DESCRIPTION: Children identify subject matter in artworks that correspond to a letter in the alphabet.

OBJECTIVES: The objective is to encourage students to stop and look closely at works of art. Also, it introduces them to subject matter.

PROCEDURE: How many of you know the alphabet? Well here is a game that I like to play on long walks. It uses the alphabet. It and helps me to see more interesting things along the way. Let's take a rest here and play. (Children sit in front of a painting, sculpture, photograph or print.)

Take some time and look carefully at all of the interesting things in this artwork. I call this the "alphabet game." I will name a letter of the alphabet and you raise your hand if you can find something in this painting that begins with the letter. (Name letters that correspond to subjects in the work selected.) Example: Can you see anything that begins with a B-sound? Is there anything else that begins with the B-sound? (continue for four or five letters or as long as interest continues.)

VARIATION: Find color, texture, etc. that begins with a letter.

VARIATION: Counting Game--Count shapes, lines, colors used, people, animals or objects in the work of art.

MINNESOTA GRADUATION STANDARDS:
(1) Read, View, Listen
(2) Write and Speak
(3) Literature and the Arts

Age level: Particularly appropriate for students learning to read, Pre K-2.
Artworks used: When looking for subjects use paintings or photographs that have recognizable elements in them; when looking for colors use paintings, sculptures or photographs that contain a variety of colors, etc.
Props needed: No props needed.
Related to Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: Yes
Notes: You may want to do this activity a number of different times during the tour at different types of artworks--sometimes looking for colors, sometimes for shapes and sometimes for subjects. It can also be used to highlight other elements or be incorporated into Art Walk.


© 1998 WALKER ART CENTER