- Author:
- VMFA Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Subject:
- Visual Art, Measurement and Geometry
- Material Type:
- Lesson Plan
- Level:
- Middle School, High School
- Grade:
- 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
- Provider:
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
- Language:
- English
- Media Formats:
- Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML
Education Standards
Artistry and Geometry: Josef Albers
Overview
"I prefer to think that we arrive at insight by experience..."
-Josef Albers
Examining art with a mathematical lens can help students articulate how they see and understand spatial and numerical relationships. Use this resoure to explore prints by artist and teacher Josef Albers to help students expand their understanding of geometric concepts such as parallel lines, congruent angles, rectangular prisms and more.
The resource includes:
- Short introduction to Albers and his ideas.
- Examples of Albers works for examination.
- Suggested open-ended activity for further exploration
- Discussion prompts
This activity can be structured as introductory exploration or informal formative evaluation. Use student ideas generated as a reference and springboard for more formal instruction and problem-solving.
Lesson Guide
Review VMFA resource:
Lesson Concept: Josef Albers Formulation: Articulation
- Learn about Albers and his experiential approach to teaching and his ideas about thinking in two and three dimensions.
- Structure the included "Re-Presentation" challenge in a way that makes sense for your class. The activity should be open-ended and thought-provoking. Students should document their thinking as they attempt the challenge.
- Use the included discussion prompts and some of your own to gather student ideas.
- Use student ideas as a reference and springboard for more formal instruction and problem-solving.