teachers by the May Watts Art Awareness PTA committee.