The purpose of this lesson plan was to integrate art and language arts. Students were to narrate the story The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, by displaying a use of symbols on a collage.

1. Blair Thallmayer
Dr. Narey/ ELED 311
Pleasant Valley Elementary School
Mrs. Hardy
LESSON PLAN 5B
Grade Level: 2
National Standards:
A. #1 Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes
a. C.) Students use different media, techniques, and processes to
communicate ideas, experiences and stories.
State Standards:
A. 9.1. Production, Performance & Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual
Arts
a. 9.1.3 B- Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate
arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works
in the arts.
b. 9.1.3 E- Demonstrate the ability to define objects, express emotions,
illustrate an action or relate an experience through creation of works in the
arts.
B. 9.3 Critical Response
a. 9.3.3 D- Explain meanings in the arts and humanities through individual
works and the works of other using a fundamental vocabulary of critical
response.
Learning Goals
1. The learner will define and identify symbols in the real world.
2. The learner will define and identify symbols in a famous piece of art work.
3. The learner will create symbols to use in a collage that displays the story of The
Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, in the manor of Henri Matisse.
Summative Assessment Method: Students Collage
Summative Assessment Tool: Oral discussion and description of artwork

2. Instructional Design:
The learners will develop creative/critical thinking, problem solving and
performance skills by creating a Matisse-like collage. The strategies that I will use are
observation, recreation (by symbols) and explanation. I selected these strategies because
the students are observing Matisse artwork, retold story and symbols poster. Students
were creating the symbols onto a paper by cutting and pasting pieces of construction
paper. Finally, students were explaining on the white strip and aloud to the class the
purpose for which they have selected to create their collage of the story. Some
meaningful connections that the students’ will make to their knowledge and experience
are everything has shape, and color. The difference of each defines personal
characteristics of objects and symbols, e.g. human beings, buckskin, paintbrush, etc.
Meaningful connection I will make across subject matter to provide opportunities for rich
conceptual development are concepts of artwork, techniques of collage, meaning of
symbols and narration of a story. In addition, all students at any age can create a collage
to narrate a story.
Instructional Delivery:
• Materials, Tools, Resources
o Pencils
o Scissors
o Glue
o Colored Construction Paper
o White Construction Paper already cut for students as background
o Book- The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush retold and illustrated by
Tomie dePaola
o Activity Guide- Henri Matisse’s The Thousand and One Nights Page 1;
Vocabulary for The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.
o Symbols Poster
o Henri Matisse’s The Thousand and One Nights Poster
• Motivation
o Today we are going to learn about a legend. I will read The Legend of the
Indian Paintbrush retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. Little Gopher,

3. an Indian boy, learns to paint with the brilliance of the evening sky and
becomes known as He-Who-Brought-the-Sunset-to-the-Earth. This is a
story about the beautiful flower, the Indian Paintbrush.
• Explanation
o Today we are going to create a collage that narrates The Legend of the
Indian Paintbrush. The word collage was originally a French word,
derived from the word “coller”, meaning to paste. A collage is a work of
art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different
forms, thus creating a new whole. An artistic collage may include
newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored papers, portions of other
artwork, photographs and such glued to a piece of paper or canvas. A
narrator is someone retelling a story. Today we are going to retell (narrate)
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by creating a collage of construction
paper on a white strip of paper, using scissors and glue.
• Demonstration
o Students will be called by table, to sit on the blue rug in front of the
chalkboard, to view the demonstration. Students will come to the blue rug
with a clipboard and a pencil. At the blue rug, my two paper passers will
pass out the Activity Guide.
o While the students are at the front of the classroom, sitting on the blue rug,
I will display Henri Matisse’s The Thousand and One Nights Poster. I will
explain to the class that in this piece Henri Matisse the artist has arranged
symbols that represent parts of the legend of Scherezade. Scherezade told
the stories to the evil king to distract him from putting her to death. Each
student will be given an Activity Guide. On the first page the students & I
will complete together. Students will observe Henri Matisse’s The
Thousand and One Nights collage, raise their hand and explain what they
see. As a class we will list the objects and symbols we see on this Activity
Guide. As each item is listed, we will discuss it. After our list is completed
I will explain to the students that the symbols stand for objects from the
various stories, such as Magic lamps, flying carpets, exotic plans and

4. lightning bolts. Across the top is a row of black and green hearts to
symbolize the evil king. The red ones on the bottom indicate
Scheherazade.
o Next I will display the Symbols Poster that I have created as my visual
aid to help the students complete this lesson. I will narrate to the students
the information on the board as well as ask for their opinions. I will inform
the students that a symbol is a letter, character, or sign that stands for a
word or group of words. We will discuss every symbol on the board one at
a time. First is the green shamrock, and I will ask the students what do you
think the shamrock symbolizes? What does it stand for? What does it
remind you of? I will answer all of the students who raise their hands. We
will repeat this process for the remaining eleven symbols on my poster,
which range from the McDonald’s sign to an equals sign.
o I will have my collage completed of the narration of The Princess and the
Pea. Explaining my collage to the students, I will tell them that I have
selected a fairy tale to interpret in a Matisse-like artwork. I cut out colored
paper symbols (blue raindrops, yellow crown, green pea pod, brown bed
frame, and yellow & green mattresses) and glued them to the white
background, to resemble Matisse’s collage technique. I have used
traditional and invented symbols and shapes to display my narration of
The Princess and the Pea.
o Before students are asked to return to their tables to complete this lesson, I
choose to go over the second page of the Activity Guide. The second page
of the Activity Guide is a list of vocabulary words from The Legend of the
Indian Paintbrush. I will read each word aloud, as the students follow
along. As I pronounce each word, students should have some awareness of
this vocabulary from when I read the story during Shared Reading.
o The Symbol Poster, Henri Matisse’s The Thousand and One Nights
collage, my The Princess and the Pea collage, and the book of The Legend
of the Indian Paintbrush will remain at the front of the class during the
entire class period. Students will be allowed to come up and view during

5. any time. I will personally walk around with the poster to make sure each
table is completing the necessary requirements.
• Closure
o Let’s review. I will display each students’ collage on the front chalkboard
with magnets. The students will look at each collage. We will discuss the
similarities and differences in symbols between the students’ artworks. In
addition, I will ask the students what a symbol is. (A symbol is a letter,
character or a sign that stands for a word or group of words.) Today we
learned what symbols were and how we can use them in art to narrate a
story by cutting and pasting pieces of colored paper create a collage
technique like Henri Matisse. What else do you think could be done to this
picture to make our collage look more life-like? Printed text, relief, etc.
Excellent!
• Modifications
o A struggling learner would create a collage after selecting only 3 symbols
from the story or as many as that student could successfully complete.
These symbols could be invented or traditional pictures and could be
placed near the learner to observe as they cut and paste. This student could
also have a copy of the posters within their Activity Guide.
o An advanced learner would create a collage in a 3-D form. In addition,
these learners could also use both positive and negative shapes and spaces,
as well as traditional and invented symbols. This student could use other
materials, such as wire, pipe cleaners, and etc to create a 3-D collage.
• Procedures
o Step One- Motivation
o Step Two-Explanation
o Step Three-Demonstration
o Step Four- Materials
After the Demonstration I will tell the students once again what
they are doing in this project. After that I will have each student
return to their assigned seats at their assigned tables.

6. I will call on my two paper passers to pass out white construction
paper. “The white construction paper being passed out right now I
want everyone to write the title of the story and their name on the
back of the paper. The title of the story is The Legend of the Indian
Paintbrush. I will display my example in the front of the
classroom.
Next, I will have the paper passers pass out colored construction
paper, one different color per table. Students will share because
one piece is enough for 3-4 students.
The students already have pencils on their desk. The students
already have a red box at the middle of their table that contains
supplies such as crayons, scissors, glue, cubes, and counters. The
students will use only their pencils to write the title of the book and
their name on the back of their collage. The students will use only
construction paper, scissors and glue to complete this assignment.
Students may use a pencil to draw their symbols before they cut
them out.
o Step Five- Independent Practice
The students will independently select at least three symbols to
display on their collage. Students will cut out symbols from
colored construction paper and paste to their white paper. The
students will have selected The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush as
their story narrates to interpret in a Matisse-like artwork.
The students will independently write down the name of the story
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush and their name on the back of
their white construction paper.
o Step Four-Closure
o Step Five-Clean Up
The students will put all of their materials back into the correct red
box in the center of their tables. Students will also throw away
paper that is not useable into the green recycling bid in the back of

7. the classroom. Other pieces will be collected and save for another
time. I will come around and collect all student work.
Reflection & Proposed Revisions
The purpose of this activity was to help the student understand that stories can be
expressed through more than just words. Many times students know what they want to
say but struggle to express themselves using words. This lesson plan was designed to
bypass that and help students get across what they want to say in a more visual way.
First, I read the story The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, retold and illustrated by
Tomie dePaola. This is a very visual story, with pictures of every page. This was the
perfect book for my lesson because the students were able to follow along with
everything being said due to the pictures. Even if they did not understand the words
coming out of my mouth, the pictures in this book told the same story. After reading the
book, I explained to the students what the terms symbol and collage mean, displaying a
visual aid of a poster board I created. Symbols, I told them, are pictures or signs that
represent a word or group of words. Collages, as I explained, are the works of art wherein
many pictures are used to tell the story.
Once the students understood the concepts, I gave them each construction paper,
glue, scissors and instructed them to re-tell or narrate the book I just read, through a
collage of symbols. They were to cut out pictures of prominent objects or symbols in the
story to combine them in a way that would explain The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush,
to anyone who did not read it. They were also given a vocabulary list of help narrow
down their searches for words to be expressed by symbols.
I had my poster of symbols at the front, along with my Matisse painting, and the
storybook was always available for anyone who needed a frame of reference. None of the
students, however, needed to see the book again. From looking at the materials given to
them, the visual aids at the front of the classroom, and their memory, the students
successfully created collages that retold the story through symbols. This activity went
over very well to the point that every single student in the classroom succeed in
understanding the concepts presented and creating a collage that told the story.
There were two specific situations that stood out during the lesson. The first, dealt
with R, an autistic student. R has an IEP and a paraprofessional in the room. Right now,

8. we are working with R on shapes, and so his activity was modified so he could create a
collage using shapes. Even though his did not retell the story, he successfully reached his
goal for this lesson by understanding the terms symbol, collage and creating a collaged
based on his learning goals. The other situation, which dealt with B, involved B not
wanting to participate or follow instruction, and just draw on his own terms. He also did
not want to share construction paper with his group members. I had to further modify the
activity for B to the point that he only had to put three different symbols on his collage,
whereas everyone else wanted to go way beyond three. Despite this, he still understood
the terms symbol and collage, but did not want to go through with the activity. B is
currently being re-evaluated for special needs programs.
Even though this activity went over well with the students, both the reaching their
learning goals and enjoying themselves, if I were to do it over again, I would institute one
major change. Instead of everyone retelling the same story, I would have each person, or
each group, have their own different story to retell. This way we could have a game
where we have to guess what story is trying to be told.

9. Materials Discriminating Proficient Basic Unacceptable
Components 3 2 1 0
Instructional Effectively supports stated learning Reflects stated learning Somewhat Instructional
Utility goals. Enhances conceptual goals. connected to materials show
understanding. Reinforces key ideas, learning goals. little or no
How well do Reinforces key ideas, provides provides examples, Submits connection to
these materials examples, offers opportunity for offers opportunity for minimum the stated
help you teach practice, builds vocabulary, factual practice, builds required learning goals.
the lesson? knowledge, etc. vocabulary, factual formats for Minimum
Fits smoothly into lesson structure: knowledge, etc. lesson. required
appears integral to instruction Submits minimum formats are not
rather than perceived as an “add- required formats for submitted.
on.” lesson. Effectiveness of
Goes beyond minimum materials is discussed in
requirements. lesson plan reflection.
Effectiveness of materials is
discussed in lesson plan reflection.
Learner Demonstrates substantial Demonstrates some Minimal Needs of
Support understanding of and attentiveness understanding of and evidence of diverse
to the needs of diverse learners attentiveness to the attentiveness learners do not
How do these (differentiation) by effectively needs of diverse to needs of appear to be
materials meet addressing learning styles, cultural learners. Rationale is diverse addressed.
the needs of aspects, abilities, interests, etc. discussed in lesson plan learners.
diverse Materials offer the potential to make reflection.
learners? the lesson more meaningful to the
learner. Rationale is described in
lesson plan reflection.
Visual Design Engages viewer. Aesthetically Satisfactory composition, Composition Extremely
appealing. Effective use of design demonstrates basic shows minimal weak
Are these elements and principles. knowledge of design understanding composition.
materials Consistency of visual elements elements and principles. of design No apparent
aesthetically within the composition resulting in a elements and understanding
appealing? sense of “oneness.” principles. of design
Compositional elements support elements and
conceptual idea. principles.
Creativity Highly original design, approach, Some creativity is Minimal No creativity is
use of format, and/or use of evident in design, creativity is evident.
How do these instructional strategy. approach, use of format, demonstrated Problem does
materials Demonstrates thoughtful analysis of and/or use of in design. not appear to
demonstrate problem and effective, “thinking out- instructional strategy. Minimal be considered.
your personal of –the box” response. Some evidence that apparent Generic
critical/creative problem was considered attention to presentation,
thinking? and attempts were made problem— mere
to resolve. merely replication of
replicates content.
content.
Technical Excellent craftsmanship/ Satisfactory Some Poor
Proficiency construction (crafted items do not craftsmanship/ problems with craftsmanship/c
fall apart, technology projects construction. Minimal craftsmanship/ onstruction.
Are the fuction properly). No technical technical errors (spelling, construction. Multiple
materials errors (spelling, grammar, layout, grammar, layout, Several technical
professionally erasures, uneven edges, smudges, erasures, uneven edges, technical errors.
executed? poor lettering, etc.) smudges, poor lettering, errors.
Excellent use of format (i.e., etc.)
PowerPoint goes beyond a
“glorified overhead transparency
presentation”).
5B Lesson Plan: 39.3/ 40
5BTeacher-made Materials: 12.5/ 15 Total Score: 56.8/ 55

10. Name: ______________________________ Date: ________________
Art Lesson- Collage
Henri Matisse’s The Thousand and One Nights
Directions:
Observe this artwork. Write what you see. Think
about symbols and what they could mean.
1. ___________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________

11. The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Vocabulary
1. Berries 13. Maiden
2. Buckskin 14. Meadow
3. Collect 15. Plains
4. Deed 16. Rocks
5. Dull 17. Root
6. Flowers 18. Shaman
7. Frame 19. Stretch
8. Gift 20. Teepees
9. Gopher 21. Tribe
10. Hill 22. Vision
11. Leather 23. Warrior
12. Legend 24. Wrestle