Lesson Plan Sixteen

The Spirit of Olympic Art


	Grade Level: 6-8 Subject: Reading, Writing, Communication, Geography, Visual Art Time needed: 2-3 hours

Lesson Overview
Lesson Summary	The first recorded art was sports art when cavemen depicted their hunting scenes. Explore why sports art is important, where can it be found, what can be learned from the sports art, what purposes it serves, who makes it, and what motivates people to make sports art.
Objectives	Communicate why sports art was produced. Compare and contrast early sports artists with modern sports artists. Create an individual piece of sports art.
Materials	Pictures of sports art or Internet access to them Art supplies depending on the medium chosen
Introduction
Suggested Lesson Plan Procedures	Teacher will introduce the fact that the earliest art was cave art. Discuss the possible reasons why cave art exists. What does it tell us? Discuss the fact that during the early Olympics art had several purposes: i.e, worship of gods through statues, use of decorated vases as trophies. Brainstorm other purposes. Discuss some of the samples of Olympic art and what they might have meant at that time. What might have motivated the artists? Show samples of current Olympic art. Compare and contrast the differences. Have students choose a medium (pencil drawing, clay, water color) and make their own trophies or sports art for the Olympics.
Teacher Notes	Teachers should prepare before lesson to have good samples ready.
Technology Supplies	Computer(s) Internet Connection Internet Web Browser
Modification for Differentiated Instruction	Special Needs Students : Assist student in choice and modify grading rubric depending upon ability Allow more time for slower hand coordination. Gifted Students : Allow more time for detailed art work.