Artifact Analysis: Observe, Reflect, Question

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Arts Education
English Language Arts

Grade(s)

8

Overview

Students apply the observation and critique skills of a visual arts student to analyze ancient artifacts in world history. They share reflections and questions to encourage deeper thinking among each other. Students write their analysis in paragraph form, meeting grade-level or higher organization and content expectations. Students share their observations.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

Phase

Before/Engage
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 8 - Visual Arts

AE17.VA.8.15

Differentiate the ways art is used to reflect, represent, and establish group identity.

UP:AE17.VA.8.15

Vocabulary

  • Creative Processes
  • Organize and develop ideas
  • Traditional Media
  • Contemporary Media
  • Fair Use
  • Open Source
  • Creative Commons
  • Develop artistic ideas
  • Plagiarizing
  • Graffiti
  • Defacing
  • Criteria
  • Refine and complete artistic work
  • Archival
  • Criteria
  • Cultural Context
  • Body of Artwork
  • Collaborate
  • Medium/ Media
  • Genre

Essential Questions

EU: People develop ideas and understandings of society, culture, and history through their interactions with and analysis of art.
EQ: How does art help us understand the lives of people of different times, places, and cultures? How is art used to impact the views of a society? How does art preserve aspects of life?

Skills Examples

  • Work collaboratively to plan and create a work of art to express or represent individual or group identity.
  • Create a group portrait that shows students personal interests.
  • Compare the styles and/or themes of artworks from various artists, cultures, and times.
  • Create group artwork about a current world event.
  • Research and explain how companies or sports teams utilize icons and logos, then create a logo of one's own.
  • Create tributes to family members, school and/or community heritage.
  • Work collaboratively to plan and create visual works of art in a variety of media to communicate a specific message or for a specific purpose.
  • Analyze and compare the aesthetic, stylistic, thematic, and or technical content of works of art.
  • Identify the original contexts and purposes of works of art, and explain how each work of art reflects and is influenced by a particular culture or community.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
SS10.8.4
ELA21.8.8

Learning Objectives

Learning Targets:

I can describe how art is used in different ways to reveal a group's identity.
I can analyze artifacts to draw conclusions about early people and civilizations.
I can write a well-organized paragraph to justify my opinion, using specific details.

Activity Details

  1. Students observe the artifact projected for the whole class to see (an example is located in the Advanced Preparation section). 
  2. Students write at least three observations they make of the artifact.
  3. Using Think, Pair, Share, students only write unique observations--not repeating observations.
  4. Students reflect on the artifact and write one sentence that answers the reflection question based on their observations.
  5. Students list two questions that they still have about the artifact.
    Using Think, Pair, Share, students only write unique questions--no repeating questions.
  6. Students share responses and listen to additional information from the teacher.
  7. Students write a paragraph to show proof of their analysis. 
    Students use their reflections as the topic sentence, and their observations as concrete evidence to support their reflections. Students write a conclusion sentence that uses either 1) a Cause and Effect structure or 2) Compare and Contrast structure to synthesize and conclude their paragraphs.
  8. Students trade papers and use the Artifact Rubric to give feedback to one another.

Assessment Strategies

Use the Artifact Analysis Rubric to assess each student's final paragraph. 

Variation Tips

Student paragraphs can be collected and scored as an assessment or as a writing sample.
A student leader can lead "Observe, Reflect, Question."
Students can work as a small group or with a partner to write the analysis.

Background / Preparation

Prepare a slide show with Art / Architecture from Ancient Greece
(Example).

Print Artifact Rubrics for each student or prepare slides for projection.

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

cherisealbrigh
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