5 Examples of Elements and Principles of Design

Fall Trees at Richmond Lake by Aberdeen, SD

This photo represents the element of color.

Hexagons on a classroom wall in the Rotunda at SDSU in Brooking, SD

This photo represents the element shape.  These shapes are geometric.

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Utah.

This photo represents the element space.

Richmond Lake by Aberdeen, SD

This photo represents the principle balance.

Display on SDSU's campus in Brookings, SD

This photo represents the element value.

        For this project, I used pictures to show the elements and principles of design and displayed them in a powerpoint.  These are my five best photos from the powerpoint.  An activity for your students to do after presenting the powerpoint could be having them look around the classroom and even the school for examples that show the elements and principles of design.  If you are teaching these in upper classes the students could go out into the town and take pictures of each of elements and principles they see around them for a project.  They could create a display board or a book that displays all their pictures showing each of the elements and principles of design.

Footprint Introduction

        If you are looking for a way to break the ice on your first day of school, I have a project that will introduce your students to you and you to your students.  This project is a Footprint introduction.  To begin this project first, trace your foot or shoe on construction paper and cut it out. Next, add different objects or symbols that describe yourself.  Encourage your students to think outside the box and be creative in representing themselves.  For example, the pictures of arches represents my love for traveling and camping.  I also included the logo Disney because I love watching Disney movie.  I used different medias in this project such as paint, construction paper, sharpie, and pictures.  Once all your symbols and objects are laid out how you would like them and your name is included somewhere, glue on your symbols and objects and let it dry.  Finally, introduce yourself by showing them your footprint.
       After the students introduce themselves with their finished footprint, you could incorporate another activity that could go along with this lesson.  Your students could write a story about where their feet took them this summer.  The story does not even have to relate to what is on the footprint.  It could be a story about what they did this summer that they enjoyed.