Art critics

Author names: Meritxell Lillo, Lucia Martínez, Irene Sandín and Júlia Zúñiga

Target Group: 6th graders 

Target language level: A2 level

For Teachers 

In order to execute this activity, there are several steps and materials to be taken into account. In the following, we explain when to use each material and how to use it.  

To begin with, once the objectives of the session have been explained and the teacher has taught in previous sessions how Spatial works, the teacher will provide the link to the Spatial art gallery for the students to enter from their computers. 

Once all the students are in the gallery, he will start the pre-task, see below, and will use the list of descriptions provided to carry out the activity with his students. 

For the main task, the teacher will give each pair the artist analysis sheet, this will help them not to feel lost and facilitate communication and analysis. On this sheet they should write the answers to the items. 

Finally, in the post task they will exchange the analysis sheets of the groups so that with the information they will obtain they can make a drawing using the characteristics of that author. 

How this fits into a larger lesson or unit

In this case, the lesson we have proposed could be part of a bigger unit, in this case, a transdisciplinary project that would include subjects such as: Catalan language, English language, arts and crafts, and digital area. 

Main Learning Objectives (CEFR)

Production

• Can use simple descriptive language to make brief statements about and compare objects and possessions

Interaction: 

• Can exchange opinions and compare things and people using simple language. 

SWBATs

• To describe artistic elements in order to create a report about the artistic styles. 

• To execute the basic movements required in a VR space successfully. 

Materials Needed: 

• Computers

• Spatial room: https://www.spatial.io/s/Art-Critics-6564ef09b24e7b978acdca13?share=8105188186929012477 

• Descriptions of the drawings (pre task)

• List of topics to be addressed (main task)

Activity Instructions

• Pre task: 

First, we will take a small tour of the gallery to observe the different artists and paintings that are there. After a short tour to get familiarize, the whole group will be adhered in the middle of the gallery. The teacher will tell them a description of one of the paintings in the gallery, and they have fifteen seconds to think, and run to the painting they believe it was described. 

• Main task:

For the main task they will have to put in pairs, then each pair will have an artist of the gallery assigned. We will try that each group has the artist they want, but if it is not possible, the teacher will assign them.

The main task will consist of the analysis of one of the artists presented in the gallery. They will have to analyze different characteristics of the pictures of these artists orally. We will provide them with a template of the elements they will have to take into account when doing the analysis.  That guide will be posted in the gallery, as the other scaffolding, so they can take a look while they are with the virtual glasses.  

After the general analysis, they will need to choose one picture of the artist, and make a description of it, following the structure they worked in the pre-task. To help them, they have: the template "Analysis of the artist's work," a glossary and a sentence starters sheet. 

To conclude the main activity, they will actually use all the information they collected and present the chosen artist to another group. Once both pairs have finished, they can compare the similarities and differences of their artists and discuss which is their favorite picture or artist, providing proper arguments to share their opinion. 

• Post task:

Once they have learned the characteristics of the artist to conclude this project, they will create paintings inspired by the artist that was explained to them. They must take into account the palette used, the style of drawing, the materials… 

The paintings will be hung in the gallery and there will be a final visit where the students will be able to see again the paintings of the artist and next to them the inspired paintings made by the students.  

Assessment Ideas 

Peer assessment pair-to-pair. After the description of the artists, they will have to assess the report of the description of the pair they have been with, taking into account if they have included all the elements required, the oral skills, if it was clear…