Students will examine paintings of American women and deconstruct the details in each piece to explain how women’s status and roles were defined between the late 18th and the early 20th century.
1. Provide each student with a copy of the Image Analysis Chart. Assign the class to examine Sir William Pepperrell and His Family, The Garden Parasol, and Sunday, Women Drying Their Hair. Ask students to record their observations on the Image Analysis Chart.
2. Allowing students to look at their Image Analysis Charts, hold a class discussion focused on the following questions:
3. Assign each student to think of a woman they believe to be of significance in American History. Have them research the impact the woman made on her society and the conditions in which she lived.
4. Assign each student to create a portrait of that woman using any materials. Encourage students to choose details that accurately reflect the woman’s identity, status, and impact, including setting, clothing, props, and activities.
5. Encourage students to display their portraits and explain how their illustrations reflect their subjects’ status and role in American society.
Written by Sarah Russell, Social Studies Teacher
• Successful completion of the Image Analysis Chart will demonstrate students’ ability to analyze and deconstruct artistic images.
• Active participation in class discussion will demonstrate students’ ability to use artistic analysis as a means to understand social and economic structures within the context of American history.
• Completion of an illustration of a significant American woman, including elements that reveal her role and status, will demonstrate students’ ability to explore a concept creatively through artwork.
• The teacher may use an art rubric to assess each student’s illustration.
Vocabulary
composition
identity
mood
portrait
portrayal
setting
status
subject
Materials
colored pencils, markers, paper
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