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Lessons

Hammer & Sickle: Interpreting Symbols and Meaning

Compare and contrast powerful cultural symbols and their use in contemporary art.

Overview

This lesson features artworks that incorporate powerful symbols: the hammer and sickle and the American flag. Students first deconstruct how the symbol is treated in the artwork and then infer meaning by comparing and contrasting the aesthetic qualities of the artworks. This lesson can be extended into a research project through investigating the historic and cultural contexts behind each of the featured works.

Grade Level

  • Middle School
  • High School

Subject

  • Arts
  • Art history
  • English and language arts
  • Social studies and history

Objectives

  • Students intuitively respond to works of contemporary art.
  • Students connect symbols to meanings.
  • Students associate personal feelings and thoughts with artworks.
  • Students formulate ideas for new artworks referencing either the hammer and sickle symbol or the American flag.

Vocabulary

Materials

Assessment

The following assessments can be used for this lesson using the downloadable assessment rubric.

  • Communication 1
  • Communication 2
  • Communication 3
  • Creative process 1
  • Critical thinking 2
  • Historical context 3
  • Historical context 4