Lesson Plan: "This Can’t Be Art… Or Can It?"

Lesson Plan: "This Can’t Be Art… Or Can It?"

Grade: 9

Duration: 40 minutes

Objective:

To explore contemporary and unconventional forms of art.

To develop critical thinking and debate skills on what constitutes "art."

To encourage students to express their opinions using English vocabulary related to art and criticism.

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-up (5 min)

Activity: "Is This Art?" Quick Discussion

Show students 3-4 controversial artworks (e.g., abstract paintings, installations like Duchamp’s Fountain, Banksy’s graffiti, or AI-generated art).

Ask: "Do you think this is art? Why or why not?"

Encourage short responses in English (e.g., "I think it’s art because…" / "This can’t be art because…").

2. Vocabulary & Reading (10 min)

A. Key Terms: Introduce words/phrases:

Abstract, installation, controversial, creativity, meaning, skill, talent, subjective, modern art, critique.

B. Short Text:

Provide a paragraph about a debated artwork (e.g., Yayoi Kusama’s polka dots or a banana taped to a wall).

Students read aloud or silently, then underline arguments for and against it being art.

3. Debate: "This Can’t Be Art!" (15 min)

Divide class into two teams: "This is art" vs. "This isn’t art."

Assign a new controversial artwork (e.g., a blank canvas or a pile of candy).

Teams prepare 2–3 arguments (using vocabulary) and debate.

Language focus:

"Art should require skill, and this doesn’t."

"Art is about ideas, not just beauty."

4. Reflection & Creation (7 min)

Activity: Defend Your Art

Students imagine they’re modern artists. They sketch or describe a strange artwork (e.g., "a shoe glued to a chair") and justify it in 2 sentences.

Example: "This represents life’s chaos. The shoe is a metaphor for journey."

Volunteers share with the class.

5. Homework (3 min)

Write a paragraph: "Is art defined by beauty, skill, or meaning? Give examples."

Assessment:

Participation in debate (arguments, vocabulary use).

Creativity in "Defend Your Art" activity.

Materials: Projector for images, paper/pens, printed text.

Adaptation: For weaker students, provide sentence starters ("I believe this is art because…").

End Goal: Students leave questioning assumptions about art and using English to express nuanced opinions! 🎨