The Arts · Year 5 · Visual Narratives and Studio Practice · Term 1

Exploring Symbols in Everyday Life

Identifying and creating simple symbols to represent ideas, feelings, or objects in their own artworks and in their community.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9AVA5C01
• AC9AVA5D01

About This Topic

Symbolism in contemporary art allows Year 5 students to explore how meaning is constructed through visual metaphors. This topic moves art education from technical skill toward conceptual thinking, asking students to analyze how everyday objects can represent complex ideas like identity, belonging, or environmental concerns. This aligns with ACARA's focus on responding to and interpreting artworks from different contexts.

Students examine how contemporary artists, particularly those from the Asia-Pacific region, repurpose familiar items to tell new stories. By deconstructing these symbols, students learn that an artwork's meaning can change depending on who is looking at it and where it is displayed. This critical thinking skill is essential for navigating a media-rich world. This topic is most effective when students engage in collaborative problem-solving to 'decode' mysterious objects and propose their own symbolic meanings.

Key Questions

1. What symbols do we see in our daily lives (e.g., road signs, emojis)?
2. How can a simple shape or image stand for a bigger idea?
3. What symbol could you create to represent your favourite hobby or a feeling?

Learning Objectives

• Identify common symbols used in public signage and digital communication, explaining their intended meanings.
• Analyze how artists use everyday objects or simple imagery to represent abstract concepts like emotions or ideas.
• Create a personal symbol that visually communicates a chosen feeling, hobby, or personal value.
• Compare the effectiveness of different symbols in conveying a specific message to a target audience.

Before You Start

Elements of Visual Arts

Why: Students need a basic understanding of line, shape, color, and form to effectively create and analyze visual symbols.

Observing and Responding to Artworks

Why: Familiarity with looking at and discussing artworks helps students develop the analytical skills needed to interpret symbolism.

Key Vocabulary

Symbol	An image, shape, or object that represents something else, often an abstract idea or feeling.
Icon	A simple picture or graphic symbol used to represent a concept, object, or action, commonly seen in digital interfaces.
Pictogram	A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase, used in writing systems and signage to convey meaning quickly.
Metaphor	A figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, suggesting a resemblance.
Representation	The act of depicting or symbolizing something through visual means.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

A symbol has one 'correct' meaning that the artist intended.

What to Teach Instead

Students often get frustrated if they don't 'get' the art. Use a think-pair-share session to show that different people bring different life experiences to an artwork, meaning multiple valid interpretations can exist simultaneously.

Common Misconception

Contemporary art is 'random' or 'weird' for no reason.

What to Teach Instead

Students may dismiss modern works if they don't look 'realistic.' By investigating the artist's background and the social issues of the time, students can see that choices are usually very deliberate and meaningful.

Active Learning Ideas

Formal Debate: The Meaning of the Object

Present a contemporary sculpture made of recycled materials (e.g., a work by Lin Onus or Fiona Hall). Divide the class into groups to argue for different interpretations of what the materials symbolize, using visual evidence to support their claims.

30 min·Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: Personal Totems

Students bring in or draw an 'everyday object' that represents a part of their family history or a personal value. In small groups, they arrange these objects into a 'class monument' and write a collective statement about the shared identity it represents.

50 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Symbol Swapping

Students draw a symbol for 'peace.' They then swap with a partner who must try to change the meaning of that symbol by adding one more object or changing its environment (e.g., putting a dove in a cage). They discuss how the context changed the message.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Graphic designers create logos and icons for companies like Qantas or Google, using simple symbols to represent brand identity and services for global recognition.
• Urban planners and traffic engineers design road signs and public wayfinding systems, employing universally understood symbols to ensure safety and ease of navigation in cities.
• App developers use icons on smartphone interfaces, such as the 'heart' for 'like' or the 'envelope' for 'message', to allow users to quickly understand and interact with digital functions.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with three common symbols (e.g., a recycling symbol, a heart emoji, a stop sign). Ask them to write one sentence for each explaining what it represents and why it is effective.

Discussion Prompt

Present students with an image of a contemporary artwork that uses strong symbolism. Ask: 'What objects or images do you see? What do you think the artist is trying to communicate with these symbols? How does the context of the artwork influence its meaning?'

Quick Check

During the creation of their personal symbol, circulate and ask students: 'What idea or feeling does your symbol represent? Why did you choose this specific shape or image? How will someone who sees it understand your message?'

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I explain symbolism to a 10-year-old?

Explain that a symbol is like a secret code. It is an object or a picture that stands for a big idea that is hard to draw. For example, a heart isn't just an organ; it's a symbol for love. In art, anything can be a symbol if the artist uses it to tell a deeper story.

Which contemporary Australian artists use symbolism well?

Artists like Shaun Tan use everyday objects in surreal ways to talk about belonging. First Nations artists like Brook Andrew use archival images and neon lights to symbolize the layering of history. These artists help students see how symbols can be both personal and political.

How can active learning help students understand symbolism?

Active learning, such as 'Object Role Play,' helps students step into the conceptual process. When students have to defend a specific interpretation in a debate, they are forced to look closer at the visual evidence. This active 'decoding' is much more effective than being told what a symbol means, as it builds the critical thinking muscles needed for visual literacy.

Can symbols change meaning over time?

Yes, and this is a great discussion point for Year 5. A symbol like a mobile phone might represent 'connection' today, but in fifty years, it might represent 'old technology' or 'distraction.' Context and time are key to how we read symbols.