The Arts · Grade 7

Active learning ideas

Art as Communication

Active learning works for this topic because students must engage with visual language directly to grasp how art communicates without text. Handling real artworks, symbols, and emotions through movement and collaboration builds deeper understanding than passive observation alone.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• VA:Cn11.1.7a

• 25–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Cultural Symbols

Display 10-12 reproductions of artworks from diverse cultures around the room. Students walk in small groups, noting symbols, colors, and messages in sketchbooks. Groups share one key observation per artwork in a whole-class debrief.

Explain how a visual artist communicates a message without using words.

Facilitation Tip

During Gallery Walk: Cultural Symbols, position artwork at eye level and place sticky notes nearby for students to jot initial observations before discussion.

What to look for

Provide students with a printed image of an artwork (e.g., a protest poster, a cultural artifact). Ask them to write two sentences explaining one symbol used and one sentence describing the main message they believe the artwork conveys.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Concept Mapping
• 25 min · Pairs

Pairs: Emotion Doodle Relay

Partners take turns adding lines, shapes, or colors to a shared paper to convey a secret emotion. After 5 minutes, the drawer steps back while the partner guesses and explains visual cues. Switch roles and emotions twice.

Compare how different cultures use symbols in their art to convey meaning.

Facilitation Tip

For Emotion Doodle Relay, set a strict 30-second timer per partner to force quick, instinctive visual responses.

What to look for

Present students with two artworks that use similar symbols but from different cultural contexts. Ask: 'How does the cultural background of each artwork change or reinforce the meaning of the shared symbol? What does this tell us about how context affects communication?'

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Concept Mapping
• 45 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Symbol Storyboard

Groups select a cultural story, research 3-5 symbols, and create a 4-panel storyboard artwork communicating it. Present to class, explaining choices. Peers vote on clearest communication.

Design an artwork that effectively communicates a specific emotion to the viewer.

Facilitation Tip

When creating Symbol Storyboards, provide pre-printed symbol banks but encourage students to modify or combine them to tell original stories.

What to look for

Show students a series of simple visual cues (e.g., a red octagon, a smiley face, a dove). Ask them to quickly write down the common message or emotion associated with each cue. Discuss their responses, noting any variations in interpretation.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Concept Mapping
• 30 min · Individual

Individual: Personal Symbol Design

Students design a personal symbol for an emotion or message, then write a short artist statement. Mount and display for peer feedback slips.

Explain how a visual artist communicates a message without using words.

Facilitation Tip

For Personal Symbol Design, model a think-aloud to demonstrate how to translate emotions into visual elements before independent work begins.

What to look for

Provide students with a printed image of an artwork (e.g., a protest poster, a cultural artifact). Ask them to write two sentences explaining one symbol used and one sentence describing the main message they believe the artwork conveys.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by starting with student experiences of everyday visual communication, like emojis or road signs, to build relevance. Avoid assuming prior art knowledge; instead, scaffold terminology through guided observation and collaborative analysis. Research shows that when students create and interpret art in sequence, their understanding of visual communication deepens faster than with isolated analysis.

Successful learning looks like students confidently interpreting symbols, discussing cultural differences, and designing clear visual messages. They should explain their choices using art terminology and connect their work to broader themes of communication.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Gallery Walk: Cultural Symbols, watch for students assuming symbols mean the same everywhere.

  After the walk, have groups present one symbol and three possible meanings, then discuss which meaning aligns with the artwork’s context, using provided cultural notes.

• During Pairs: Emotion Doodle Relay, watch for students believing words communicate emotions better than visuals.

  After each relay round, ask partners to compare their final drawings to the original emotion list and note how quickly visuals conveyed meaning without text.

• During Individual: Personal Symbol Design, watch for students thinking only trained artists can communicate clearly.

  Have students exchange designs and write one sentence explaining the intended message, then reflect on how their peers understood the symbol without prior explanation.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Concept Mapping