Animals in Art

The National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20565
(202)842-6249 (Educational Tours)


Instructional Unit:
Animals in Art: Children will view animals in all forms of art, two dimensional as well as three dimensional.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 2, L.D.
Art, Science

Objectives:

1.Demonstrate an appreciation of the artwork presented on the tour by responding to at least four to six questions asked by the docent.
2. Demonstrate visual awareness by listing seven to nine types of animals shown in the artwork on the tour.
3. Listen to and correctly circle six out of the eight titles of artwork listed on the worksheet that were seen.
4. Draw three types of textured lines or patterns shown in the tour artwork.
5. Model an imaginary animal using clay that shows texture or pattern.
6. Demonstrate appropriate art instruction behaviors prior to tour by receiving 80% of their earned points on the two art class periods prior to the museum visit.
7. Follow verbal directions of all adults without more than two warnings while on the tour.
8. Given their photographs, students will create an attractive display for them to be utilized for the art show at the end of the unit.
9. Students will write a summary of this unit using at least three correctly written sentences.

Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Schedule the "Animals and Nature" tour at the National Gallery of Art. Request pre-visit materials.
2. During the art periods prior to the museum visit, the pre-visit materials should be used. The packet contains five reproductions from the tour with activities to help children practice to "see" artwork. The students will know they will be photographed during the tour and afterwards during the course of the the unit. (Parents should be notified that their children will be photographed.)
3. The final class before the museum tour will be spent discussing appropriate behaviors during the tour.
4. The book, Touch with Your Eyes, will be read and discussed.
5. Students will be told of the expectation to complete a worksheet while on the tour and that all materials will be provided for them to complete this worksheet.

On-Site Activities:
1. Students are gathered at the location scheduled to meet our docent and proceed with the tour. Photographs are taken of the students as they participate in the tour.
2. Students should complete worksheet and answer questions.

Follow-Up Activities:
1. The next art lesson will be spent discussing the tour and what the students liked and disliked about it. Preparations for a clay activity will be demonstrated.
2 . The unit continues with the art activities of making an imaginary clay animal, expressing an emotion on another clay animal piece, using tempera paints to paint animals, and a simple stitchery project involving a favorite pet. Again, children will be photographed as they are actively involved in the art process.
3 . A culminating art show, including displaying their artwork and photographs, writing summaries of their unit, and inviting their parents. This show will be an event used to help boost students' self esteem (visual proof of what they accomplished) and to demonstrate what they learned to others in the community.

Appendices:
None

Bibliography:
None

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