Exploring Symbols in Everyday Life

Active learning helps students grasp symbolism because abstract concepts become concrete when they connect symbols to their own lives and experiences. By manipulating objects and discussing ideas, students move from passive observation to active interpretation, which builds confidence in analyzing visual metaphors.

• Year 5
• The Arts
• 3 activities
• 20 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

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

Formal Debate

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

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.

Prepare & details

What symbols do we see in our daily lives (e.g., road signs, emojis)?

Facilitation Tip: During Structured Debate: The Meaning of the Object, assign clear roles (e.g., presenter, questioner, note-taker) to keep all students engaged and accountable.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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.

Prepare & details

How can a simple shape or image stand for a bigger idea?

Facilitation Tip: For Collaborative Investigation: Personal Totems, provide a quiet workspace with art materials and a list of possible themes to guide students who feel stuck.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

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

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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.

Prepare & details

What symbol could you create to represent your favourite hobby or a feeling?

Facilitation Tip: In Think-Pair-Share: Symbol Swapping, set a strict 60-second timer for sharing to maintain momentum and prevent over-talking.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

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

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach symbolism by starting with familiar objects before introducing abstract ideas. Avoid overwhelming students with too many new symbols at once. Use open-ended questions to guide their thinking, such as, 'What do you notice first? What might this represent to someone else?' Research shows that students need repeated exposure to symbols in different contexts to build fluency in interpretation.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently sharing multiple interpretations of symbols and explaining their choices when creating their own. They should demonstrate curiosity about why artists select specific objects and how context shapes meaning.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share: Symbol Swapping, watch for students who insist their interpretation is the only correct one.

What to Teach Instead

Use the structured sharing time to highlight that different perspectives are valid. After pairs share, ask: 'Did any pair have a different idea? How does that change how we see the symbol?' This reinforces that meaning is constructed through discussion.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Personal Totems, watch for students who dismiss their own symbols as 'not artistic enough.'

What to Teach Instead

Remind students that symbols don’t need to look realistic to be meaningful. Ask them to explain their choice step-by-step, focusing on the idea behind it rather than the execution. This helps them see value in their own creative decisions.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Structured Debate: The Meaning of the Object, 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

After Think-Pair-Share: Symbol Swapping, 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 Collaborative Investigation: Personal Totems, 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?'

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to create a short comic strip using symbols to tell a story about a current issue in their community.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide a word bank of emotions or themes (e.g., freedom, safety, loneliness) to help them brainstorm symbol ideas.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research a historical or cultural symbol (e.g., a flag, monument) and present how its meaning has changed over time.

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.