Habitats and Homes Lessons 10-15:
Organize Observations to Construct Cornell Boxes
creating and presenting visual stories of habitat and home through the organization of shape and texture in Cornell boxes
Grade Level Focus: Kindergarten/ 1st Grade
School: 21st Century Primary Center
Teaching Artist: Kimberly Moore, Molly Cranch
Classroom Teacher: Eileen Ward, Kierra Young-Bey
Materials: crayons or pastels, thin paper, materials to put under paper and rub.
Lessons: 6
Unit: Habitats and Homes
Summary
Introduce Joseph Cornell Boxes. Design, construct, and present visual stories in the form of Cornell Boxes.
Lesson SequenceLesson 10: Introduce artist Joseph Cornell. Discuss how he told his art story by organizing objects in a box. Share birds and related items from previous lessons with a partner to begin to create a visual story.
Lesson 11: Discuss the importance of creating categories for observations. Design Cornell boxes by sketching 4-5 observations in boxes to create blueprints for Cornell box designs.
Lessons 12-14: Use blueprints from Lesson 11 to construct Cornell Boxes using materials from nature or creating items to look like observed items.
Lesson 15: Present Cornell boxes through classroom art exhibition.
Next Generation Science Standards
K-LS1-1
K-ESS2-2
K-ESS3-1
K-2-ETS1-1
K-2-ETS1-2
National Visual Arts Standards
CREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and works. VA:Cr1.1.Ka, VA:Cr1.1a, VA:Cr1.2.1a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.Ka, VA:Cr2.1.1a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.Ka, VA::Cr.1.1a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic works for presentation.
VA:Cr4.1.Ka
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA:Re.7.1.Ka, VA:Re.7.1.1a
Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.Ka, VA:Re8.1.1a
CONNECTING
Anchor Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
VA:Cn10.1.Ka, VA:Cn10.1.1a
Artist Connections
Joseph Cornell
Additional Resources
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Lesson SequenceLesson 10: Introduce artist Joseph Cornell. Discuss how he told his art story by organizing objects in a box. Share birds and related items from previous lessons with a partner to begin to create a visual story.
Lesson 11: Discuss the importance of creating categories for observations. Design Cornell boxes by sketching 4-5 observations in boxes to create blueprints for Cornell box designs.
Lessons 12-14: Use blueprints from Lesson 11 to construct Cornell Boxes using materials from nature or creating items to look like observed items.
Lesson 15: Present Cornell boxes through classroom art exhibition.
K-LS1-1
K-ESS2-2
K-ESS3-1
K-2-ETS1-1
K-2-ETS1-2
National Visual Arts Standards
CREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and works. VA:Cr1.1.Ka, VA:Cr1.1a, VA:Cr1.2.1a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.Ka, VA:Cr2.1.1a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.Ka, VA::Cr.1.1a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic works for presentation.
VA:Cr4.1.Ka
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA:Re.7.1.Ka, VA:Re.7.1.1a
Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.Ka, VA:Re8.1.1a
CONNECTING
Anchor Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
VA:Cn10.1.Ka, VA:Cn10.1.1a
Artist Connections
Joseph Cornell
Additional Resources
Work examples:
Lesson 10: Cornell Boxes & Visual Stories
![share birds and related items from previous lessons to begin a visual story]()
Lesson 11: Discuss & Design Cornell Boxes
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students presenting Cornell Box designs on Zoom
Lessons 12-14: Construct Cornell Boxes
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final Cornell Box constructions
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students presenting Cornell Boxes on Zoom
Lesson 10: Cornell Boxes & Visual Stories
Lesson 11: Discuss & Design Cornell Boxes
Lessons 12-14: Construct Cornell Boxes
Lesson 15: Present Cornell Boxes
