Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS2, JSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 3
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Cultural And Creative Arts
Curriculum Theme: Cultural And Creative Arts
Previous Lesson: Practical Work on Elements of Design – Application of Lines
Topic: Principles Of Design
Subject Matter: Meaning of principles of design, The principles of design: Harmony, Balance, Dominance, Variety, Proportion, Rhythm.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Identify the major principles of design.
(b) Explain the importance of the principles of design in art and craft.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the use of balance, harmony, and rhythm in artworks.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Apply the principles of design in arranging simple art elements in drawings.
Social Domain:
(a) Cooperate in groups to analyze how the principles of design are used in artworks.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Lewis University – The Elements of Design
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing examples of balanced and unbalanced designs
Artworks showing harmony, rhythm, and variety
Drawing papers and pencils
Rulers and coloured pencils
Posters of famous artworks

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding the principles of design helps students create artworks that are balanced, attractive, and meaningful. It enhances creativity and appreciation of visual beauty.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils already know the elements of design such as line, colour, shape, texture, and space from previous lessons and can identify them in simple artworks.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Principles of Design

Meaning of Principles of Design

The principles of design are the basic rules that guide artists in arranging elements of art to create beautiful, balanced, and organized works. They help ensure that a design looks appealing and communicates its intended message.

Major Principles of Design

The following are the major principles of design:

Harmony: This is the agreement or unity among different elements of a design. Harmony is achieved when all parts of an artwork look as though they belong together. It gives a sense of peace and completeness to the work.
Balance: Balance means the even distribution of visual weight in a design. It makes an artwork stable and pleasing to the eyes.
The two main types of balance are:
- Symmetrical balance (both sides are the same)
- Asymmetrical balance (both sides are different but still look balanced)
Dominance (Emphasis): Dominance means making one part of a design stand out more than the others. It directs attention to the most important part of the artwork, often through colour, size, or placement.
Variety: Variety is the use of different elements such as colours, shapes, and textures to create interest in a design. It prevents monotony and keeps the viewer’s attention.
Proportion: Proportion deals with the relationship in size and scale between parts of a design. When the sizes of objects are correctly related, the artwork looks natural and realistic.
Rhythm: Rhythm in design refers to the repeated use of lines, colours, or shapes to create movement or flow in an artwork. It makes a design lively and interesting to look at.

Importance of Principles of Design

The principles of design are very important to artists and designers.
The following are the importance of the principles of design:

They help in creating well-organized and appealing artworks.
They guide artists in arranging art elements properly.
They help maintain balance and harmony in designs.
They improve creativity and artistic judgment.
They make artworks attractive, clear, and easy to understand.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Group Work, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher displays two artworks—one balanced and one unbalanced—and asks pupils which looks better and why.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe and respond to the teacher’s questions.
Learning Point: Pupils become curious about what makes artworks attractive and organized.

Step 2: Meaning of Principles of Design

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains the meaning of the principles of design and their role in creating beautiful artworks.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask questions for clarity.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what principles of design mean.

Step 3: Explanation of the Principles of Design

Time: 15 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion and Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains and demonstrates each principle—harmony, balance, dominance, variety, proportion, and rhythm—using charts and examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe, take notes, and participate in class discussion.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and describe the major principles of design.

Step 4: Importance of Principles of Design

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher discusses the importance of design principles in producing quality art.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute by mentioning examples of how these principles improve artwork.
Learning Point: Pupils recognize why applying principles of design is necessary.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher writes the summarized points (board summary) for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the lesson notes neatly.
Learning Point: Pupils retain the major facts taught.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What are the principles of design?
Mention four examples of principles of design.
Define balance and rhythm.
State two importance of the principles of design.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally.
Learning Point: Pupils show understanding of the lesson objectives.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the lesson, highlights key points, and encourages pupils to apply the principles in their drawings.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the importance of using design principles in art.

Lesson Keywords

Harmony – unity among design elements.
Balance – equal distribution of visual weight.
Dominance – making one part stand out.
Variety – use of differences to create interest.
Proportion – correct size relationship between parts.
Rhythm – repetition that creates movement in art.

Differentiation

Teacher simplifies explanations for slower learners with visual examples and allows faster learners to assist peers in identifying principles from artworks.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage creativity by letting pupils practice the principles in sketches. Use real-life art samples to make learning visual and interactive.