Lesson Title: Drawing the Buddha
Course: Drawing
Grade Level: 9-12

Objectives:  As a result of instruction, students will be able to...
1. Identify some of the major and minor markings of the Buddha
2. Differentiate between Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
3. Identify specific hand gestures of the Buddha
4. Create a value drawing of the Buddha on a related drawing surface of their choice

Materials:
1. Teacher’s sample artwork
2. Drawing surfaces chosen by students
3. Digital camera, disks, computer, and printer
4. White and black charcoal pencils
5. Kneadable erasers
6. Blending sticks

Intructional Resources:
1. “The Little Buddha” video
2. Slides of Buddhist art
3. “Identifying Buddhist Images in Japanese Painting and Sculpture” from Education About Asia Volume 4, Number 3
4. Web site on identifying the Buddha- http://home.att.net/%7Ealterity/Buddh_Intro/Pages/Buddha_Image.html
5. Web site with mudras of Buddhist sculptures and paintings- http://www.exoticindia.com/article/mudras
6. Web site with a chart of the mudras- http://www.askasia.org/image/photos/i000532a.htm
7. Web site with more drawings of mudras- http://www.buddhanet.net/mudras.htm
8. “ Explanations of the causes that led the Buddha to acquire the thirty-two major marks ” http://pages.cthome.net/tibetanbuddhism/May_01_news_pg_2.htm
9. “ The 80 minor physical markings of Buddha ” http://pages.cthome.net/tibetanbuddhism/May_01_news_pg_3.htm

Vocabulary:
Buddha                   Bosatsu
Bodhisattva             Mahayana
Tathagata                Nyorai

Motivation:
1. Students will watch “The Little Buddha”
2. Teacher will show slides of Buddhist art
3. Teacher will give an overview of the project
4. Teacher will show samples of responses to this assignment

Procedure:
1. Teacher will read selected markings of the Buddha to students who will draw the Buddha based only on these verbal cues
2. Students will share their drawings with the class
3. Students will read the 32 major and 80 minor marks
4. Students will read the handout “Identifying Buddhist Images in Japanese Painting and Sculpture”
5. Students will complete a worksheet that asks them to look at pictures and identify which ones are Buddhas and which ones are Bodhisattvas
6. Students will complete a worksheet that asks them to look at pictures and identify which hand gesture is used in each one
7. Students will take a quiz on all of these activities that will ask them to name some of the major and minor markings of the Buddha, differentiate between pictures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and identify specific hand gestures
8. Students will take pictures on the digital camera of the Buddha statue while manipulating the light source and the angle of the camera
9. Students will each find or create a different drawing surface that somehow relates to the Buddha i.e. a map, gold paper, japanese writing
10. Students will draw the Buddha on their surface while looking at the digital photo using black and white charcoal pencils
11. Students will have a group critique of their art
12. Students will frame and exhibit their art

Evaluation: To what extent did students...
1. Identify some of the major and minor markings of the Buddha
2. Differentiate between Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
3. Identify specific hand gestures of the Buddha
4. Take a unique picture by manipulating the light source and angle of the camera
5. Choose an interesting drawing surface
6. Render the lights and darks accurately