Illustrating Poetry: Being Figurative

Language Arts 8

8th grade students were required to write a series of poems as part of their poetry unity. Their teacher, Pat Ludwig, wanted them to produce an illustrated book of their poems. We saw this as an opportunity to extend their thinking about what purpose an illustration serves. They had been working with metaphor, irony, and figurative language in class, and we wanted them to transfer those skills from the realm of language to that of imagery. This is what meaningful arts integration is all about: not merely showering kids with art projects, but using the arts as a vehicle to help them think and communicate in different ways; to understand that each of the arts can come at the same concepts from different angles.

In the slideshows below, you can see the steps we led the students through to reach an understanding of how they could be figurative in their approach to illustrating their poems, followed by examples from their final poetry books. The books were produced using Blurb, and the students were given the option of finding images in royalty-free image databases, or creating their own original artworks. Please note that you may pause the slideshows, or click on them to view a full-sized version.

Memorials, Monuments, Museums

Social Studies 8

This is an 8th grade Arts Integration Social Studies unit, which looks at societal values, beliefs, and ideals, and how they are enshrined through architecture and the built environment. Students look at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and other sites they will visit during their class trip to Washington and New York, with attention to what meaning is conveyed through the design of these forms and spaces. The students design a memorial, monument, or museum for their simulation country, and watch a presentation by a local architect. The first slideshow below takes you through the lesson sequence leading into their final design work. Please note that you may pause the slideshow.

Here are three example pieces from start to finish: a museum, a monument, and a memorial. For each piece, you can view the student's process journal, model, and graphic presentation. The students were required to keep a process journal to record their creative thought process through sketches, notes, and photographs. They were also required to write a statement and create a visual graphic to present their final design. Click on the slideshow to view full-sized images in Picasa. Photos of other final models are included in the slideshow as well.

Google Art Project

Google Art Project is like Google Earth for Art! Select one of the great museums around the world, move through the museum, select an artwork, and then zoom in so close you can see every last brushstroke.

Each day when you go to the site, you will be presented with a new work of art on your screen. It's a great way to really get lost in a painting, and nice tool for regular, brief "looking" sessions in class.

Art Babble

Art Babble is a web-based video site dedicated to all things art. Search and view videos by artist, or go to the many channels hosted by museums and other arts institutions. There are many great, educational videos here.

Timeline of Art History from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Helibrunn Timeline of Art History organizes the vast collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York into searchable thematic timelines. Search by time period, geographical region, medium, or thematic essay. View works as a slideshow, or select an individual piece for extensive background information and analysis. A great research tool for both student and teacher.

Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-first Century

Art:21 is a PBS TV program, now in its 6th season.  Each episode features segments on contemporary artists working around a particular theme.

The shows website has video clips from the program, artist bios, artwork galleries, and downloadable educators' guides to all the programs. A special section titled Using Art:21 Media in the Classroom has helpful tips for incorporating the material in your classes.

There is also an Art:21 Blog with up to date information on contemporary art and artists, as well as opportunities for educators to incorporate contemporary art into their curricula. The program also hosts professional development workshops for teachers. The ECA library has several of the Art:21season DVDs and companion books available.

Artful Thinking

Artful Thinking is a method, designed by Harvard University's Project Zero, for developing six thinking dispositions through visual arts. Website includes a full description of the methodology, as well as resources for putting it into practice.