The Arts · Foundation

Active learning ideas

Art Criticism: Sharing Opinions

Active learning works because young critics need to practice looking closely and speaking confidently. When students move, talk, and use their senses while studying art, they build the vocabulary and courage to share thoughtful opinions instead of vague likes or dislikes.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9AVAFR01
• AC9AVAFR02

• 15–20 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The 'I See' Game

Show a large, detailed painting. Students have 30 seconds to look in silence, then they tell their partner one tiny detail they noticed (e.g., 'I see a small blue bird in the corner').

Explain why different individuals perceive distinct elements in the same painting.

Facilitation Tip

During the 'I See' Game, hand each pair a sticky note so they write one observation before they speak to avoid vague answers like 'it’s cool.'

What to look for

Provide students with a simple drawing or photograph. Ask them to write or draw one thing they 'see' and one thing they 'think' or 'wonder' about the image.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 20 min · Whole Class

Simulation Game: The Art Gallery Opening

Half the class are 'artists' standing by their work, and the other half are 'visitors.' Visitors must ask one 'polite question' (e.g., 'Why did you use so much yellow?') and the artist explains their choice.

Construct polite feedback to convey appreciation for an artist's work.

Facilitation Tip

While running the Art Gallery Opening, stand at the edges and listen for descriptions, not just 'I like this,' to model what thoughtful responses sound like.

What to look for

Display a student's artwork (with permission). Ask students to share one 'I see' statement and one 'I appreciate' statement about the work, focusing on specific elements like color or shape.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Inquiry Circle
• 20 min · Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: The Mood Meter

Place an artwork in the center of a circle. Students place a 'feeling card' (with an emoji or word) next to the art to show how it makes them feel, then they discuss why different people chose different feelings for the same piece.

Analyze the qualities that render a piece of art visually engaging.

Facilitation Tip

For the Mood Meter, provide sentence starters on cards so students connect colors and shapes to feelings instead of guessing what the artist intended.

What to look for

During a gallery walk, ask students to point to one element in an artwork and say one word describing it. This checks their ability to make specific observations.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should focus on building confidence before complexity. Start with simple artworks that have clear, observable elements. Avoid over-correcting children’s first attempts; instead, gently model how to turn a feeling into a description. Research shows that when students hear peers use descriptive language, their own observations grow richer over time.

Successful learning looks like students pointing to specific parts of an artwork and naming what they notice. They use sentences that start with I see, I think, or I wonder, and they respond to each other’s ideas without rushing to judge.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Think-Pair-Share: The 'I See' Game, watch for students who want to rate the art as good or bad.

  Redirect by giving each pair a sticky note with the prompt 'Write one thing you see, not one thing you like.' Keep the focus on description to shift away from judgment.

• During Simulation: The Art Gallery Opening, students may expect you to confirm whether their opinion is correct.

  Use open questions like 'What makes you say that?' to show that multiple interpretations are welcome and that there’s no single right answer.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Simulation Game
• Inquiry Circle