Free 12th Grade Colour Theory In Art History Lesson Plan

Topic: Colour theory and the impact on meaning in art history

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to define colour theory and explain its relationship to art and art history.
• Students will be able to identify the role colour theory plays in the interpretation and evaluation of works of art.

Materials

• Handouts outlining basic colour theory concepts
• Examples of works of art that emphasize colour theory (e.g. paintings by Monet, works of art from various time periods)
• Whiteboard and markers

Warm-up

• Ask students to identify the main theme or subject of a given work of art.
• Encourage students to consider the use of colour, forms, and shapes in their responses.
• Write down the responses on the whiteboard.
• Ask students to share their observations and insights about how the artist used colour, forms, and shapes in the work of art.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of colour theory and its importance in the visual arts.
• Share examples of how different colours can have different emotional and psychological effects on the viewer.
• Discuss the role of complementary colours in creating balance and harmony in a work of art.
• Explain how the manipulation of form and shape can create a sense of movement and emotion in a work of art.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in small groups to analyze a work of art, examining how colour, form and shape are used to create a specific mood or meaning.
• Have each group present their findings to the class and discuss.

Independent Practice

Project-based:

• Have students choose a work of art that they are familiar with (could be a painting, sculpture, or other work of art) and create a colour-based project based on it. This could be a collage, a drawing, a painting, a 3D model - anything that uses colour and form to express their interpretation of the work.
• Encourage students to experiment with different techniques and colour combinations, and to think about how their choice of colour and form contributes to their interpretation of the work.

Closure

• Have students share their projects with the class, and discuss how they used colour and form to interpret the work.
• Ask students to reflect on how they have learned about colour theory and its application in art, and how this knowledge can be applied to their own creative projects.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided practice activity to assess their understanding of colour theory and its application in art.
• Collect and review the student-created collages as an assessment of their ability to apply their understanding of colour theory in the creation of a meaningful and well-crafted piece of art.