Lesson Twelve Integrated Concepts Language Arts: descriptive language, setting, narrative writing, oral language Social Studies: environment, seasons Visual Art: landscape, texture, color, line, shape Science: observation, evidence

Artists often choose to make paintings that show large areas of the outdoors or the environment. These paintings are called landscape paintings. What do you notice about these landscapes? Where have you seen a place that looks like either of these?

In this painting, the artists has created an image that looks almost like a photograph. The grass and trees are carefully painted to show their details.

This landscape actually shows mostly water. Can you think of a reason that the water may look green? Can you find any clues that tell the season of the year? Does anything give evidence about the time of day?

Let’s compare and contrast these two landscape paintings. Look closely at the details. What do you notice? What things in the two paintings are alike or similar? What is different? What do you notice about distance or space?

Try to imagine that you are walking down the road in the painting. Describe what you might hear or smell. Why would you be walking down this road? Who would be with you?

Now imagine you are standing beside this pond. What could you smell and hear now? What could you be doing at the pond?

Which of these painting would you choose as a setting for writing a story? Can you create a main character for your story and describe him or her? What other characters could be in the story? What kind of events might occur in either of these places?

Would you like to create a landscape painting? Would you choose to paint a landscape that you have seen or would you like to create an imaginary landscape? Tell why you would make that choice? Would your landscape have roads, buildings, animals or people in them. Explain why or why not.

Information about the art and the artists Title: “May Morning” Artist/Dates: Ben Berns, American, born 1936 Medium: oil on canvas Size: 18.5” x 31.5” Date: 1991 Title: “Above a Small Swamp” Artist/Dates: Maud Gatewood, American, Medium: acrylic on canvas Size: 60” x 72” Date: 1992 What else would you like to know about the art or artists? How can you find out?