School Tours: Exploring the Elements of Art
Grades 4–6
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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, 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
Group Size: Up to 60 students
Length: 75 minutes
Meeting Location: East Building, Entrance (inside)
Museum policies
Student lunches
General information
- Art Since 1950 (printable learning resource)
- Elements of Art (onling interactive lesson unit)
- Paintbox (NGAKids interactive art activity)
- Brushter (NGAKids interactive art activity)
- Collage Machine (NGAKids interactive art activity)
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