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Cultivating imaginative minds in the museum can be fun. Try these activities while observing artifacts. These activities are designed to develop our senses of observation, encourage minds to wander and create. All the activities may be done individually or in groups.
The activities are divided into seven categories with several sample questions:
The ability to see similarities and differences between two or more concepts.
How is this painting like a party, song, mathematical formula...?
Compare and contrast the techniques used in two art works.
Compare paintings from two different time periods.
How is this artifact like a puzzle?
In what ways do these two objects relate to one another?
Analysis
The ability to take apart and understand the interrelationships and structures of the whole.
Pretend you are an archaeologist in the future who is observing this object. What would you be able to conclude about the culture of the past?
What element is the artist emphasizing in this painting?
In what ways is this painting consistent with the information a camera portrait would give us?
Why do you think this artwork is valued?
What does this object tell us about the artist's attitude toward war, life...?
Elaboration
The ability to expand and embellish ideas with intensive detail.
Expand the title or name of this object into a detailed sentence or paragraph.
Write a sales talk to convince someone to purchase this object.
Describe the setting in which you might find this object.
Pretend you are a character in this painting. Tell us as much as you can about your life.
Fluency
The ability to produce a quantity of possibilities, ideas, consequences, or products.
What different kinds of textures can you find in this object?
List the occupations of people who might use or study this object.
List all the objects you can find in this artwork.
Originality
The ability to produce unusual, unique, or highly personal responses, ideas, or solutions.
If this object could fly, where would it go?
Create a short news report about what is happening in this painting.
If this object could talk, what would you ask it?
Invent a game to accompany this object.
Make up a short story about this object.
Evaluation
The ability to draw conclusions by interpreting data and appraising alternatives.
Which tells you more about a person: a photograph or a painting?
Which painting would your parents choose to have in their home?
Which object will be of greatest value in a hundred years? Why?
List the objects in order of their importance or usefulness.
Which object took the most time and effort to produce?
Flexibility
The ability to view something in many different ways with a variety of ideas or pro%ducts.
If you could change one thing in this painting, what ;would it be?
List the sounds you hear in this painting.
If this painting were a dance, book, play, what would it be?
List the character or traits of the artist who created this.
The Every Pupil Respond Method
After careful observation of the objects or artwork, the students place tokens near the objects to represent conclusions and preferences. As students discuss the exhibit they are encouraged to express feelings and observations about the objects or artwork.
Tokens:
2. House - Your Parents Favorite
The house represents the artwork or object that your parents would chose
to put in their home. This may or may not be the same object you chose
for the heart.
3. Yuk! - Your Least Favorite
The yuck represents the object or artwork that you like the least.
4. Clock - Production Time
The clock signifies the object or artwork which you think took the
longest to produce.
5.Dollar Bill - Greatest Value
The dollar bill designates the object or artwork which you think would be
worth the most money.
6. Blue Ribbon - Professional Choice
The blue ribbon represents the object or artwork that professional
artists or others would consider to be the most valuable.
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