Having Deep Conversations About Art: Free Resource

Do your students grumble when you try to get the to engage deeper with art history? I think we’ve all been there. The thing is, we know that if they could connect with various artworks and artists with more understanding, their own art would benefit. I have found a way to do this with students that works for me, and maybe it will for you to!

I have a poster of 7 ways to analyze an artwork, shown to the right. I am always surprised by how many students say that they are very familiar with an artwork (Van Gogh’s Starry Night, for example) and yet can’t answer any of the questions on the poster. Whenever my classes are learning about an artist or movement, I find that answering these questions helps the whole class to meaningfully understand the whole picture.

Older high school classes do well researching on their own, or in groups. This goes very quickly if you break students into 7 groups and then assign them each a number from the poster to research. Each group can then share out with the class and everyone benefits.

With younger groups that have not bought into the importance yet, I find it helpful to combine it with a game. I have used Jenga, where every time a student pulls a block, they must also answer one of the 7 questions for the group (they often go for easier ones like 3, 4, 6, or 7, and that is okay).

Altogether I find this to be a helpful resource for asking relevant questions in the art classroom that build knowledge in history, art, and students’ individual artistic processes.

Click the link here to download this resource for free and put it in your classroom!