Grade Level: grades 6 or 7

Activity
This lesson was taught to three classes of sixth graders over a period of six class meetings. Classes met twice a week for forty minutes. Each class had approximately twenty-eight students. This art lesson unit followed the social studies unit The Great Way of Taoism.
 

1. Students visit the Detroit Institute of Arts and viewed the following three works of art: Money Tree, Embroidered Screen with Longevity Symbols, and Noh Mask Box with Design of Insects and Mount Horai. See Preparation and Resources.
    
2. The teacher creates a learning wall display, using traditional Asian images and symbols from books (see Resources), a yin and yang diagram, photos of East Asian fans, four East Asian fan shape templates, and an example of a yin and yang harmony fan completed by the teacher.
    
3. Selected graphics from books can be reproduced to create handout sheets of images to inspire students' designs for yin and yang symbols. See Preparation and Resources.

Materials

handout sheets of traditional East Asian images and symbols (see above)
sheets of 9" x 12" sketch paper
pencils and erasers

Activity

1. View the learning wall and review information from the social studies unit The Great Way of Taoism. Review visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts and discuss symbols for yin (white tiger, night, earth, fall, winter) and yang (dragon, day, sky, spring, and summer). The Yin and Yang Symbols Worksheet can be used for student note-taking and sketching during the museum visit, and as a refresher in this classroom discussion.
    
2. Students receive Yin and Yang Fan Rubric Assessment Form.
    
3. Select a set of yin and yang symbols.
    
4. Hand out sheets of traditional East Asian images and symbols.
    
5. Sketch ideas for yin and yang images.

Teaching Hints

• Reinforce Taoist philosophy of yin and yang as opposite yet complementary elements that together create a natural harmony.
   
• Students may draw traditional East Asian, Western, or universal symbols to represent yin and yang.
  
   

Fan Templates 1,2,3,4

Sketch of yang side  of fan: lotus

Yang side of fan: lotus

Yin side of fan: plum blossom

Activity
Step One

1. Select and trace a fan shape onto two sheets of drawing paper, one for yin (back) and one for yang (front).
     
2. Use sketches from previous class to design yin and yang images onto the fan shapes.
    
3. Adjust designs to complement fan shape and fit around area where the handle will be attached to the fan.

Step Two

1. Trace selected fan shape onto one sheet of water painting paper.
    
2. Use a light table or window to trace yin design from drawing paper with colored pencils onto back, and yang design onto front of fan shape on water painting paper. Use very sharp pencils, and trace in "whisper lines."

Teaching Hints

• Outlines of fan shapes may be machine copied onto drawing paper to save time spent tracing fan shapes.
   
• The space between the area reserved for the handle and the sides of the fan poses a design challenge. Remind students to allow space for the handle when planning their design.
   
• Colors for designs must be established before tracing with colored pencils.
   
• Remind students that yin colors are dark and dull whereas yang colors are light and bright.
   
• Display and discuss the traditional yin and yang symbol. Point out the small dot of dark yin in the yang portion; and the small dot of light yang in the yin portion of the symbol. Explain that these small dots represent the natural existence of yin in yang, and yang within yin. Encourage students to include elements of their personal yin design within their yang design, and elements of their yang design within the yin design.
   
• Poster board may be substituted for water painting paper as an economy measure, but it will not laminate as well.
   

Johnathan with fan	Johnathan report

Activity

1. Give students a brief refresher lesson in brush techniques and mixing colors and washes.
    
2. Use fine-tipped markers to outline parts or all of the yin image on back of fan.
    
3. Use watercolors to fill in large areas of color and fine-tipped markers to add details.
    
4. Complete painting on yin side of the fan.

Lilian with fan	Lilian report

Teaching Hints

• Fine-tip, permanent markers work best because details are easier to draw than paint, and the lines will not bleed if water paint touches them.

 

Activity

1. Review hints for successful water painting techniques.
    
2. Use fine-tipped, permanent markers to outline parts or all of the yang image on front side of fan.
    
3. Use watercolors to fill in large areas of color and fine-tipped markers to add details.
    
4. Complete painting on the yang side of fan.
    
5. Let paint dry.
    
6. Cut out fan shape.
    

Note to teacher

• Between lessons five and six, teacher laminates the fans.
   

Christian with fan	Christian report

Activity

1. Trim excess laminate film from fan shape.
2. Draw simple decorations for handle designs on worksheet.
3. Select decorations that complement yin and yang fan designs.
4. Draw decorations with fine-tipped permanent markers on two craft sticks: one with a yin decoration, one with a yang decoration.
5. Use glue gun to attach the yin craft stick to the yin side of the fan.
6. To complete the handle, attach the yang craft stick to the yang side of the fan, matching the position of the first craft stick.
7. Write a report describing the design and construction of their fans, and the symbolism of their chosen motifs.

Teaching Hints

• Designs for handles can include yin and yang elements from the designs on the fan.
• Using the glue gun requires extra supervision. It is important to work quickly with the glue gun to keep the glue molten until the handles are connected to the fan.