Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 10
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Visual Art
Curriculum Theme: Visual Art
Previous Lesson: Imaginative Drawing: Drawing Scenes From Memory.
Topic: Art Terminologies
Subject Matter: Vanishing point, medium, chiaroscuro, foreshortening, aerial view, repeat, motif, two-dimensional art terminology classification

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define the following terms: vanishing point, medium, chiaroscuro, foreshortening, aerial view, repeat, and motif.
State the meaning of two-dimensional (2-D) art.
Classify each terminology under the correct aspect of 2-D art.
Identify examples where each term is used in drawings, painting, and design.

Affective Domain:

Show interest in using correct art terms during discussions and practical work.
Develop appreciation for artworks that show correct use of perspective, tone, and pattern.

Psychomotor Domain:

Label a simple drawing to show vanishing point and aerial view.
Produce quick sketches that show foreshortening and chiaroscuro effects.
Create a simple motif and apply repeat to form a pattern on paper.

Work in groups to discuss meanings and identify terms in sample artworks.
Participate in class critique by using at least three correct terminologies in explanations.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Visual Art for Senior Secondary Schools (Textbook)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Perspective in art
Tate: Art Terms
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Timeline of Art History

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Two-dimensional artworks (drawings, paintings, posters, patterns)
Charts showing perspective lines and vanishing point
Pictures showing chiaroscuro and aerial view
Pattern samples showing motif and repeat
Whiteboard and marker
Drawing paper and pencils

Rationale for the Lesson

Art terms help pupils understand and describe artworks correctly during lessons and examinations. Knowing these terminologies improves drawing, shading, and design work and helps pupils communicate their ideas clearly.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of drawing, shading, and simple design patterns such as motifs and repeats.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Art Terminologies (2-D Art)

Meaning of Two-Dimensional (2-D) Art

Two-dimensional (2-D) art refers to artworks made on flat surfaces with length and breadth, such as drawings, paintings, prints, and posters.

The following are examples of 2-D art:

Drawing
Painting
Printmaking
Poster and graphic design

Vanishing Point

Vanishing point is the point on the horizon line where parallel lines appear to meet in perspective drawing.

The following are key points about vanishing point:

Used to show depth and distance.
Found on the horizon line.
Used in one-point and two-point perspective.

Medium

Medium means the material or tool used to produce an artwork.

The following are examples of medium in 2-D art:

Pencil
Charcoal
Ink
Watercolour
Poster colour

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is the use of strong light and dark contrast to show form and make an object look three-dimensional in a 2-D artwork.

The following are features of chiaroscuro:

Strong contrast between light and dark areas.
Creates depth and realism.
Shows direction of light.

Foreshortening

Foreshortening is a drawing method where parts of an object appear shorter because they are drawn as seen from an angle.

The following are key points about foreshortening:

Used to show objects coming forward or going backward.
Changes the normal length of parts in the drawing.
Common in figure drawing and perspective drawings.

Aerial View

Aerial view is the view of objects seen from above, showing the arrangement of objects on the ground.

The following are examples where aerial view is used:

Town and landscape drawings
Map-like drawings
Design plans and layouts

Repeat

Repeat is the regular use of the same element or motif many times in a design to create pattern and unity.

The following are effects of repeat in design:

Creates pattern
Brings unity in design
Makes the work look organised

Motif

Motif is a single unit of design that can be repeated to form a pattern.

The following are examples of motifs:

Leaf shape
Flower shape
Geometric shapes
Traditional symbols

Classification of the Terminologies in 2-D Art

The listed terms can be grouped based on their main use in 2-D art.

The following are classifications of the terminologies:

Perspective and space: vanishing point, foreshortening, aerial view
Materials and tools: medium
Tone and shading: chiaroscuro
Pattern and design: motif, repeat

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays two-dimensional artworks and asks pupils to mention any art terms they know and where they have seen them used.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the artworks and respond by mentioning familiar terms and examples.
Learning Point: Art terminologies help to describe and understand 2-D artworks correctly.

Step 2: Meaning of 2-D Art and Overview of Terms

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains 2-D art and introduces the listed terminologies for the lesson.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and copy the list of terms into their notebooks.
Learning Point: 2-D art is produced on flat surfaces such as paper, canvas, and boards.

Step 3: Perspective and Space Terms

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains vanishing point, foreshortening, and aerial view and shows them using simple drawings and pictures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the terms in the samples and sketch a simple example.
Learning Point: Perspective terms help to show depth, distance, and viewpoint in drawings.

Step 4: Medium and Chiaroscuro

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains medium and chiaroscuro and points them out in sample artworks.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention examples of medium and describe light and dark areas in the samples.
Learning Point: Medium is the material used, while chiaroscuro shows strong light and dark contrast.

Step 5: Pattern and Design Terms

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains motif and repeat and demonstrates how a motif can be repeated to form a pattern on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draw a simple motif and repeat it in a small space on paper.
Learning Point: Motif and repeat are used to create patterns and unity in designs.

Step 6: Classification Activity

Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to classify the terminologies into perspective/space, materials, tone/shading, and pattern/design.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils work in groups to classify the terms and read out their answers.
Learning Point: Art terms can be grouped by their main use in 2-D art.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define vanishing point and state where it is found in perspective drawing.
List four examples of medium used in 2-D art.
Define chiaroscuro and state one feature of it.
Explain motif and repeat and state the aspect of 2-D art they belong to.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the meanings and classifications of the terms and gives assignment: write short notes on any five terms and give one example for each.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils write the assignment and ask final questions where necessary.
Learning Point: Correct use of art terminologies improves understanding and description of 2-D artworks.

Lesson Keywords

Vanishing Point – Point on the horizon where parallel lines appear to meet.
Medium – Material or tool used to create an artwork.
Chiaroscuro – Strong light and dark contrast used to show form.
Foreshortening – Making parts of an object look shorter due to viewing angle.
Aerial View – Viewing objects from above.
Motif – Single unit of design used for patterns.
Repeat – Using the same motif many times to form a pattern.

Differentiation

Pupils who learn faster will sketch examples for at least four terms and label them, while pupils who need support will focus on writing correct definitions and identifying the terms in provided sample artworks with guidance.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use clear visual examples for each term because pupils learn art language better when they can see it. Encourage pupils to use the terms correctly during discussions and link each term to a simple classroom example for easy understanding.