The National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20565
(202)842-6249 (Educational Tours)
Instructional Unit:
Crane, Monet, and Renoir (a six week unit)
Curriculum Unit:
Grade 11
Art, Language Arts
Objectives:
1. Students will demonstrate a solid grasp of the meaning of the word naturalism.
2. Students will recognize that the naturalist employs impressionistic techniques in his works.
3. Students will demonstrate a good grasp of the content of the following Crane works: A Mystery of Heroism, An Episode of War, The Blue Hotel, The Open Boat, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, George's Mother, The Red Badge of Courage, The Veteran , and The Monster .
4. Students will describe how Crane employs the impressionistic art techniques in his works.
5. Students will reflect a strong knowledge of the uniqueness of Monet and Renoir as impressionists.
6. Students will be able to recognize by sight works of Monet and Renoir.
Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Students, through teacher lecture, will receive background on Stephen Crane and his naturalistic characteristics.
2. Students will be asked to research the word naturalism and demonstrate through an in class composition a lucid understanding of it.
3. Through slides of the works of Monet and Renoir, students will view and study the characteristics of the impressionist.
4. As students read selected works of Crane, written and oral analyses will focus on Crane's naturalistic characteristics and on the impressionistic methods he incorporates in his style.
5. Prior to the field trip, the teacher will go to the museum to preview paintings, pick up handouts, meet the docents, set date and time of the trip, and review what the tour will include.
On-Site Activities:
1. Groups of ten will be led through exhibit by docent.
2. Students will view and study selected paintings of Monet and Renoir, spending 45 minutes with the work of each artist.
Follow-Up Activities:
1. Using cooperative learning students will meet in groups to discuss the artists and their paintings. A person from each group will discuss their findings with the rest of the class.
2. As a culminating experience, each student will select one Renoir or Monet painting and show how the techniques used in that painting parallel Crane's style.
3. The student will draw examples using one of the works of Crane. The choice of literary selection will also be left to the student.
Appendices:
None
Bibliography:
None
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