Intermediate Arts Integration Center Examples, Directions, and Assessment Rubrics

Intermediate Arts Integration Center Examples, Directions, and Assessment Rubrics:

Diego Rivera Mural Center

Skill: Determines the stated or implied main idea or essential message in a text.

Students will read the text Diego and think about the questions posted at their center involving stated and implied main idea. Then they will create a small mural which demonstrates this main idea.

Center set up requires only white drawing paper, pencils and crayons or a similar coloring medium.

If there is time, once all students have completed the center, they can share and discuss their murals.

Main idea questions from the center include:

What are some of the hardships which Diego Rivera had to live through during his life?
What did Rivera love more than anything else?
How did he use this love to express his ideas on his second love….Mexico.
What did you learn about Mexico from this book?
Were all of Rivera’s Mexican mural paintings about positive aspects of Mexico?
What did you learn about Diego Rivera from this book?
How can you best create a mural which tells the story of Diego Rivera’s life?

Grading Rubric:

4 Points / 3 points / 2 points / 1 point / 0 points
The mural has many significant features which effectively capture the stated and implied main idea of the text. / The mural has a couple significant features which effectively capture the stated and implied main idea of the text. / The mural has two or more minor features which capture the stated and implied main idea of the text. / The mural has at least one minor feature which captures the stated and implied main idea of the text. / The mural has no features which captures the stated and implied main idea of the text.
The mural has been masterfully drawn so that the viewer can easily understand the life and works of Diego Rivera. / The mural has been effectively drawn so that the viewer can easily understand the life and works of Diego Rivera. / The mural has been somewhat effectively drawn. so that the viewer can easily understand the life and works of Diego Rivera. / Little effort seems to have been made to ensure that the viewer can easily understand the life and works of Diego Rivera. / No effort seems to have been made to ensure that the viewer can easily understand the life and works of Diego Rivera.
The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The artist obviously took great care in selecting their colors. / The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The colors could have been more effectively chosen or mixed. / The drawings have been neatly drawn and colored in. There could have been more attention paid to adding details to the drawings. / There appears to have been little effort made to draw the items on the mural. There is some coloring to enhance the pictures. / There appears to have been no effort made to draw the items on the mural. There is no coloring to enhance the pictures.
The student worked exceptionally well independently. Time was used most effectively and carefully cleaned up the area when the project was completed. / The student worked very well independently. Most time was used productively and the area was cleaned up afterwards. / The student worked well independently. Much time was used productively and the area was mostly cleaned up afterwards. / There appears to have been little effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was only moderately clean afterwards. / There appears to have been no effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was left a mess afterwards...

Duke Ellington Storyboard Center

Skill: Recognizes and arranges events in chronological order.

Storyboard Center Directions:

A storyboard is a graphic organizer that helps an artist pre-plan the sequence of a motion picture or other graphic media.
Walt Disney was the first person to use storyboards in his animation studio. In 1933, he used a storyboard to pre-plan the cartoon of the Three Little Pigs.
Pretend that you have been asked to plan a movie on the life of Duke Ellington.
First, carefully read the book Duke Ellington, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Think about 6 of the most significant parts of Ellington’s life that you would like to include in your storyboard.
Now, carefully sketch and write about these 6 events on a storyboard worksheet.
If you have time, carefully color your design.

Grading rubric:

4 Points / 3 points / 2 points / 1 point / 0 points
The storyboard has many significant features which masterfully capture significant details in the life of Duke Ellington in the proper sequence. / The storyboard has many significant features which effectively capture significant details in the life of Duke Ellington in the proper sequence. / The storyboard has several significant features which capture details in the life of Duke Ellington mostly in the proper sequence. / The storyboard has a few minor features which capture details in the life of Duke Ellington mostly in the proper sequence. / The storyboard has a no features which capture details in the life of Duke Ellington.
The storyboard has been masterfully drawn and written so that the story makes sense and the drawings and words consistently reinforce one another. / The storyboard has been effectively drawn and written so that the story makes sense the drawings and words reinforce one another at many parts. / The storyboard has been somewhat effectively drawn and written so that the story mostly makes sense and the drawings and words reinforce one another in several places. / Little effort seems to have been made to ensure that the storyboard has been drawn and written so that the story makes sense and the drawings and words reinforce one another. / No effort seems to have been made to ensure that the storyboard has been drawn and written so that the story makes sense and the drawings and words reinforce one another.
The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The artists obviously took great care in selecting their colors. / The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The colors could have been more effectively chosen or mixed. / The drawings have been neatly drawn and colored in. There could have been more attention paid to adding details to the drawings. / There appears to have been little effort made to draw the items on the storyboard. There is some coloring to enhance the pictures. / There appears to have been no effort made to draw the items on the storyboard. There is no coloring to enhance the pictures.
The student worked exceptionally well independently. Time was used most effectively and carefully cleaned up the area when the project was completed. / The student worked very well independently. Most time was used productively and the area was cleaned up afterwards. / The student worked well independently. Much time was used productively and the area was mostly cleaned up afterwards. / There appears to have been little effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was only moderately clean afterwards. / There appears to have been no effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was left a mess afterwards...

Ben Shahn Persuasive Poster Center

Ben Shahn Center:

Skill: Identifies authors’ purpose in text. Recognizes when a text is intended to persuade.

Ben Shahn 1898 - 1969

Ben Shahn was an American artist who focused on the lives of ordinary people in the hope of causing change. This is known as “Social Realism”. During the Great Depression, he worked as an artist for the government, documenting the lives of the poor as well as the draught stricken landscape of the nation’s farmlands.

During World War II, he worked in the office of War information and was horrified by the destruction and brutality taking place in Europe at the time. After the war, he began making political posters and helped to affect issues of the day. He supported the Civil Rights movement and was hopeful about the effect that art could have on society.

Posters can advertise products and coming events. As with the Work of Ben Shahn, they can also be used to help persuade people about important topics. Posters must be eye catching and easy to read. Artists who design posters are called graphic designers.

Think about the messages conveyed by the art of Ben Shahn.

Think about art can be used for social change.
Create your own poster design to persuade people to learn more about Ben Shahn.
Make sure to make your lettering large and easily readable. Add details which will share with your viewer why Ben Shahn was an important artist. Add drawings which help to communicate this message.

3 points / 2 points / 1 point / 0 points
The poster has many significant features which masterfully capture the importance of Ben Shahn’s artwork. / The poster has many significant features which effectively capture the importance of Ben Shahn’s artwork. / The poster has several significant features which capture the importance of Ben Shahn’s artwork. / The poster has a few minor features which capture the importance of Ben Shahn’s artwork. / The poster has no features which capture the importance of Ben Shahn’s artwork.
The poster has been masterfully drawn and written so that the message is conveyed and the drawings and words consistently reinforce one another. / The poster has been effectively drawn and written so that the message is conveyed and drawings and words reinforce one another at many parts. / The poster has been somewhat effectively drawn and written so that the message is mostly conveyed and the drawings and words reinforce one another in several places. / Little effort seems to have been made to ensure that the poster has been drawn and written so that the message is conveyed and the drawings and words reinforce one another. / No effort seems to have been made to ensure that the poster has been drawn and written so that the message is conveyed and the drawings and words reinforce one another.
The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The artists obviously took great care in selecting their colors. / The drawings have been carefully crafted and very neatly colored in. The colors could have been more effectively chosen or mixed. / The drawings have been neatly drawn and colored in. There could have been more attention paid to adding details to the drawings. / There appears to have been little effort made to draw the items on the poster. There is some coloring to enhance the pictures. / There appears to have been no effort made to draw the items on the poster. There is no coloring to enhance the pictures.
The student worked exceptionally well independently. Time was used most effectively and carefully cleaned up the area when the project was completed. / The student worked very well independently. Most time was used productively and the area was cleaned up afterwards. / The student worked well independently. Much time was used productively and the area was mostly cleaned up afterwards. / There appears to have been little effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was only moderately clean afterwards. / There appears to have been no effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was left a mess afterwards...

The Cap Story Center

Skill: Uses strategies to find the implied main idea (inferences).

Directions:

Read the background information on Booker T. Washington. Then read the story from his childhood about his first cap.

While you are reading, think about ….

What was the problem in this story?
How was the problem solved?
How did the other children at school react to Booker’s new cap?
How did Booker react to his new hat?
What does it tell us about his character that he is able to be proud of his hat even if others make fun of it?
What lesson did he learn from his mother?
What then, is the main idea of this story?

Now, write a rap song in which you retell the story of Booker’s cap. Make sure that you capture the true main idea in your story.

Example:

There once was a boy whose name was Booker.

He was worried about learning…not being a looker.

Along come the other school house boyeeees

Asking about his cap and making lots of noise.

So Booker goes home, tells the lady

My head is bare, and my look is shady.

Mama says, “Don’t worry… son’

I’ll make your cap when my work is done.”

So he heads to school with his homemade cap.

But the other boys laugh, give it a bad rap.

Its ok man… don’t you see

The only one laughing here is me.

My cap is made with love and creativity.

My momma’s message is clear for all to see.

If you’re standing round worrying about’ who is looking

You’re missing the chance that you could be a-booking.

Without an education, can’t you see?

You’ve got one poor chance of dealing with destiny.

4 Points / 3 points / 2 points / 1 point / 0 points
The song masterfully explains the meaning behind the cap story as well as including many details from the story. / The song effectively explains the meaning behind the cap story as well as including many details from the story. / The song somewhat effectively explains the meaning behind the cap story as well as including some details from the story. / The song does little to explain the meaning behind the cap story but it does include some details from the story. / The song does not explain the meaning behind the cap story or include any details from the story.
The words of the song are masterfully placed together to create a unified whole. The message makes sense and sends an important message. / The words of the song are effectively written. The message makes sense and sends an important message. / The words of the song are fairly effective. The message mostly makes sense but the deeper message is not as evident. / The words of the song could be more effectively written. It is difficult to follow at times and the listener does not get the deeper message. / The words are poorly written. The rap does not make sense and there is no sign of the deeper message. .
The performance was masterfully executed. The performers clearly and enthusiastically spoke their lines and the pieces flowed together beautifully. / The performance was effectively executed. The performers clearly and enthusiastically spoke their lines but the parts could have flowed together more smoothly. / The performance was executed fairly effectively. The performers clearly spoke their lines but they could have been more enthusiastically delivered. The flow of the parts could have been smoother. / The performance was moderately effective. The lines could have been more clearly and enthusiastically delivered. The flow of the parts could have been smoother as well. / The performance was poorly executed. Little effort seems to have been made to communicate clearly through song, show enthusiasm, or have the parts flow together.
The student worked exceptionally well independently. Time was used most effectively and carefully cleaned up the area when the project was completed. / The student worked very well independently. Most time was used productively and the area was cleaned up afterwards. / The student worked well independently. Much time was used productively and the area was mostly cleaned up afterwards. / There appears to have been little effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was only moderately clean afterwards. / There appears to have been no effort made to work independently and use time productively. The area was left a mess afterwards...