As a follow up to
yesterday’s blog on visual literacy, I had an “Ah ha!” moment in the middle of
the night. I read an article years
ago in YOUNG CHILDREN on aesthetic appreciation, or helping children to
appreciate beautiful things. It
dawned on me that this would be a way to integrate standards with “Art
101.” You probably feel
overwhelmed right now with conferences and lesson plans, but tuck this idea away
until January or February. Talk
about raising the bar for the geniuses in your classroom! And, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two
as well!
Each week choose a
famous artist – anyone from Vermeer to Rockwell to Picasso. You can go online and download prints
or check out books from the library.
On Monday, give a little background about the artist and show one
painting and give the title.
Explain that artists always give a “name” or title to their work. “What title would you give this
painting?” “What do you see?” “Why do you think the artist painted
this?” “What do you think happened
before?” “After?” “What do you think the people are
saying?” “How does this painting
make you feel?” “What materials
did the artist use to create this picture?”
On Tuesday show another
picture. “Do you remember the
title of yesterday’s painting?
What do you think is the title of today’s painting?” Compare and contrast. “How are they alike?” “How are they different?”
Continue introducing a
different painting every day.
*Use paintings to
introduce new vocabulary words.
*Use paintings as
springboards for writing stories or poems.
*Paintings can also be used
for informative writing where children describe details.
*On Friday let children
graph which painting they liked best.
Why did you like that one? Is there one you did
not like?