Year 7/8
Media Arts
Suggested duration: Two lessons
Summary
In this task, students will complete a close analysis of the front cover design of The Little Red Yellow Black Book as a visual text. The first task will require the students to make an appraisal of the cover. The second will require students to work on their own book cover design for a book about their own life and cultural background.
Learning outcomes
- Students will be able to appraise and analyse a book cover as a visual text.
- Students will create their own book cover (digitally or by hand) about their own life and cultural background.
| General capabilities | Cross-curriculum priorities |
|---|---|
| Critical and creative thinking | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures |
| Intercultural understanding | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures organising ideas: 1, 2, 7, 9 |
| Personal and Social Capability |
Australian Curriculum content descriptions
Years 7 and 8 Media Arts
- Analyse how technical and symbolic elements are used in media artworks to create representations influenced by story, genre, values and points of view of particular audiences (ACAMAR071).
- Identify specific features and purposes of media artworks from contemporary and past times to explore viewpoints and enrich their media arts making, starting with Australian media artworks including of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media artworks (ACAMAR072).
- Plan, structure and design media artworks that engage audiences (ACAMAM069).
- Present media artworks for different community and institutional contexts with consideration of ethical and regulatory issues (ACAMAM070).
Provisions for differentiation
Learning support
To support students with learning difficulties, teachers may choose to provide them with a printed copy of the book cover centred on an A4 page and help them to make some annotations in which they make their appraisal. They may submit a hand-made design rather than a digitally created design if the task is too challenging.
Extension
Students could use more advanced graphic design software such as the Adobe Creative Suite to create their book cover design.
Resources
- Copies of the Student resource sheet (PDF) - one per student
- Copies of the Student Activity worksheet (PDF) - one per student.
- A4 copy paper - one sheet per student.
- Pens, pencils and colouring equipment such as textas or paint
- The Little Red Yellow Black Book - an introduction to Indigenous Australia (4th edition), Aboriginal Studies Press, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2018, pp 154-155.
- Access to internet and device for designing Book Cover
For teachers
Ensure that the guidance notes included in The Little Red Yellow Black Book teacher resource have been considered.
Vocabulary
- Appraisal
Preparation: Make double-sided copies of the sheets, Student resource sheet and Activity worksheet.
Ensure students have access to colour copies of the cover of The Little Red Yellow Black Book (4th Edition) or the book itself.
Step 1.
Show students the front cover of The Little Red Yellow Black Book. Lead a discussion in which the major elements are described. Explain to students that it will be up to them to appraise (evaluate) these elements.
Step 2.
Distribute the sheets, Student resource sheet and Activity worksheet. Direct students to complete the tasks on the Activity worksheet independently. The design task will be done on paper in class, and can be created digitally in the next lesson or assigned for homework.
Step 3.
Students can use simple everyday software like Microsoft Word, Publisher or PowerPoint to create the front cover design they created.
Step 4.
Set a deadline for the completed book cover design to be submitted for marking. Students may need to finish their design at home. Students should arrange to turn in a colour printout of their digital design and/or the coloured original of a hand-made design.
Assessment ideas
- Participation in discussion
- Rubric