The Arts · Year 5 · Art History and Global Traditions · Term 3

Art That Tells a Story or Shares a Message

Discussing how artists use their work to tell stories, share feelings, or communicate important messages about their world.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9AVA5R01
• AC9AVA5C01

About This Topic

Art as activism explores how artists use their creative skills to speak out about social issues and advocate for change. For Year 5 students, this topic is about the power of the visual message. It aligns with ACARA's focus on how art can reflect and influence social and cultural values. Students examine how posters, murals, and installations can reach a wide audience and challenge authority.

Students will look at examples of activism in the Asia-Pacific region and Australia, such as environmental posters or art related to First Nations rights. This topic encourages students to think about their own 'voice' and what issues they care about in their community. This topic is most effective when students engage in structured debates and collaborative projects, as these activities allow them to practice articulating a message and working together for a cause.

Key Questions

1. How can a painting or sculpture make us think about something important?
2. What message do you think this artist wanted to share with their artwork?
3. How could you use art to tell a story about your community or a feeling you have?

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how specific visual elements (color, line, composition) in artworks contribute to the story or message being conveyed.
• Compare and contrast the messages communicated by two different artworks from diverse cultural contexts.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of an artwork in communicating a social or emotional message to its intended audience.
• Create an artwork that tells a story or shares a personal message, using appropriate artistic techniques.
• Explain the connection between an artist's personal experiences or cultural background and the themes in their artwork.

Before You Start

Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of how elements like line, color, and shape are used in art to effectively analyze how artists communicate messages.

Visual Literacy: Interpreting Images

Why: Students should have prior experience looking closely at images and making inferences about their meaning before tackling complex narrative or message-driven artworks.

Key Vocabulary

Symbolism	The use of images or objects to represent abstract ideas or feelings. For example, a dove might symbolize peace.
Narrative Art	Art that tells a story, often depicting a sequence of events or a specific moment within a larger tale.
Propaganda	Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Social Commentary	The act of expressing opinions on the way society functions, often highlighting problems or injustices through art.
Composition	The arrangement of visual elements within an artwork, such as lines, shapes, colors, and space, to create a unified whole and guide the viewer's eye.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Art is only for decoration or looking 'pretty.'

What to Teach Instead

Many students think art's only job is to be beautiful. Use a 'Gallery Walk' of powerful protest art to show that art can also be 'uncomfortable' or 'loud' if it's trying to make people think about a serious problem.

Common Misconception

You have to be a 'famous' artist to make a difference.

What to Teach Instead

Students might feel their art doesn't matter. Through the 'Community Mural' project, show them that local art made by students can have a huge impact on their own school or neighborhood.

Active Learning Ideas

Formal Debate: Can Art Change the World?

The class is divided into two teams. One team argues that art is more powerful than words for making change, while the other argues that words are more effective. They must use examples of famous 'activist' artworks to support their points.

40 min·Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: The Community Mural

In small groups, students identify a local issue (e.g., 'more trees in the playground' or 'stopping litter'). They design a 'public mural' that uses symbols and slogans to persuade people to take action, then present their design to the 'council' (the teacher).

50 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Decoding the Message

Display various protest posters from different eras. Students move around with a 'decoder' sheet, identifying the 'target audience,' the 'main message,' and the 'visual tricks' (like bold colors or big text) the artist used to grab attention.

30 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Museum curators, like those at the National Gallery of Victoria, select and interpret artworks that tell stories about history, culture, or social movements for public display.
• Graphic designers create posters for campaigns, such as environmental awareness initiatives or public health messages, using visual elements to communicate important information quickly and effectively.
• Street artists paint murals in urban areas, like Hosier Lane in Melbourne, to share messages about community identity, social issues, or political events with a broad audience.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Present students with an image of a well-known artwork that tells a story (e.g., Picasso's Guernica, or a local mural). Ask: 'What story or message do you think the artist is trying to tell us? What specific visual clues in the artwork help you understand this message?'

Quick Check

Provide students with a worksheet featuring three different artworks. For each artwork, ask them to write one sentence identifying the main message or story and one sentence explaining how a specific artistic choice (like color or a symbol) helps convey it.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to draw a simple symbol that represents a feeling they have today. Below the symbol, they should write one sentence explaining what their symbol means and why they chose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'activist art'?

It is art created to send a message about a social or political issue. Its goal is to raise awareness, start a conversation, or persuade people to change their behavior or laws.

How can active learning help students understand art as activism?

Activism is about 'doing.' Active learning strategies like 'Structured Debates' and 'Collaborative Mural Design' put students in the role of the activist. By having to choose a message and defend it, they learn that every visual choice (color, size, symbol) is a strategic decision. This makes the concept of 'persuasion' much more concrete than just looking at a poster.

What are some famous examples of Australian activist art?

The Aboriginal Tent Embassy posters are iconic. Also, look at the work of Peter Drew (the 'Real Australians Say Welcome' posters) or the 'See I'm Human' campaign. These show how simple images can become very powerful symbols in Australia.

Is graffiti the same as activist art?

It can be! While some graffiti is just 'tagging,' many street artists (like Banksy or local Australian muralists) use public walls to share messages about the environment, war, or justice. This is often called 'street art activism.'

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