Scratch,
Glue, Foil & Paint: Connecting Classics and the Art Curriculum
by Newell Murri, Enfield
High School
Joint Scratch Board
Unit
Our Latin teacher's poetry class
read Vergil's Aeneid.
To enhance their understanding of the story of the Trojan War,
students developed a project based on the study of Greek pottery
and the mythological images painted on the pottery.
The Latin students traveled
to Mr. Murri's art class to learn the technique of scratch board
art. Each student selected a style of vase and decorated their
vase with authentic images from ancient pottery and/or art. Museum
placards described the student's art and included imaginative
"facts" about the provenience, location, size, and
color of their piece. Example placards appear below.
Students worked in groups, mixing
the art and Latin students. The classes met together for specific
lessons to work on their projects.
Supplies & Tools
scratch board
scratch tools
carbon paper
pencils
8.5 x 11 sheets of white paper
scissors
India ink
Project Format
Click on a lesson below to review
the lesson and its suggested content.
Lesson
#1: Group discussion
of pottery, small practice scratch board.
Lesson
#2: Group discussion
of Archaic figures and decorative elements.
Lesson
#3: Group discussion
of the evolution of Greek & Roman pottery painting, illustrative
themes, Project Requirements.
Lesson
#4: Group Critique of
scratch board projects, "museum card" creation on computer.
Example Drawings
Students should use these and
other examples of Greek and Roman artwork to stimulate ideas
for original work or to replicate a work they especially like.
