Art for Critical Thinking

Good evening my beauties,

I just wanted to share a great idea that my coworker and I came up with! Glynis (3rd grade ELA) and I worked on our RTI/WIN plans today during our professional development. Our school is starting a new schedule next week to include time at the end of each day for RTI time. Our middle and high groups will be focusing on improving reading and writing skills to better prepare them for the upcoming standardized test. One thing we decided to do was use artwork to encourage critical thinking skills.

We are going to show student's Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Giovannia Arnolfini and his Wife (1434). As students are looking at the image we are going to probe them with questions. After having a class discussion on the piece, we will show a video of art historians discussing the work. The video is great because even historians don't know the exact meaning behind the painting. This leaves it open for interpretation--a great tool to allow students to think/imagine for themselves.

Students will also read Portrait with a Thousand Secrets: The Mystery Behind a Masterpiece by Carola Hicks. This article was published in Daily Mail. The students will discuss the article.

Then students will write an essay answering the following prompt: What story is being told in this painting? What details are used to tell the story? How does the artist capture the importance of the event? The students will have to use history (What they already know and learned from the article and video) and evidence to support their writing.

I think it is so important for students to be exposed to art, history, science, poetry, music, culture, etc. This is a great way to do something a little different with your students, open up their minds, allow them to imagine, and utilize their critical thinking skills!

I hope you have a wonderful night! Sleep well!