Critiquing Art with Kids

"Summertime" by Rita Lee Spalding

 Critiquing Art With Kids

Every year I have the opportunity to bring 3 art works back to the classroom for the students to examine and discuss.  After our discussion, the students are asked to vote for their favorite piece.  Our school has a community organization that supports this program and purchases the favorite piece for our permanent art collection. 

This year we have three very different pieces.  One sculpture, one collage/painting and one photograph.  This is the first year, since I have been teaching in this school, that we have had a sculpture.  It's really interesting to see how the kids react to it and how excited they are to see it. 

Often I use VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) when presenting art to the students.  I allow them to lead the discussion.  They always offer many things such as: what they see, what shapes can they identify, what they like and dislike, what mood is evoked, what is the medium, is it 2D or 3D, etc.  It's always interesting to hear what the kids have to say and how they respond to the art.

I apologize for the quality of the photos but the glass made it difficult.

"Waterfall #2" by Skip Allen

"Cathedral" by Ron Nigro