National Gallery of Art :: Education :: Teachers :: School Tours :: Exploring the Elements of Art

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Exploring the Elements of Art

Grades 4-6

What are the different elements that make up a work of art? This tour examines the elements of color, line, shape, space, and texture. Guided looking together with art making, writing, and discussion activities help students understand how artists consciously manipulate and combine these elements to achieve particular effects. After registering for this tour, educators will receive a 20-minute DVD titled Art Elements: An Introduction for students to view prior to their tour. (This film is no longer screened at the National Gallery as part of the tour.)

LOOKING AND LEARNING SKILLS
During four or five tour stops in the galleries, students engage in activities that foster conversations about works of art. The following skills and ideas are promoted:

  • comparing the different ways that artists use the elements of art
  • engaging in the creative process of looking at and making art
  • interpreting and making personal connections to works of art
  • reasoning with evidence drawn from the art
  • connecting new ideas learned from the tour to prior knowledge and experience

 

EXAMPLE ARTWORKS FEATURED ON TOUR

  • Example works featured on the Exploring the Elements of Art school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/5/6/6/7/0/56670-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Wassily Kandinsky, Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle), 1913

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Exploring the Elements of Art school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/7/1/0/7/2/71072-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Pablo Picasso, Harlequin Musician, 1924

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Exploring the Elements of Art school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/7/0/1/7/8/70178-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Georgia O'Keeffe, Jack-in-the-Pulpit No. 3, 1930

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Exploring the Elements of Art school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/1/0/6/3/7/8/106378-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Albert Marquet, Posters at Trouville, 1906

    Learn more about this artwork

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

Group Size: Up to 60 students
Length: 75 minutes
Meeting Location: East Building, Entrance (inside)

ADDITIONAL GALLERY RESOURCES

 

Schedule a Tour

Note: We are no longer accepting tour requests for spring 2013. We will begin accepting fall 2013 requests on August 1.

Pre-Visit Information

Watch a video or download a presentation to show your students prior to your visit. View our museum policies, location, parking, accessiblity, security, lunch options, and other important information about visiting.

Questions

Our tour scheduler is available to answer questions on Monday through Wednesday between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. (September through May). Please contact her at (202) 842-6249 schooltourrequests@nga.gov.

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions about School Tours.

Feedback

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