Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and Ela Weissberger at Terezin

Draw What You See: Something BeautifulBy: Eileen LernerGrades 1-5/Gifted ProgramFlorida State University SchoolsEnduring Idea:Through art, negative human behaviors and their effects (prejudice, racism, and stereotyping) and positivehuman behavior and their effects (a sense of responsibility, as well as respect for others and their values) can andmust be analyzed in order to promote, preserve, and perpetuate tolerance and democratic culture.Essential Question:What is your duty to inform the world? What are the essential values and ideals that you hope to pass on fromgeneration to generation?Session Activity:Based upon the book, Something Beautiful, students will create essays and drawings depicting their own“something beautiful” to be compiled and published in the form of a class book.Grade Level: 1-5Time Needed: 2 class sessionsObjectives:1. Students will be able to make connections to the artwork and story, Something Beautiful, by portraying their ownvalues in essay and illustration formats.2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of our families, culture and communitiesupon our values.3. Students will become familiar with using the writing process and use of mixed media to express one’s ideas, valuesand beliefs in unique and personal ways.Materials: Drawing paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, notebook paper, and a copy of SomethingBeautiful, written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and illustrated by Chris K. Sentient (New York: Bantam Doubleday DellPublishing 1998).Activity Procedures:1. The following quotations may be isolated and pointedly discussed in the class or they may simply remain underlyingconcepts for the procedures.2. As a class, read Something Beautiful. “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. Oneof these is roots; the other, wings. (Hodding Carter)” According to author Sharron Dennis Wyeth, something beautifulis “something that when you have it, your heart is happy.”3. Each student will create a well-developed personal essay depicting the selection of his/her own “something beautiful.”4. Each student will execute a well-developed drawing of his/her “something beautiful.” Students can select from avariety of media, including colored pencils and markers to create their drawings.14