Time & Change
Embracing or fearing the inevitable
Time is one of our most coveted "possessions" as a modern society. Humans have sought to understand the interwoven nature of time and change from the beginning of humankind. We always seek to make more of it and often struggle to embrace the flux between temporary and lasting impact. Through this theme students will explore and seek to better understand the dependence of change on the concept of time, the origins, & how we might learn/grow from past, present, and future perspectives. After all, the present future will become the past eventually — time and change are an inevitable force.
A UNIT FOR GRADES 9-12
The Time & Change Unit Will explore:
Personal growth over time
(defining goals and measuring progress)
Understanding and mastering
critical thinking
Displaying art, developing language around exhibitions, & utilizing exhibition spaces
Developing resilience
(Becoming curious about and embracing uncertainty)
Measuring moments
& change
Identifying and engaging
in celebratory moments in time
Time & Change UNIT OVERVIEW
Tick Tock: Concepts of time & change
Exploring time and change through artistic works
This unit provides an overarching understanding of the concepts of time + change — creating a foundation that each of the following units will build upon. They will explore ideas of letting art go and what to preserve through the development and documentation of ephemeral art. They will learn about the curation process that will aid them in the final unit.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do we seek to understand/define the concepts of time & change?
How do artists portray time in their work?
Where and why did the measurement of time originate?
525,600 Minutes: How Small Increments Lead
to Big Change
Exploring the ways small actions and practices that we set up for ourselves can help us to achieve BIG results.
This unit will help students explore themselves as individuals who are present at the center of the concept of time and change. This will allow students to explore where they fit into the construct of time and the result of change. As they navigate this placement they will develop a deeper connection between their own art practices and abstract concepts. They will discover how ancient art practices take on new meanings (ceramics) in a contemporary context.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do you measure time?
How are time & change interconnected?
What can we learn from the past? How can we apply it to the present or future?
How does art preserve aspects of life?
Evolutions of Ingenuity
Exploring how humanity addresses time and change through the evolution of human ingenuity.
The final unit will build upon skills and knowledge obtained during the introduction and individual exploration units. Students will apply their understanding of time and change through the lens of collective humanity in this final unit. They will observe, research, discuss, and create a final artwork in reaction to this concept. Students will curate and run a final showcase together for their community. Finally, students will document their process and artwork for their portfolios.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What world have you inherited? What world do you want to leave for the next generation?
What impacts do humans have on the world?
How does art help us understand the lives of people of different times, places, and cultures?
What methods and processes are considered when preparing artwork for presentation or preservation?
How does power affect change and historical records? How do we dissect entangled histories?
What influence does time have on artworks and the messages embedded within them?
Unit Calendar
This unit will take place over 34 Class Periods — View the breakdown below