lenny

Art and Empathy Exploration Series

Lesson Plan

Art and Empathy Exploration Series

Art increases compassion and empathy

This 8-week series explores how art can enhance compassion, empathy, and self-awareness among middle school students. Each week focuses on a different aspect of art and empathy, with a strong emphasis on visual art. This series is important as it fosters emotional intelligence and social skills, which are crucial for personal development and interpersonal relationships. Guest artist sessions will provide students with unique insights and techniques from professionals in the field.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

8 weeks

Approach

Game-Based Learning, Active Learning, Collaborative Learning, Blended Learning

Materials

Video: Brené Brown on Empathy, Video: How Art Can Help You Analyze, Video: On Loneliness and the Power of Connection, Video: 4 Things All Great Listeners Know, Worksheet: Art and Empathy Reflection, Discussion Questions: Art and Emotions, Art Supplies (paper, markers, etc.), Guest Artist Materials, Worksheet: Week 1 Empathy and Art, Worksheet: Week 2 Visual Art Analysis, Worksheet: Week 3 Storytelling and Art, Worksheet: Week 4 Music and Art, Worksheet: Week 5 Theater and Art, Worksheet: Week 6 Literature and Art, Worksheet: Week 7 Empathy in Life, and Worksheet: Week 8 Reflection

Step 1

Week 1: Introduction to Empathy and Art

1 week

  • Define empathy and compassion.
  • Watch Brené Brown on Empathy to understand empathy.
  • Group discussion on how empathy differs from sympathy.
  • Create a simple art piece using sketching and shading techniques to represent a personal empathetic experience.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 1 Empathy and Art' worksheet to reflect on personal experiences with empathy.

Step 2

Week 2: Exploring Empathy through Visual Art

1 week

  • Analyze famous artworks that convey empathy.
  • Watch How Art Can Help You Analyze to explore observation skills.
  • Explore painting techniques such as blending and layering to create an art piece inspired by these works.
  • Facilitate a group critique and discussion on the emotions conveyed in their art pieces.
  • Reflect on how analyzing art can enhance empathy.
  • Guest Artist Session: Invite a local artist to discuss how they convey empathy through their work and demonstrate a technique.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 2 Visual Art Analysis' worksheet to analyze and reflect on the artworks studied.

Step 3

Week 3: Storytelling and Visual Art

1 week

  • Use visual storytelling to depict empathetic narratives.
  • Watch On Loneliness and the Power of Connection to discuss emotional impact.
  • Create a storyboard or comic strip using collage techniques that highlight empathy.
  • Share and discuss their visual stories with the class.
  • Reflect on the power of storytelling in fostering empathy.
  • Guest Artist Session: A graphic novelist shares insights on creating empathetic characters and narratives.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 3 Storytelling and Art' worksheet to develop and reflect on their storytelling process.

Step 4

Week 4: Music and Visual Art

1 week

  • Explore how music can inspire visual art.
  • Watch 4 Things All Great Listeners Know to emphasize empathy in listening.
  • Experiment with abstract art techniques to create a visual art piece inspired by a piece of music that conveys empathy.
  • Group discussion on the emotional impact of their visual and musical choices.
  • Reflect on how music and art together can deepen empathetic understanding.
  • Guest Artist Session: A musician collaborates with students to create art inspired by live music.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 4 Music and Art' worksheet to reflect on the connection between music and visual art.

Step 5

Week 5: Theater and Visual Art

1 week

  • Design visual backdrops or props for empathetic skits.
  • Create masks using papier-mâché or clay techniques that represent different emotions.
  • Discuss how visual elements support theatrical storytelling.
  • Present skits with their visual creations and discuss the perspectives explored.
  • Reflect on the role of theater in expressing and understanding emotions.
  • Guest Artist Session: A theater set designer discusses the role of visual art in theater and guides a hands-on activity.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 5 Theater and Art' worksheet to reflect on the integration of visual art in theater.

Step 6

Week 6: Literature and Visual Art

1 week

  • Illustrate scenes from literature that highlight empathy.
  • Explore illustration techniques such as cross-hatching and stippling to create a visual art piece that represents a character's empathetic journey.
  • Group discussion on the role of illustration in literature.
  • Share and discuss their illustrations with the class.
  • Reflect on how literature and art can collaboratively enhance empathy.
  • Guest Artist Session: An illustrator shares their process of bringing literary characters to life through art.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 6 Literature and Art' worksheet to reflect on the role of illustration in literature.

Step 7

Week 7: Empathy in Everyday Life through Visual Art

1 week

  • Create visual art projects that address real-life empathy scenarios using mixed media techniques.
  • Plan a community art exhibit to showcase their work.
  • Discuss the impact of visual art in promoting empathy in the community.
  • Execute the community art exhibit as a class.
  • Reflect on the potential of art to influence empathy in real-world contexts.
  • Guest Artist Session: A community artist discusses the role of art in social change and empathy.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 7 Empathy in Life' worksheet to reflect on the impact of art in everyday life.

Step 8

Week 8: Reflection and Sharing through Visual Art

1 week

  • Reflect on the series through a final visual art piece.
  • Encourage students to choose their favorite techniques to create this piece.
  • Host a class gallery walk to share and discuss their reflections.
  • Summarize the key points discussed throughout the series.
  • Highlight the importance of empathy and compassion in everyday life.
  • Reflect on personal growth and understanding of empathy through art.
  • Activity: Complete the 'Week 8 Reflection' worksheet to summarize their learning and personal growth.
lenny

Worksheet

Week 1 Empathy and Art

A worksheet to help students reflect on their personal experiences with empathy and how they can express these through art.

Describe a time when you felt empathy for someone. How did it make you feel?








Create a sketch that represents this empathetic experience. What elements did you use to convey emotion?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 2 Visual Art Analysis

A worksheet to guide students in analyzing famous artworks that convey empathy and reflect on their own creations.

Choose an artwork that conveys empathy. What elements in the artwork express this emotion?








Reflect on your own art piece. How did you use techniques like blending and layering to convey empathy?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 3 Storytelling and Art

A worksheet to help students develop their storytelling skills through visual art and reflect on the narratives they create.

Outline the empathetic narrative you want to tell through your storyboard or comic strip.








Reflect on the characters and emotions in your story. How do they convey empathy?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 4 Music and Art

A worksheet to help students explore the connection between music and visual art in conveying empathy.

Describe the piece of music you chose. What emotions does it convey?








Reflect on your visual art piece. How did the music influence your artistic choices?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 5 Theater and Art

A worksheet to guide students in integrating visual art with theater to express emotions and empathy.

Describe the skit you created. How do the visual elements support the story?








Reflect on the emotions conveyed through your masks or props. How do they enhance the performance?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 6 Literature and Art

A worksheet to help students explore the role of illustration in literature and how it can convey empathy.

Choose a scene from literature that highlights empathy. How would you illustrate it?








Reflect on your illustration. How do the techniques you used convey the character's journey?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 7 Empathy in Life

A worksheet to help students reflect on the impact of visual art in promoting empathy in everyday life.

Describe a real-life scenario where empathy is important. How can art address this?








Reflect on your community art project. How does it promote empathy?








lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Week 8 Reflection

A worksheet to help students summarize their learning and personal growth throughout the series.

Reflect on your journey through the series. What have you learned about empathy and art?








Create a final art piece that represents your understanding of empathy. What techniques did you use?








lenny
lenny