The Arts In Every Classroom: A Workshop for Elementary School Teachers
Watch the Program
(60 Minutes)
While you watch, consider these focus questions:
Lesson 1: Influences of the Past
- What historical references might have influenced Quidam?
- What role does history play in the ideas that artists have?
Lesson 2: The Power of Costume
- What do costumes symbolize or represent in various works of art?
- How is a costume a work of art?
Lesson 3: Magritte and Nikolais
- How might biographical information about an artist inform our understanding of his or her works?
- How could the work of one artist influence the work of other artists?
Lesson 4: Art Historian Role-Play
- What is street performance? Is it art?
- How does historical precedent affect our view of art today?
- What criteria should be used to identify and define works of art?
Activities and Discussions
Costume Design (30 minutes)
Facilitator:
- Distribute and discuss the Criticism (PDF) handout (also used in Program 2).
- Distribute and read the Summary of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are (PDF) handout.
Using available materials, design and construct a simple costume item, such as a hat or a scarf, that an actor might use to portray a “wild thing.” The costume should support the way the character would move and should communicate the following things about the character:
- emotions
- personality traits
- locale
- gender
- historical period
- age
- occupation
- social status
Reflect on the symbolic or literal nature of costume elements.
Share costume pieces or pictures of costumes with the entire group using the following focus questions:
- What are the similarities and differences among these pieces?
- Why might these similarities and differences exist?
- How have symbols been used to express character traits?
- What effect might particular materials, color choices, or construction techniques have on the designs and the way the characters can move?
Reflection (10 minutes)
Facilitator: Use these questions to focus a closing discussion:
- Why is an understanding of history informative in the creation and analysis of works of art?
- What opportunities do you have in your daily classroom routine to address important historical connections to learning?