DESCRIPTION: Students are tested on their memory of an artwork which they have had one minute to look at.

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

PROCEDURE: What do reporters do? Well today we are going to be reporters and examine a work of art closely for one minute. A reporter has to observe very carefully and then report as many facts as he or she can. Be sure to notice as much about the work as you can--the subject matter (or do the same activity looking for shapes, colors and lines). Your minute is up now so turn you back to the work of art. Now you are art reporters. I would like each of you to now report what you have seen. Now turn around and look at the work again. Let's see if you have left anything out.

VARIATION: Use this activity as a memory review at the end of the tour. Start the activity by saying, "I went to the Walker Art Center and I saw...Spoonbridge and Cherry..." Then have each student add on to the sentence (i.e. "I went to the Walker Art Center and saw the Spoonbridge and Cherry and 16 Jackies." Then the next student might say, " I went to the Walker Art Center and I saw the Spoonbridge and Cherry, 16 Jackies and The Hierarchy of Angels.")

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

Age level: Appropriate for grades 2-6.
Artworks used: Paintings and sculpture that contain representational subject matter.
Props needed: No props needed.
Related to Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: No
Notes: The students don't necessarily have to know the names of the artworks seen. You may do the activity using descriptions of what they saw or listing some of the elements that they learned on the tour.


© 1998 WALKER ART CENTER