Elements of Art and Principles of Design Review
Students will review and apply their understanding of the elements of art (line, shape, color, texture, form, space, value) and principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity).
Key Questions
- Analyze how artists manipulate the elements of art to achieve specific principles of design.
- Differentiate between various principles of design in a given artwork.
- Construct a visual analysis of an artwork, identifying its key elements and principles.
Ontario Curriculum Expectations
About This Topic
Plate Tectonics explores the revolutionary theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several large plates that glide over the mantle. Students investigate the evidence for continental drift, such as fossil matches across oceans and the 'jigsaw' fit of the continents. This topic is a cornerstone of the Earth and Space Systems strand in the Ontario curriculum.
Students also learn about the driving forces behind plate movement, specifically convection currents in the mantle. This understanding explains the formation of mountains, ocean trenches, and the changing face of our planet over millions of years. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of plate movement using hands-on simulations of tectonic boundaries.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: The Pangea Puzzle
Groups are given cut-outs of the continents with fossil and rock type clues. They must reconstruct the supercontinent Pangea based on the evidence, rather than just the shapes.
Simulation Game: Snack Tectonics
Using crackers (crust) and icing (mantle), students model convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. They observe what happens to the 'crust' as they move the plates in different directions.
Think-Pair-Share: The Future Map
Students look at current plate movement rates. They discuss in pairs where they think the continents will be in 50 million years and draw their predicted 'Future Earth' map.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionStudents often think that tectonic plates float on a literal ocean of liquid magma.
What to Teach Instead
Teachers should clarify that the mantle is mostly solid but behaves like a very thick plastic over long periods. Using the analogy of 'silly putty' in a think-pair-share helps students understand this complex state of matter.
Common MisconceptionMany believe that the continents move very quickly.
What to Teach Instead
It is important to explain that plates move at about the same rate as fingernails grow. A collaborative activity where students calculate how far a plate moves in a human lifetime helps put this geological time into perspective.
Suggested Methodologies
Ready to teach this topic?
Generate a complete, classroom-ready active learning mission in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the theory of plate tectonics?
What evidence supports continental drift?
How can active learning help students understand plate tectonics?
What happens at a convergent boundary?
More in The Curator's Eye
Constructive Critique Techniques
Students will learn and practice methods for providing specific, actionable, and respectful feedback on artworks, focusing on description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment.
2 methodologies
Understanding Artist Intent
Students will explore how understanding an artist's intentions, context, and background can deepen their critique and appreciation of an artwork.
2 methodologies
Principles of Exhibition Design
Students will learn about the practical considerations and aesthetic principles involved in curating an art exhibition, including layout, flow, and lighting.
2 methodologies
Creating an Exhibition Narrative
Students will practice grouping artworks to create a cohesive narrative or thematic experience for an audience, considering visual connections and interpretive texts.
2 methodologies
Accessibility and Inclusivity in Art Spaces
Students will discuss how to make art spaces and exhibitions accessible and inclusive for diverse audiences, considering physical, intellectual, and cultural access.
2 methodologies