Mastering Principles of Design for Creative Arts in Primary 4

Lesson Plan: Principles of Design

Subject: Cultural and Creative Arts
Class: Primary 4
Term: Second Term
Week: Week 5
Age: 8–9 years
Topic: Principles of Design
Sub-topic: Definition, Categories, and Application of Principles of Design
Duration: 40 minutes


Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

  1. Define the principles of design.
  2. Categorize the principles of design.
  3. Create objects using some principles of design.

Keywords

  • Balance
  • Contrast
  • Emphasis
  • Movement
  • Pattern
  • Proportion
  • Unity

Set Induction

Begin the lesson by displaying pictures of beautiful designs and poorly arranged designs. Ask the pupils to describe the differences and guide them to see how organized designs look appealing.


Entry Behavior

Pupils have basic knowledge of visual elements such as lines, shapes, colors, and space from previous lessons.


Learning Resources and Materials

  • Drawing books
  • Pencils
  • Rulers
  • Erasers
  • Charts illustrating principles of design
  • Sample artwork showing the use of design principles

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Ask the pupils how they arrange their books, toys, or clothes. Guide them to understand that proper arrangement (design) makes items look neat and appealing.


Embedded Core Skills

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Creativity and imagination
  • Communication and collaboration
  • Leadership skills
  • Personal development

Reference Books

  • Lagos State Scheme of Work
  • Cultural and Creative Arts for Primary Schools

Instructional Materials

  1. Charts showing the principles of design.
  2. Pictures of artwork highlighting specific principles.
  3. Drawing tools for practical exercises.

Content

Definition and Explanation of Principles of Design

The principles of design are guidelines used by artists and designers to make their work visually appealing and effective. These principles include:

  1. Balance:
    Balance is the even distribution of visual weight in a design.
    Example: A seesaw with equal weights on both sides is balanced.
  2. Contrast:
    Contrast is the difference between elements in a design to create interest.
    Example: A white circle on a black background shows strong contrast.
  3. Emphasis:
    Emphasis makes one part of the design stand out.
    Example: A bright red apple in a basket of green apples creates emphasis.
  4. Movement:
    Movement guides the viewer’s eye through the design.
    Example: A road sign with arrows shows movement.
  5. Pattern:
    Pattern is the repetition of elements like lines or shapes.
    Example: A checkerboard design has a repeating square pattern.
  6. Proportion:
    Proportion is the size relationship between parts of a design.
    Example: A house with a tiny door looks out of proportion.
  7. Unity:
    Unity is the sense of harmony and consistency in a design.
    Example: Using similar colors in a painting creates unity.

Categories of Design

  1. Visual Elements:
    • Line: Marks made by a point moving in space.
    • Shape: Flat, two-dimensional areas.
    • Form: Three-dimensional objects.
    • Color: Different hues and shades.
    • Value: Lightness or darkness of colors.
    • Texture: Surface quality (e.g., rough or smooth).
    • Space: The area around or within objects.
  2. Principles of Organization:
    These include balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, and unity.
  3. Design Process:
    • Researching
    • Brainstorming
    • Sketching
    • Refining
    • Presenting

Learning Activities

  1. Teacher’s Activities
    • Explain the principles of design with visual examples.
    • Display charts showing the principles.
    • Guide pupils in small groups to categorize principles.
    • Supervise pupils as they create designs.
  2. Learners’ Activities
    • Discuss principles of design in small groups.
    • Categorize the principles in pairs.
    • Create a design using at least two principles of design.

Evaluation

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

  1. _______ refers to the distribution of visual weight in a design.
    a) Emphasis b) Balance c) Unity d) Pattern
    Answer: b) Balance
  2. _______ is the repetition of elements in a design.
    a) Movement b) Proportion c) Pattern d) Contrast
    Answer: c) Pattern
  3. _______ makes one part of the design stand out.
    a) Unity b) Emphasis c) Balance d) Space
    Answer: b) Emphasis
  4. _______ is the way the viewer’s eye moves through a design.
    a) Contrast b) Movement c) Texture d) Form
    Answer: b) Movement
  5. The surface quality of an object is called _______.
    a) Shape b) Value c) Texture d) Space
    Answer: c) Texture

Short Answer Questions

  1. What is balance in design?
    Answer: Balance is the even distribution of visual weight in a design.
  2. Name three principles of design.
    Answer: Balance, Contrast, and Emphasis.
  3. What is the design process?
    Answer: The design process includes researching, brainstorming, sketching, refining, and presenting.
  4. Define proportion in design.
    Answer: Proportion is the size relationship between different elements in a design.
  5. What is a visual element?
    Answer: A visual element is a building block of art, like lines, shapes, or colors.

Class Activity Discussion: FAQs

  1. What is the importance of design principles?
    Answer: They make artwork look attractive and organized.
  2. What is unity in design?
    Answer: Unity is the harmony and consistency in a design.
  3. What is a visual element?
    Answer: Basic building blocks like lines and colors.
  4. What is the use of contrast in design?
    Answer: It creates interest by using different elements.
  5. How can I create balance in my artwork?
    Answer: Distribute the visual weight evenly.

Conclusion

The teacher reviews the topic by asking pupils to define and categorize principles of design. The teacher marks their designs and gives feedback.


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