Activity 1: Looking at Art – Using our Common
Senses
Level
· All
Note
· We recommend you
start your exploration of the exhibit using this activity. It provides a
focus and is a good common entry point for looking at art for all levels
of students.
Purpose
· To involve students and teachers in using all
their senses to explore the impact and meaning of a work of art.
· To provide common
ground for group discussions related to this exhibition and others.
Materials
· Works of art in the
exhibition (or slides)
Procedure
· Discussion
1. Select one work that has lots of
visual interest and perhaps some mystery. Have students sit where they can
all see this work clearly.
2. Go
through the following steps, asking the questions and allowing adequate
time for students to respond verbally. Encourage thoughtful responses
through positive reinforcement and follow-up comments. There are no wrong
answers.
a) What do you see? Describe the lines, shapes, colours, and
textures in this work of art. Which element is most prominent or 'in
charge?' Can you see people, animals, objects or plants? What materials
did the artist use to make the work?
b) How is it all put together?
What colour, shape or object catches your eye first? Is anything repeated?
How are things connected? Do some shapes appear closer to you than others?
c) What's it all about? What if you found yourself inside this artwork
- what would you hear, smell, feel, see, taste? Is the art telling a
story, giving you a feeling, or sharing an idea? If you could ask the
artist one question what would it be?
d) What do you think? What do you
like about this work of art? Would you change anything? What makes this a
successful work of art?
Evaluation
· Level of student
involvement
· Thoughtfulness of responses
Curriculum Connections
· Visual
Art
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