B5 Creative Arts · Term 1 Week 1: Thinking and Exploring Ideas

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B5.1.1.1.1 - Study some visual artworks created by Ghanaian and other African visual artists living in Africa and examine how the artworks reflect the history and culture of the people in Africa

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Identify at least three African visual artists (such as El-Anatsui, Nnenna Okore, or Cheri Samba) and name one artwork by each.
Describe the key symbols and materials found in selected African artworks and explain what they reveal about African history and culture.
Discuss, in small groups, how at least two artworks reflect the history and culture of the people of Africa using simple art vocabulary.
Write a brief profile of one chosen artist, covering name, country of origin, training, type of artworks, titles of works, and medium of expression.
Present their findings to the class clearly, using at least one digital or print image of the artwork they studied.

This lesson opens the topic “Thinking and Exploring Ideas” for Term 1, Week 1. It focuses on studying and talking about the works of established African artists. In the next lesson (Indicator B5.1.1.1.2), learners will build on this by using these studied works to generate their own ideas for artworks.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Visual Arts (Strand 1)
Sub-strand: Thinking and Exploring Ideas (1.1)
Content standard: B5.1.1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of how to generate own ideas for artistic expressions about the people based on their history and culture, the environment and topical local/national/global issues
Indicator: B5.1.1.1.1 - Study some visual artworks created by Ghanaian and other African visual artists living in Africa and examine how the artworks reflect the history and culture of the people in Africa
Suggested placement: Term 1, Week 1 (Week 1 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: Creative Arts Curriculum (Basic 4-6), 2019, p. 62
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Learners are to:
- Study the artworks e.g. sculpture, textiles, metal arts, paintings, cartoons, photography, ceramics created by Ghanaian and African visual artists e.g. El-Anatsui, Nnenna Okore, Cheri Samba, Goncalo Mabunda, Abdoulaye Konate, Peju Alatise, William J. Kentridge, Justine Mahoney living in Africa by: a) gathering information through library studies, surfing the internet, visiting art studios, galleries, museums, exhibitions etc. watching short videos/documentaries or observing photographs of sample works of the collections of other Ghanaian and African artists. For example, 'Warrior' an installation art by El-Anatsui (2015), and 'Story Maps of no Location', painting by Julie Mehretu; b) talking about the works of the artists in relation to the history and culture of the people of Africa; c) identifying and discussing various items (symbols) found in the works being studied that reflect the history and culture of the people of Africa; d) writing a brief about their choice of artist using the following guidelines:
- Name
- Country of origin
- Training
- Type of artworks
- Title of some works
- Medium of expression.