VISUAL LITERACY: Creating Artistic Learning Experiences

A VISUAL ARTS STRATEGY
From a collection of Arts Integration Solutions Strategies

Hello and welcome back to my blog!  For those who are first time visitors, my name is Enrique and I'm the Founder and Director of Education for the national for-purpose F.A.M.E. Foundation.  I'm also a senior facilitator for the national Arts Integration Solutions.  Our objective are the same... empower teachers and elevate learning experiences for children (and older students too).

*(Free Music Give Away at the end of the blog)

CONSTRUCTING A STORY SEQUENCE

I'd like to thank my colleague Dr. Darden Bradshaw.  She is the individual I first saw deliver this Arts Integration Strategy.  Keep in mind you can use any book in order to be development appropriate.   The  big idea here is:

• Improve Critical Thinking within the scope of Language and Literacy

The bridge to learning here are picture books!

BOOK: FLOTSOM

The book I've used the most is by David Wiesner titled Flotsam.  It is an amazing book.  Here is what you do:

• With educational license take multiple color copies of a book your children DON'T know.
• Put the images out of order
• Have your children/students (in small groups) put the images in what they believe to be the most logical order.
• When they start, have them do so without talking (how long would depend on what is appropriate age wise).
• After a while, let them know they can talk as they work as a team.
• As they are going through this process, ask them why they are making certain decisions... what clues are they seeing?

Now it's time for you to experience it!  Below are 19 images from the book.  It's not all of them, but it's enough for you play along.  I've numbered each one.  I'd love to hear from you as to what you think the order is and WHY?  Ready, set... GO!

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

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19

WHY DID THE LEARNER CHOOSE THE SEQUENCE THEY CHOSE?

There are many visual "Elements" that are crucial.  They are:

• Line: the space between two points
• Shape: a two-dimensional area
• Form: any three-dimensional geometric figure
• Space: any continuous area that is free or unoccupied
• Color: it's exactly what you think it is
• Value: the relationship between dark and light on a surface
• Texture: how a surface feels to the touch or the illusion of how it looks like or would feel like

Perhaps some of those were some of the clues you found.

CLUES/EVIDENCE FOUND?

Other clues might be related to the principles of Visual Art.  They are:

• Unity: the organization of all the elements in ways that make sense or seem to not make sense
• Emphasis: where your eye is drawn and/or the focal point
• Rhythm: this is created when one or more elements are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement
• Movement: the path your eye takes when viewing the art
• Pattern: the effect of repeating an object, symbol, element or any of these combined
• Proportion: the size, location or amount of any one element in comparison to another
• Balance: the distributed weight of the elements in any piece of art
• Variety: the differences among and between elements in a piece of art

Remember, use a book that is age appropriate and you are off to the races.  With that said, I have used Flotsam with ALL ages of children/students.

Many areas of literacy can be addressed, including story sequence.  You can also ask children, what would one of the character be saying if there were words.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

If you're interested in Arts Integration, visit the website of my partnering organization, Arts Integration Solutions.  It is truly a pleasure to be collaborating with them.  Scroll down for some exciting news!

Cheers!
Enrique


FREE MUSIC AND STRATEGY GIVE AWAY!
Along with some very talented colleagues of mine, we have been working on creating meaningful resources for all of you wonderful teachers and guides of young children.  My online store with music and artistic strategies is open (brain game videos are still being produced) and I'm giving away a free piece of music called "Breath Break Music: Up the Stairs".  It comes with a PDF that describes how to use the music.  Please enjoy this new product which is original film music I've composed for teachers and parents to use with their children to help calm themselves when things get a little bumpy.