Depression Era Art: The Federal Arts Project

Lesson Plan: Themes

Illinois State Board of Education Goals and Standards addressed:

Social Science:

Early High School: 15.E.4a: Explain why government might interfere in a market economy.(WPA)

16.B.4: Identify political ideas that have dominated U.S. historical eras (New

Deal).

Visual Art:

27.B: Understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society, and everyday life. (Early Elem.-

27.B.1, Late Elem.-27.B.2, Middle-27.B.3, Early High-27.B.4a and b, and Late High- 27.B.5)

Purpose: to help the user understand the themes of the WPA/FAP art programs by looking at this

Web site and its resources

Objectives: the student will, after having gone through the material about the WPA arts programs,

be able to

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explain or demonstrate the basic themes that artists used for subject matter and

inspiration.

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choose a typical subject from life today relating to one of those themes (American

scene, workers, social realism, modern sensibility, stolen moments)

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produce a work of art showing a scene on this chosen theme.

Grade Levels: 7-10, but can be adapted downward to K-6.

Time Required: one or two 50-minute periods

Materials: sketch paper, pencil, pen, marker, ink, charcoal, pastel, paints of choice drawing paper,

picture mats for presentation

Motivation: After having viewed the Web site, its artworks, and text, and other resources according

to age and ability, the students will discuss the subject matter that artists chose to depict.

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Compare topics of life today that are similar to those depiected during the

Depression.

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List the purposes of making representational art (illustration, expression, protest,

comment, documenting).

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Point out how artists' attitudes toward their subject shows in the works (nostalgia,

anger, happiness).

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Brainstrom and list some topics that would make topical paintings about society

today.

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Talk about choices of media students could make to achieve specific moods, amounts

of details, overall effects.

Procedure: Students will:

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choose a subject to depict.

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choose an appropriate medium to help tell their story.

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sketch their composition, perhaps in thumbnail size, until they produce a composition

that works best.

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transfer that sketch to a final drawing paper of their choice.

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finish the art work.