Bringing Art inside and outside the class

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” 

Pablo Picasso

Art has various shapes and forms and can be interpreted in so many ways.
Sometimes we forget how near it is to us or how much we can learn from it.
Children have great imagination when dealing with art and this activity works well with various levels. It's never too late or too early to learn about Art and explore it.

The idea came to me one day as I was walking with my friend Lisa along one of the main boulevards in Cordoba. Our children were pointing to some statues that were being exhibited in the street, so we approached them and started a guessing game. We tried to say what each sculpture represented. Now, every time I pass by with my son, he points to the horse or to some other figure he likes.
So, here it is: an activity that can be used in class both with young learners and teenagers. And why not, give it a try with adults as well!
First, introduce the concept of Art and its different forms. After that, focus on sculptures. Show students this first photo and see how many have seen the exhibition already or know where it is placed.

Ask the following question: You will immediately get answers such as: wood, stone, metal, but you may need to help with extra vocabulary. Here's a visual representation of different materials used in sculptures. Students might identify the sculpture of Saint Rafael on the Roman Bridge or Maimonides statue in the Tiberiades square.They get really excited when they identify the sculptures in their own city.

And their corresponding names:

The same with the second round of pictures. These images were organised in a PP presentation which is great when showing them in class. You can play with memory and go back and forward:

And their materials:

Here is where the proper activity begins which is directly related to our city:

Some of my students' answers: a boat, a hat, a shark, a temple. You will be surprised to hear their answers! Let them all say what they think! There is no correct or incorrect answer!

( a horse, a dog, a donkey, a unicorn)

( a potato, a surf board, a door, a rocket)

( a dog, an antenna, a table)

( a horse, a dragon, a dinosaur, an ear)

( a tree, a leaf, a fishbone, a ray fish)

( a potato, a saint, a donut, an alien)

Encourage students to go and find the answers by themselves. The sculptures will be out until the 9th of January 2015.

And in the end of the class students had the opportunity to create their own pieces of art, exhibit and present them in front of the class. Here's a sample of it!

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein

Alexandra