THE
PYRAMIDS
OF GEEZEH
Essential Question: How do artists and writers
create harmony through careful composition?
Arts Every Day Model Lesson
Robert Bullwinkel, 2013
Common Core State Anchor Standards:
1) Reading Anchor Standard 1: Read closely to
determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical
inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when
writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the
text.
2) Reading Anchor Standard 4: Interpret words and
phrases as they are used in a text, including determining
technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and
analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or
tone.
3) Writing Anchor Standard 9: Draw evidence from
literary or informational texts to support analysis,
reflection, and research.
VAPA Standards (Grade 6)
Visual Arts, Artistic Perception 1.1 Identify and describe
all the elements of art found in selected works of art
(color, shape/form, line, texture, space, value)
Visual Arts, Aesthetic Valuing 4.1 Construct and describe
plausible interpretations of what they perceive in works of
art.
Theatre, Creative Expression 2.3 Write and perform
scenes or one-act plays that include monologue,
dialogue, action, and setting together with a range of
character types.
Integrated Learning Outcome
Using reader’s theatre, students will
perform a collaborative poem that
demonstrates their understanding of
composition in painting and in writing.
Text
1) The Pyramids of Geezeh, by David
Roberts
2) “A Short Walk through the Pyramids and
through the World of Art,” by Phillip
Isaacson (From CCSS, Appendix B)
Creative Process:
Imagine/Examine/Perceive
• Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
•
•
•
a) What’s going on in this picture?
b) What do you see that makes you say that?
c) What else can we find?
• Great Video linking Common Core to VTS Strategies!
• http://vimeo.com/81688821
•
Creative Process:
Explore/Experiment/Develop Craft
Add Domain Specific Vocabulary:
• Foreground / Middle Ground / Background
• Horizon Line
• Vanishing Point
• Value
Creative Process:
Explore/Experiment/Develop Craft
Add Domain Specific Vocabulary:
• Harmony - all parts of the composition
relate to and complement each other.
Analyze Text
“A Short Walk through the Pyramids and
through the World of Art”
Reading Strategy: Highlight or underline
words and phrases that stand out to you.
Creative Process:
Explore/Experiment/Develop Craft
Generate descriptive words and phrases
on sentence strips
Descriptive words or phrases based on parts of
speech (adjectives, nouns, verbs, etc)
Phrases using alliteration
Phrases relating the theme, emotion or message
of the work
Creative Process:
Explore/Experiment/Develop Craft
Generate descriptive words and phrases on
sentence strips
Sentence Frames:
I see…
It feels like…
I wonder…
Create
• Combine the
sentence strips to
compose a
collaborative
poem that
expresses the
understanding of
both pieces of
text.
Create
Work collaboratively to write and perform a
reader’s theatre version of the collaborative
poem.
Creative Process:
Reflect/Assess/Revise
Use effective vocal expression, gesture, facial
expression and timing.
Theatre Checklist:
1. Use two or more choral reading techniques
1.
2.
3.
4.
whole group/small group/solo
echo words or phrases
montage or overlapping phrases and/or sounds
repetition of key words or phrases
2. Use at least one sound effect
3. All parts of the performance relate to and
complement each other (harmony).
Creative Process:
Reflect/Assess/Revise
Use effective vocal expression, gesture, facial
expression and timing.
Theatre Checklist:
Use two or more staging techniques
• tableau (frozen stage picture)
• pantomime (acting without words)
• choral movement (same movements at the same time)
• split focus (two important things happening at the same time
• levels (high, medium, low)
Creative Process:
Reflect/Assess/Revise
Use effective vocal expression,
gesture, facial expression and
timing.
Theatre Checklist:
1.
Use two or more choral
reading techniques
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
whole group/small group/solo
echo words or phrases
montage or overlapping phrases
and/or sounds
repetition of key words or phrases
Use at least one sound effect
All parts of the performance
relate to and complement each
other (harmony).
Use two or more staging
techniques
• tableau (frozen stage picture)
• pantomime (acting without words)
• choral movement (same movements at
the same time)
• split focus (two important things
happening at the same time
• levels (high, medium, low)
Creative Process:
Time to Share!
1. Unison Play
2. C-P-R (Create, Perform, Revise)
3. Unison Play
4. “Informance”
Authentic Performance-Based Summative
Assessment
Reflections
This lesson was the result of the work
done at the Arts Every Day workshop
offered through the Fresno County Office
of Education.