Title of Lesson: Gothic CD Cathedrals

Teacher: Zoe Nelson

School: PVO

Grade Level[s]: 4/5

Date to be Taught: 4/5/18

Big Idea that drives Lesson/Unit:

We spend our lives surrounded by buildings and spaces, so why should they not be beautiful? Architecture
shapes the way we see, what we see, and how we see it. Exploring architecture of the past can inform our
designs of the future. We will consider how different aspects of design can influence the functions of a
building and the way people move throughout it. We define our favorite spaces to be in by the way they
make us feel, and we will look at how to recreate our favorite spaces and elevate them with design.

Key concepts about Big Idea:

● How did past architecture innovations change buildings?
● What defines a great building that will withstand time?
● How does the public play into the way a building is designed and viewed?

Fine Arts Goals Met by the Objectives:

● VA:Cn10.1.5a Apply formal and conceptual vocabularies of art and design to view surroundings in new ways through art-
making.
● VA:Cr2.3.5a Identify, describe, and visually document places and/or objects of personal significance.
● VA:Cr2.1.5a Experiment and develop skills in multiple art-making techniques and approaches through practice.
● VA:Cr2.2.5a Demonstrate quality craftsmanship through care for and use of materials, tools, and equipment.
● VA:Pr5.1.4a Analyze the various considerations for presenting and protecting art in various locations, indoor or outdoor
settings, in temporary or permanent forms, and in physical or digital formats.
● VA:Re.7.1.5a Compare one's own interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of others.

3-4 Essential Questions:

● How can art and architecture engage a public audience?
● Why are Gothic Cathedrals so innovative?
● How can we tell visual stories?

Vocabulary Acquisition:
● Rose window: a circular window with heavily foliated tracery branching out from a common center.
● Cathedral: the principal church of a diocese, with which the bishop is officially associated.
● Gothic architecture: a style of architecture developed in northern France that spread throughout Europe between the 12th and 16th
centuries; characterized by slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses and by vaulting and pointed arches
● Flying buttresses: An external, arched support for the wall of a church or other building
● Ogival arch: a pointed arch
● Gargoyle: A sculpture depicting grotesque human shapes or evil spirits used in many buildings of the Middle Ages, most notably on
Gothic cathedrals. Some gargoyles drained rainwater, sending it clear of the walls of the building.

Key Artistic Concepts:

● How spaces affect people
● Effect of light on a space
● Elaborate detailing
● Emulating buildings that already exist
● Making common forms unique

Artmaking Materials Needed:

● Sharpies
 ● Pencils
● Paper

Contemporary/Historical/Multicultural exemplars:
● Notre Dame Cathedral
● Chartres Cathedral
● Handout with varying facades to give students inspiration for their own

Procedures:
● DISCUSSION: (10 minutes)
○ What were cathedrals used for? Does anyone know what a cathedral is?
○ Show students various examples of gothic architecture. What similarities do you see? Differences?
○ The innovation of windows and how they changed spaces - brought light, imagery to illiterate public for
understanding
● DEMONSTRATIONS: (3 minutes)
○ Show teacher made exemplars - my gothic cathedral facade without CD
○ show students where to leave a space for the window
○ show them the finished product with the CD, we will make the rose windows next class
● DESIGN/WORK SESSION: ( 20 minutes)
○ Sketch out the design of your cathedral - make sure to leave a space for your rose window
○ A gothic cathedral needs buttresses, arches, gargoyles and lots of intricate detail
○ What kind of animal/monster will you make your gargoyle figures be?
○ Make it personal to you by adding symbols that represent aspects of yourself
○ Go over your lines in sharpie - use the fine tips for the details
■ If you finish, pick a spot for your light source and shade accordingly in pencil to give your cathedral
more depth
● CLEAN UP: (3 minutes)
○ Return sharpies
○ Put drawings in a pile with name on the back
● CLOSURE: (3 minutes)
○ What are some key aspects of gothic architecture?
○ How did Gothic architecture change buildings?
○ Try to see if you can find aspects of buildings you see everyday that come from gothic architecture
○ See if you notice more about all of the architecture around you as we learn more about it