A unit in World Cultures, Art, or World History
Adaptable for Grades 6 - 10
Objectives
Students will
- be able to describe characteristics of the Renaissance
- analyze Renaissance art
- draw conclusions about the role of art in any society
Introduction
Before beginning this unit, students should already have a basic understanding of the Classical Period and the Middle Ages. Also, teachers should have introduced the Renaissance prior to this activity.
It has been said that art imitates life. Assuming this is true, we should be able to look at the art of any society, at any point in history, and see a representation of its people’s values. Just as the sounds and lyrics of American pop music in the ‘60s represented an attitude of protest and rebellion in its young listeners, so too the art of the Renaissance reflects European society’s attitudes during that time.
It is this “attitude” that largely defines the Renaissance, a time when people placed increased importance on the arts, the individual, and non-religious pursuits.
This unit will take students through a process in which they will not only experience masterpieces from the Renaissance, but will also learn to analyze art, draw conclusions, and, at the advanced level, apply lessons from the art to their own lives. In doing so, students will gain an understanding of the characteristics that define the Renaissance.
This lesson was developed to be used by a wide range of ages and abilities (grades 6-10). It can be altered for different ability levels.
Have your students start from this url:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/art-ren/stu1.cfm
Otherwise, they'll read the answers in this section!
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