Overview: An introduction to artists from the Italian Renaissance (grades 3-5)

Objectives:
1. To introduce students to masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance.
2. To brainstorm and discuss traits and details of the different works.

Materials:
1. Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew
2. Dictionary
3. Prints of any of the works included in James Mayhew's book. A minimum of
two different works will be needed for classroom activity. Prints in Mayhew's
book include: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, St. George and the Dragon
by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, The Lion of St. Mark by Vittore Carpaccio
An Angel with a Lute (painted by a student of da Vinci)

Lesson Plan:
Present this question: What do you think the word "Renaissance" means?
Have a student look it up in the dictionary and read the definition. Talk about what might have happened during the Renaissance.

Introduce the book, Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew. Read the book to your students, stopping to talk about each painting. Have they heard of the artist? The title of the painting? What are some differences between the paintings? Some examples may include the following: Mona Lisa is a portrait. St. George and the Dragon is a painting of an action scene. The Lion of St. Mark shows different scenes from one story. Primavera illustrates a season of the year (spring). An Angel with a Lute was painted by a student!

Application:
1. Display the prints you have available.
2. Have the students break into pairs or small groups and compare and contrast
the works by the artists. Ask them to discuss why they think these paintings are
considered masterpieces.
3. Have the students share their information with the class.

Extension ideas:
1. Have the students (in pairs) draw or paint portraits of each other, like Leonardo da
Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
2. Encourage the students to bring in an action picture (for example, of them participating
in a sporting event, etc.) and have them paint or draw a dramatic action scene using the
picture, like Raphael's St. George and the Dragon.
3. Ask the students to paint or draw scenes from a favorite story of their choosing, like
Carpaccio did in The Lion of St. Mark.
4. Have students paint a large mural together, similar to many of Botticelli's large wall
paintings (frescoes). Ask them to paint or draw a picture that illustrates one of the four
seasons of the year as in Primavera.
5. Invite an artist to visit the class and do a demonstration of specific painting techniques,
much like Leonardo da Vinci may have done for his student who created the
masterpiece An Angel with a Lute.
6. Have an art show for the other classes in the school, displaying the works your students
created while learning about artists from the Renaissance!

Dawnelle Breum is a former first grade teacher. She currently homeschools her three children and writes from her home in Ontario, Canada. Her published work includes poetry and craft articles.

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