Cars and Guitars Entire Curriculum Unit  pdf

What is Cool? is a three-lesson unit plan designed in conjunction with the Cars and Guitars exhibition at the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Present the Cars and Guitars Exhibition Preview PowerPoint.

Themes

• Theme in Life: Life is full of choices.
• Theme in Art: Artists create designs to influence us to choose (or like) one thing rather than another.

Key Questions
Lessons approach the themes through two key questions.

How do designers and artists arrange elements to draw (grab) viewers’ attention?

What makes one thing look “cool” (excellent) and not another?

Community Connections
Everyday life in the in the Valley of the Sun is affected by past, present and future choices made by individuals, businesses, schools, community groups and city and state governments. Communities face important choices, such as how to improve and sustain the economy, education, the environment, safety and cultural resources. Leaders in these areas can use words and images in print and media to persuade people in their communities to support certain choices about these topics and issues. Learning how images and words influence us can help us make better, informed choices.

Lesson One
One: What Shall I Choose? pdf

Resources
What Shall I Choose? PowerPoint
OPTIONAL: What Shall I Choose? Beginner’s Version PowerPoint
OPTIONAL: Sample “cool” ads

Lesson Two
Two: Exploring the Cool Factor at the Tempe Center for the Arts pdf

Resources
Exploring the Cool Factor at the Tempe Center for the Arts worksheet pdf
OPTIONAL: Questor Questions about Stratocaster® Design jpg

Lesson Three
Three: Design Your Own Fender® Stratocaster®(elementary or middle school) pdf

Resources
Samples of designs on T-shirts, cell phone covers, lunch boxes, shoes, etc.
Design Your Own Fender® Stratocaster® PowerPoint
Fender® Stratocaster® template handout (pdf)
Assorted colors of construction paper
Scissors
Glue or glue sticks
Butcher paper (or large bulletin board) for display of designs of the entire class

Resources and Supplies for a Collage Project
Creating a Cool Cover PowerPoint
Construction paper or other colored paper
Magazines
Printed or hand-lettered text
Photos or photocopies of photos of students
Markers
Scissors
Glue
Creating a Cool Cover Critique (pdf)

Resources and Supplies for a Computer Project
Internet connected computer lab
Digital or scanned photos of students
Image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements
Creating a Cool Cover Critique (pdf)

Credits
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Sucker Punch Sally’s
Leanne Smith’s students at McClintock High School
Nicole Granese, Arizona State University intern
Sally Carillo’s 2nd grade students at Kyrene de las Brisas Elementary School

Estimated Time (Elementary or Middle School)
Previsit Lesson = 30-50 minutes
TCA Visit Lesson = Field Trip
Postvisit Lesson = 50 minutes

Estimated Time (High School)
Previsit Lesson = 30-50 minutes
TCA Visit Lesson = Field Trip
Postvisit Lesson = 300-600 minutes

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