Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS2, JSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 4
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Cultural And Creative Arts
Curriculum Theme: Cultural And Creative Arts
Previous Lesson: Principles of Design – Harmony, Balance, Dominance, Variety, Proportion and Rhythm
Topic: Uses Of Principles Of Design And Its Practical Work
Subject Matter: Explain the uses of principles of design, Application of these principles in still life drawing.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) State the uses of the principles of design in art.
(b) Explain how principles of design are applied in still life drawing.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of applying design principles in artworks.
(b) Show interest in creating organized and well-balanced art pieces.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Demonstrate the application of design principles in simple still life drawings.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to observe and apply design principles in practice.

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
Vistaprint – The 7 principles of design and how to use them
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing the principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, etc.)
Samples of still life drawings
Drawing materials (pencils, erasers, rulers, sketch pads)
Coloured posters or pictures of artworks applying design principles
Video clip of an artist working on a still life composition

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how to use design principles to create balanced, attractive, and meaningful art compositions, improving their visual communication skills.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learned about the basic principles of design in previous lessons and can identify design elements like line, shape, and colour in artworks.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Uses of Principles of Design

The principles of design guide artists in arranging visual elements to create unity and balance in artworks. They ensure that artworks are well-organized and visually appealing.

The following are the uses of principles of design:

They help in achieving balance between different parts of a composition.
They create harmony and unity among design elements.
They draw attention to important areas of the artwork.
They help in establishing contrast to make designs more interesting.
They assist in proportioning objects correctly to achieve realism.
They ensure rhythm and movement to guide the viewer’s eye smoothly.
They help in arranging visual emphasis and variety for creativity.

Application of Principles of Design in Still Life Drawing

Still life drawing involves drawing objects arranged in a natural and balanced composition such as fruits, bottles, bowls, and flowers. Artists use design principles to make the drawing look realistic and attractive.

These include:

Balance: Ensuring that objects are well arranged without crowding one side.
Proportion: Drawing objects according to their actual sizes and relationships.
Harmony: Using similar shapes, tones, or colours to create unity in the drawing.
Contrast: Combining light and dark areas to add beauty and depth.
Emphasis: Making the main object stand out using shading or brighter tones.
Rhythm: Repeating shapes or lines to give a sense of flow and movement.
Variety: Adding differences in texture, size, and shape to make the artwork lively.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Demonstration, Group Work, Question and Answer, Practical Drawing

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: The teacher displays pictures of different artworks and asks pupils to observe what makes some look more organized or beautiful.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond with their observations and share ideas about what makes good design.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the importance of using design principles.

Step 2: Explanation of Uses of Principles of Design

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the various uses of the principles of design using visual aids and examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how design principles help to organize artworks.

Step 3: Application in Still Life Drawing

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses how design principles are applied in still life drawing and demonstrates with a simple example on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration and describe the arrangement.
Learning Point: Pupils learn how to apply design principles to create balance and realism.

Step 4: Practical Work

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher arranges objects on a table and guides pupils to draw them, applying the principles of design.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draw the arrangement using balance, proportion, and harmony.
Learning Point: Pupils apply design principles in practice.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher dictates or writes the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy notes into their books.
Learning Point: Pupils have a written record of the main lesson points.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

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

Mention three uses of the principles of design.
List any two principles of design applied in still life drawing.
Explain how balance and proportion are applied in still life drawing.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally to the teacher’s questions.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson objectives.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson, emphasizing the importance of design principles and encourages pupils to practice drawing at home.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask clarifying questions.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the role of design principles in creative artwork.

Lesson Keywords

Design Principles – rules for organizing elements in artwork
Balance – equal visual weight in a composition
Harmony – unity created by similar elements
Contrast – difference between light and dark areas
Proportion – correct size relationship among objects

Differentiation

Teacher provides additional guidance for slower learners during drawing exercises, while faster learners are encouraged to help their peers and add creative variations.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure pupils handle drawing tools safely. Emphasize observation and neat arrangement during still life drawing. Encourage creativity and class participation.