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.

• Grade 7
• The Arts
• 4 activities
• 25 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how specific visual elements like color, line, and composition in artworks communicate emotions and ideas without words.
2. Compare and contrast the use of cultural symbols in artworks from at least two different societies to convey shared or distinct meanings.
3. Design an original artwork that intentionally uses visual language to communicate a chosen emotion to a specific audience.
4. Explain the process by which a visual artist makes deliberate choices to convey a message or narrative.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of an artwork in communicating its intended message based on established visual communication principles.

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space

Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space

Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space

Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map

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

Teaching This Topic

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.

What to Expect

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.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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.

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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.

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Gallery Walk: Cultural Symbols, give students a printed protest poster and ask them to write one sentence explaining a symbol’s meaning and one sentence identifying the artwork’s main message based on its context.

Discussion Prompt

During Symbol Storyboard, present two storyboards using similar symbols but different cultural contexts. Ask: 'How does the cultural background change the symbol’s meaning? What does this show about context in visual communication?'

Quick Check

After Emotion Doodle Relay, show a series of simple visual cues and ask students to write the common message or emotion for each. Discuss variations in interpretation to assess their growing familiarity with visual language.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to create a new symbol for a complex emotion not currently represented in their symbol bank.
• For students who struggle, provide a word bank of emotions alongside symbol suggestions to support translation from idea to visual.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to research a controversial symbol and present how its meaning has shifted across time or cultures.

Key Vocabulary

Symbolism	The use of images or objects to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Symbols can vary greatly between cultures and time periods.
Composition	The arrangement of visual elements within an artwork. Composition guides the viewer's eye and can influence the emotional impact or message.
Visual Literacy	The ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. It involves understanding how visual elements communicate.
Iconography	The study of the subject matter and meaning of images, particularly the symbols and themes used in art.
Juxtaposition	Placing different elements side by side, often to create contrast or to highlight a relationship between them, which can convey a specific message.