Artful Conversations
The Kennedy Center ArtsEdge program has a brief description of visual art elements and principles, or review the article on Wikipedia. Similar lists can be found through a basic internet search for art elements and principles.
Basically, show the children a work of art and ask them to discuss (as a class, in groups, with a neighbor) or write down what they see relative to a specific element or principle. Ask follow-up questions like, "Why do you think the artist chose to do it that way?" You can easily integrate this with reading in the younger grades where books are full of dynamic illustrations. For the older grades, of course, illustrations can still be important (e.g. graphic novels). Stop and talk about what they see. This type of conversation also has clear connections to social studies and addresses foundational observation skills in science. If you would like to become more familiar with art elements and principles yourself, you can always go to Wikipedia or other websites. Don't let a perceived deficit keep you from engaging in these critical discussions with children.
English Language Arts: Speaking and Listening
Comprehension and Collaboration:
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Visual Art: Responding
Perceive and analyze artistic work
These kinds of experiences can be extended into writing about the work of art or by using the work of art as a writing prompt. They can also be extended easily into Social Studies. Visual arts skills can also be deepened by sketching specific elements (e.g. drawing specific shapes or lines from the work of art).
English Language Arts: Writing
Text Types and Purposes
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
or
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
Social Studies
Through experience, observation, and reflection, students will identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place.
Opportunities also exist for extending artful conversations into math topics, depending on the art work chosen. For example:
Math: Geometry
Kindergarten – Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
Grade 1 – Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size)
Grade 4 – Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry.
Using the principles of design, art works could be used to explore parallel science principles.
Here's an excellent lesson plan from readwritethink: Artistic Elements: Exploring Art through Descriptive Writing
Basically, show the children a work of art and ask them to discuss (as a class, in groups, with a neighbor) or write down what they see relative to a specific element or principle. Ask follow-up questions like, "Why do you think the artist chose to do it that way?" You can easily integrate this with reading in the younger grades where books are full of dynamic illustrations. For the older grades, of course, illustrations can still be important (e.g. graphic novels). Stop and talk about what they see. This type of conversation also has clear connections to social studies and addresses foundational observation skills in science. If you would like to become more familiar with art elements and principles yourself, you can always go to Wikipedia or other websites. Don't let a perceived deficit keep you from engaging in these critical discussions with children.
English Language Arts: Speaking and Listening
Comprehension and Collaboration:
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Visual Art: Responding
Perceive and analyze artistic work
These kinds of experiences can be extended into writing about the work of art or by using the work of art as a writing prompt. They can also be extended easily into Social Studies. Visual arts skills can also be deepened by sketching specific elements (e.g. drawing specific shapes or lines from the work of art).
English Language Arts: Writing
Text Types and Purposes
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
or
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
Social Studies
Through experience, observation, and reflection, students will identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place.
Opportunities also exist for extending artful conversations into math topics, depending on the art work chosen. For example:
Math: Geometry
Kindergarten – Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
Grade 1 – Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size)
Grade 4 – Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry.
Using the principles of design, art works could be used to explore parallel science principles.
Here's an excellent lesson plan from readwritethink: Artistic Elements: Exploring Art through Descriptive Writing