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"Great Seal of Mississippi" Art Contest

Create a lesson plan using the Great Seal of Mississippi and create a fabulously imaginative seal for our Governor and legislators!

 

Objective: to create an art integrated lesson using the Great Seal of Mississippi as the focal point.

Goal: to embellish the Great Seal of Mississippi with materials, symbols, and objects that are native and significant to our state and learn more about our state.

Purpose: the top 3 winning seals will be framed and presented to our Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House at our Day at the Capitol in March as an example and a reminder of the role the arts play in education.

Procedure:

  • Each school receives 5 poster size seals that you are free to copy and distribute any way necessary. (They must remain poster size)
  • Hold a school-wide or classroom contest as a part of your lesson.
  • Present your school’s one winning entry to the Mississippi Arts Commission by December 14th on one of the original poster boards provided with the information printed on the front and the integrated lesson attached to the back (use attached form).
  • Any classroom can participate by creating an art integrated lesson based on the seal. Think creatively! Here are a few examples:
    • A history class can research the origin and meaning of the symbols used on the Great Seal, and then embellishes the seal using materials native to Mississippi.
    • A math class can use the seal for counting, adding, subtracting; to measure and calculate circumference, diameter, radius, area, and formula; then embellish the seal using the mathematical findings in symbols and native materials as manipulatives.
    • A language arts class can research the story behind our seal and write about the findings; write a descriptive paragraph before and after embellishing the seal with found or recycled objects; write a persuasive paragraph explaining why certain recycled objects were used; create a poem about the many resources around our state.
    • A visual art class can research bas-relief, collage, and assemblage and their uses in art and then create a collage of recycled materials or native materials or a bas-relief using textured medium, paint, or wallpaper paste.  Any material is acceptable but remember, this is not a coloring contest!
  • Hold your own in school contest to select your one winner. Bring or mail us your winning poster with the complete lesson attached to the back and all the information filled in to the Mississippi Arts Commission office by December 14th.

The top three posters will be selected and the students will be invited to come to Jackson during Day at the Capitol and present the beautifully framed seals to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House.

Lesson Plan Form and additional information. (PDF)

NOTE: All art integrated lessons should include reference to the elements and principles of visual art and site the competencies for their grade level subject area and visual arts content standards.