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Introduction

For centuries people have been fascinated by this mysterious lady. We are going on a quest to find out as much information as we can about who she really was and why she is still famous today.
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Aim

This WebQuest will attempt to answer these questions: Was Mona Lisa a real person or did she represent something else? Who was Leonardo da Vinci and what else was he famous for? Where is the Louvre and what is in it?
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Rationale

With the all the controversy surrounding the release of the film, The Da Vinci Code, based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, a newly inspired interest has surfaced regarding Leonardo Da Vinci and his art. Throughout history, few people have been more inspirational than Leonardo. He was a genius of many talents. He was a geologist, a sculptor, an engineer, and an architect. He worked successfully designing war machinery, parachutes, and early versions of airplanes. He was an expert in anatomy, and some of his drawings are still held in high regard in the medical field. He even wrote backwards. But one his most famous creations is his painting, Mona Lisa, which is on permanent display in the Louvre museum in Paris, France. Middle school students should develop an appreciation for art throughout history. They need to understand the importance art has played through the centuries. Art and paintings have long been at the center of controversy around the world. Art has played an important role in documenting historical events and helping us to better understand ancient civilizations. According to the National Standards for Art Education, “Study of historical and cultural contexts gives students insights into the role played by the visual arts in human achievement. As they consider examples of visual art works within historical contexts, students gain a deeper appreciation of their own values, of the values of other people, and the connection of the visual arts to universal human needs, values, and beliefs. They understand that the art of a culture is influenced by aesthetic ideas as well as by social, political, economic, and other factors. Through these efforts, students develop an understanding of the meaning and import of the visual world in which they live.” The activities of this curriculum web will allow students to learn historically about Leonardo Da Vinci, his life and times. They will discover the many inventions he created, his paintings and other great artwork and why his work is still important today. They will travel to the Louvre and get a better understanding of the importance of an art museum. They will also discover the mystery surrounding one of the most famous ladies ever painted, Mona Lisa, who she really was and even the story surrounding the painting’s theft in 1911. Through this curriculum web students will be enriched aesthetically and historically and obtain a greater insight into one of the most brilliant people in history and one of his most famous creations.
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Audience

This WebQuest is for art students at the secondary level, grades 6-8 who are interested in Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa.
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Prerequisites

This is a beginning unit on fine art. Therefore, no prior knowledge of fine arts is required. Teachers should familiarize students with basic computer skills.
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Subject Matter

The unit covers the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci, his masterpiece,Mona Lisa and the Louvre Museum in Paris.
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Goals and Objectives

The students will:
  • become familiar with visual arts and artists
  • become visually aware of detail in the natural and constructed environment
  • explore the contributions of visual artists
  • learn to respect the creativeness of themselves and others
  • become aware of the rich arts community where they live
  • express their opinions orally and in writing
  • respect the interpretive opinions of others.
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    Instructional Plan

    Teacher's Instructional Plan

  • Guide students through the viewing experience (see glossary) of Mona Lisa. This is the time to remind students that we all look at the same art through different eyes.
  • Explain and demonstrate basic computer skills.
  • Review student instructional plan.
  • Present a vocabulary list of descriptive words and wordsearch.
  • Have students view Mona Lisa on the home page and have them list at least ten descriptive words that come to mind.
  • Send students to the internet links to research Mona Lisa. Have them complete an assignment on both.
  • Send students to the internet links to research Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Send students to the internet link for a virtual Tour of the Louvre.
  • Have students recreate Mona Lisa using coloring book version of the painting.
  • Display, view, and discuss the students' works of art.

    Student's Instructional Plan

  • Observe, tell, and record your first, spontaneous reaction to Mona Lisa.
  • Demonstrate basic computer skills as directed by the teacher.
  • Review your instructional plan with the teacher.
  • Find the list of descriptive words to use to express personal opinions relating to the lesson and complete the wordsearch.
  • Choose and list at least ten descriptive words for Mona Lisa.
  • Research Mona Lisa on the internet. Complete the assignment.
  • Research Leonardo da Vinci on the internet. Complete the assignment.
  • Take the virtual Tour of the Louvre.
  • Select art materials to recreate your personal version of Mona Lisa.
  • Submit your art work for viewing and discussion with others.
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    Materials

    We will utilize:
  • a list of descriptive vocabulary words
  • one coloring book version of Mona Lisa
  • art supplies-colored pencils and crayons, markers, watercolors, tempera paints, etc.
  • writing supplies
  • internet accessible computers
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    Appendices

    Glossary

  • glaze - A thin, transparent coat of paint or varnish. The glaze, very liquid, is applied in thin, even coats to modify the color and appearance of areas of a painting. It is one of the fundamental techniques of oil painting.
  • modeling - The representation of three-dimensional forms on a flat surface.
  • overpainting - Changes made to a picture while it is being painted.
  • sfumato - Fine shading and softened contours producing a hazy effect.
  • Resources

    www.louvre.fr
    http://www.mos.org/leonardo/index.html
    http://library.advanced.org/13681/data/link1.htm
    http://library.thinkquest.org/13681/
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