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Institute: Sullivan East Middle Date: Winter 2008-09 Designer: Theresa Monteith
Grade: 7th and 8th
Subject/Topic Areas: Ancient China 15th-13th Century B.C.
Anchor Work: Shang Dynasty Ritual Wine Container
Theme: Art, history and culture of Ancient China
Time Frame: 5 classes at 90 minute a class
Unit Overview
In the 1920s and 30s, bronze ritual containers were uncovered in remains of royal tombs,
foundations of palaces and ritual sites. The containers were found in the Ruins of Yin,
which is near the modern day Anyang, China. Vessels were made for preparing and
serving sacrificial food and wine used by kings and royal families. The containers was a
symbol of importance and political status. The vessels were buried with the members of
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royal families in the tombs. The Worcester Art Museum's Bronze Ritual Wine vessel was
cast by the piece-mold method of casting. The designs was carved in reverse into a clay
mold, after the clay hardened. The four molds were put together to produce a threedimensional casting, then molten metal was poured into the sections. After the bronze
cooled, the vessel was removed from the mold. The joins were then filed, and the finished
design retained a segmented appearance.
The bilaterally symmetrical mask-like designs with protruding eyes or taotie dominates
the Shang dynasty's decorative motif that appears on each side. Birds and snakes are
molded on the outside of the container, suggesting the importance of animals or animal
spirits. A squared spiral covers the remaining surface of the ritual container, as recorded
on the Worcester Art Museum website. In WAM Asian galleries there are other examples
of animal motif in sculpture and scrolls. A sculpture of a warrior horse, glazed camel and
a bronze oxen.
In Yellow River valley, China, ritual vessels have been discovered containing oracle
bones made of turtle shells and animal bones. The bones are carved with inscription
written in Chinese characters. Symbolic images and marking told historians of the Shang
Dynasty that lasted six hundred years. Kings carved the bones with questions to their
ancestral spirits. Divination (a person that predict the future uttered under divine
inspiration) were an important part of the kings role as a political and religious leader.
Oracle recorded information on the bones that gave incite into the politics, economy,
culture, and religion of the period. As battles were won and lost another king would
inscribe the oracle bones tells us of the change in political power.
In the Shang Dynasty period, the monarchy's leaders were in constant struggle for power
with other royal families. The royal families were powerful rulers that trained noblemen
to be warriors. Slaves worked to make weapons, chariots and bronze ritual vessels. The
king was also responsible for religious life, natural spirits and the health of his followers.
Oracle bones recorded questions to royal
Monteith, T
Overview page 2
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ancestor spirits asking for the outcome of weather, birth, hunts and battles. When kings
died, they were buried in a tomb in preparation for the afterlife with their most valued
possessions. These included slaves, weapons, jade, chariots, bronze ritual vessels and
oracle bones.
The five following lesson plans will include drawing, painting, three-dimensional
assembly, modeling and forming tin into masks. Lessons will begin at the Worcester Art
Museum. Students will view and discuss the history of vessels in the Greek, PreColumbian and Asian galleries. We will compare and contrast the art, culture and religion
of the three ancient periods with a focus on vessels. Then they will have time to study
three vessels in the galleries by drawing them. The image will then be painted with
watercolor paints. The following four lessons, students will work in 2-D and 3-D
mediums including paper, paint, paper mache, clay and found objects. Lessons will focus
on ancient art and history with comparisons to vessels and containers used in family
holidays of today. At the conclusion of the five lessons students will improve drawing
and painting skills, and building in three-dimensions, and have a better understanding of
ancient cultures and ritual containers.
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Monteith,T
Lesson plan 1
Museum visit
galleries to visit Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Chinese Art
Overview for lesson:
-Discuss and review students prior knowledge of ancient Greek, Pre-Columbian
and Chinese cultures and art.
-Comparing color, design and symbolic animal images
-View and Teach students about the art and history of ancient ritual containers
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- draw three ritual containers comparing images of animals and geometric shapes on the
vessels.
-In the galleries students will redraw images on watercolor paper and paint.
Guiding question:
What is a ritual container and there uses?
Are their any similarities in all the ritual containers we viewed?
What colors and shapes are in the vessels?
Do you have a container in your home that you use only on holidays?
How are the vessels made?
State or National Learning Standards:
- Concepts and skills History and Geography
-7.5 Identify multiple causes and effects when explaining historical events
-7.6 Define and use correctly words and terms relating to government such as dynasty.
Objectives and Assessments:
Students will expand and demonstrate their knowledge of ancient cultures by compare
ancient cultures to modern day traditions and beliefs
vocabulary Dynasty-a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
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Symbolic image-relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols
ritual-The established form of behavior especially for a religious ceremony
taotie-ancient design element,or iconic eyes of an animal
geometric shapes-characterized by simple geometric forms in design and decoration
Materials
drawing pencils, 8x24 newsprint and watercolor paper,
watercolor paints, brushes, black ink pens
Lesson Activities visit the Worcester Art Museum
Student will draw and paint three different ritual container and compare and contract the
Shang Dynasty Ritual Wine container with Greek and Pre-Comlubian vessels. They will
paint vessels with watercolor paints. Then use the image for further study when building
a 3-D ritual vessels.
Monteith,T
Lesson Plan 2
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drawing animals with geometric shapes
Overview for lesson:
-Drawing animals using line volume and geometric shapes
-discussing animals role in myths and religious beliefs in Greek, Pre-Columbain and
Chinese Art
State or National Learning Standards:
-Content Standard 1 Students use different media, techniques and processes to
communicate ideas, experiences and stories
-Content Standard 3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and
ideas
-Connection strand 4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures,
Interdisciplinary
Objectives and Assessments:
Students will demonstrate how to draw animals with line, shape and form. Then they will
reflect on how different animals traits relate to their moods and personalities. They will
also learn the method of how to make an L hinge joint and understand the benefits to the
environment when they reuse recycled materials.
Guiding Question
Do you have in your home a special container that you use only on holidays?
What is your prior knowledge of ancient cultures and art with a focus on animal spirits
and beliefs?
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What is the history, culture and economy of Ancient China?
Vocabulary:
design motifs- central theme or idea design that consists of recurring
aesthetics- a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful
zoomorphic- animal like or characteristic of animals
Materials:
drawing pencils, newsprint, scissors, wide making tape, tag board, cardboard,
tacky glue, paint brushes and tempera paint
Lesson Activities:
How to draw positive and negative space, volume and shadow when drawing animals.
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Lesson Plan 3
making a three dimensional container with lid
and paper mache oracle bones
Overview for lesson :
-Students will make a three dimensional ritual container with tag board and recycled
materials
-writing a list of their traditions, beliefs and goals for the future
-paint a base coat of tempera paint to container
-make paper mache bones
Guiding question:
How do you build a box with equal or unequal sides?
What math facts do you need to build a containers?
What is a L hinge?
What design and color express your personality?
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State or National Learning Standards:
-Content Standard 1 Students use different media, techniques, and processes cause
different responses
-Content Standard 3 Students select and use subject matter, symbols and ideas to
communicate meaning
-Methods, materials and techniques. Students will demonstrate knowledge of methods,
materials and unique of visual arts
Ojectives and Assessment:
demonstrate how to build a 3-D container with images of animals and geometric shapes
and patterns.
vocabulary:
Oracle-an authoritative spirit or person who divines the future
Divination-the art or gift of prophecy by supernatural means, successful conjecture by
unusual insight or good luck, a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
Bilaterally- having two sides
piece-mold method of casting-method of making a clay mold in sections and pouring into
mold liquid bronze
Materials:
tag board, cardboard, recycled container, pencils, tissue paper, newsprint, paper mache
glue, paper towels, scissors, black marker,
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Lesson Activities
A three-dimensional container will be made with recycled materials balance and structure
in assemblage will be demonstrated. Then they will make a vessel and lid that represents
their beliefs and culture. A base coat of tempera paint will be applied. Students will
collage images to their vessels in
Monteith,T
Lesson Plan 4
Students vessels from lesson 3 will be collaged with animal drawings
Clay vessels in the shape of animals
Overview for lesson :
-Students will complete their vessel by collaging animal drawings on the outside of
containers
- writing on the paper mache bones their wishes for the future, thoughts and goals for the
future to put inside the vessels.
-Student will continue to build and 3-D structures
-Mythical creature or zoomorphic animals will be modeled with clay and painted
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Guiding question:
What superhuman characters in books and video games do you know that resemble an
ancient animals?
What wish or goal will you put on your paper bones?
What is clay and where does it come from?
State or National Learning Standards
-Connection Students will Apply their knowledge of the arts to the study of English
writing skills, social studies and culture
-Materials, technique with hands on building and construction.
-Elements and Principles of Design student will demonstrate knowledge of the elements
and principles of design
Objectives and Assessment
Did students demonstrate how to model in clay, collage, and understanding the role of
animals in art
vocabulary:
Collage-a French techniques of attaching paper to a surface
French artists Picasso and Matisse first used the techniques of collag
Materials:
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glue, scissors, black markers, clay, clay tools, cardboard, handout of animal images
Lesson Activities:
Writing self reflections thoughts and goal,Collage 3-D container then model and paint
clay zoomorphic animals
Monteith,T
Lesson plan 5
mythical creatures tin mask
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Overview for lesson : -draw three mythical creatures, human faces with animals traits on newsprint
- use the image as a pattern and cut out a tin mask
-emboss the image into the tin
-turn over tin to expose a low relief mask
- apply a wash of black acrylic paint to the
- burnish the low relief
Guiding question:
Can you express texture in tin?
How is mythical animals compared to modern day comic heroes?
How do you handle tin in a safely?
State or National Learning Standards:
-Content Standard 1 Students use different media, techniques, and processes cause
different responses
-Materials, technique with hands on building and construction
-Content Standard 3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and
ideas
Objectives and Assessments:
demonstrate how to draw creatures, embossing, burnishing and make a low relief
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vocabulary:
emboss-raise in a relief
burnish-the property of being smooth and shiny, polish and make shiny
low relief-a sculptural relief in which forms extend only slightly from the background; no
figures are undercut
Materials:
Mat board, wooden dowel assorted sizes 12 inch long, scissors, making tape, .01 grade
tin
Lesson Activities: learn new vocabulary and techniques in working in tin
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Monteith,T
Bibliography
www.worcesterart.org
Image and history of the Shang Dynasty wine ritual vessel
en.wikipedia.org
Ancient Chinese time line, economy, beliefs and culture
www.newsfinder.org/site/more/oracl
History of oracle bones and how they were in scripted.
Willis, Roy, Dictionary of World Myth: An A-Z reference guide to gods, goddesses
Barnes and Noble, general consultant
God, animal worship in Greek, Chinese and Pre-Columbian cultures
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