School Group Activities

Pre-K – K: Creativity with Shapes

Using pre-cut shapes of many sizes and colors, young artists arrange and then glue shapes to a larger piece of colored paper. Concepts and skills include: positive and negative shapes, overlapping, color and value contrast, reinforcing color and shape recognition, composition, gluing. Time: About 25 minutes.

Grades K-2: Miniature Installation Art inspired by the work of David Teng Olsen and Todd Lown, seen in In the Zone II

With colored paper (some pre-cut), scissors, glue sticks, and markers, each student will make an abstract composition. For this age level, we will demonstrate the process first, and then walk the students through each step as a group. Student pieces can be “installed” as a group wall-piece back at school. Concepts and skills include: fine motor skills, awareness of color likeness and contrast; defining lines (straight, curvy, contour); shapes, cutting, overlapping, application of glue, and pattern-making. Time: about 45 minutes.

Grades 3-6: Miniature Installation Art II inspired by the work of David Teng Olsen and Todd Lown, seen in In the Zone II

With colored paper, pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and markers, each student will make an abstract composition. For this age-group, the construction of each piece includes tracing, adding “levels” of paper shapes, folding, and designing with patterns and colors. The resulting relief paper compositions can work individually and also as pieces for a larger classroom “installation.” Concepts and skills include: fine motor skills; tracing; contrast of line, shape and color; and as above. Time: about 1 hour.

Grades 5 and up: A story response: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

After viewing and discussing the work of Chris Van Allsburg on display in the Activity Gallery, we will read the introduction to The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, and students choose one of the two original illustrations in the exhibit about which to write a story. Each student receives a worksheet for their choice that asks a few questions to help organize ideas about what is happening in the picture. From the worksheet, students write an individual story response. This art and literacy activity may be completed at the Museum by some, but most will continue to write and edit back at school. Teachers may want to have students share their responses when completed. BMAC supplies the writing paper and worksheets. Please have students bring clipboards for this activity. Concepts and skills: using visual art as a starting point for creative writing; asking critical questions (who, what, when, where, why?); identifying character and setting; including description and evidence for ideas; communicating with others. Time: about 50 minutes.

For more information on any of these activities, please call Education Curator Susan Calabria at (802) 257-0124, extension 102.