Visual Arts · 6th Class

Active learning ideas

Contemporary Irish Artists and Identity

Active learning connects students to the living pulse of contemporary Irish art, moving beyond static images to real voices and spaces. By engaging with local artists and urban environments, students see Irish identity as a dynamic conversation rather than a fixed tradition.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Looking and Responding
• NCCA: Primary - Paint and Colour

• 20–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: The Modern Ireland Map

Display works by 5 different contemporary Irish artists around the room. In groups, students move from station to station with a 'map' of Ireland. They must decide which part of modern Irish life each artist is reflecting (e.g., 'The City,' 'The Sea,' 'Our History,' or 'Our Future') and explain why.

Analyze how local landscapes and traditions influence contemporary Irish art.

Facilitation Tip

During the Gallery Walk, position yourself near less confident students to model how to read labels and describe artworks aloud.

What to look for

Present students with images of 2-3 contemporary Irish artworks. Ask them to write down one specific element in each artwork that they believe connects to modern Irish identity and one material the artist used.

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

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 50 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Street Art Project

Inspired by Irish street artists like Maser, students work in groups to design a 'mural' for a specific wall in their school or town. They must use bold colors and a positive message that reflects their local community. They present their 'pitch' to the class (the 'Town Council').

Identify the diverse materials contemporary artists use to reflect today's world.

Facilitation Tip

For the Street Art Project, circulate with a map of Dublin city center so students can locate their chosen street artworks accurately.

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'How might seeing art made by someone living in Ireland now change how you think about what art can be?' Encourage students to share examples from artists studied.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Artist's Material

Show a work by Dorothy Cross (who often uses unusual materials like shark skin or old buckets). Students discuss with a partner: 'Why did she choose this material instead of paint?' and 'How does the material change the meaning of the art?' They share their theories with the class.

Explain how encountering art by living artists can alter one's perspective on artistic practice.

Facilitation Tip

During the Think-Pair-Share, provide sentence stems on the board to scaffold responses about materials and themes.

What to look for

Students receive a card with the name of a contemporary Irish artist. They must write two sentences: one explaining a theme their art explores and one describing a material or technique they commonly use.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by grounding abstract concepts in tangible experiences. Start with students’ own neighborhoods before introducing canonical Irish artists. Avoid over-describing artworks; instead, ask questions that push students to connect visual details to identity. Research shows when students see art as part of their community, their engagement and critical thinking deepen.

Successful learning looks like students confidently discussing how materials, themes, and locations reflect modern Irish life. They should articulate connections between art, place, and identity using specific examples from the activities.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Gallery Walk, students may assume that only landscape paintings or Celtic designs represent Irish art.

  During the Gallery Walk, point students to the diversity of media on display, such as digital collages or urban installations, and ask them to note how each artwork’s materials reflect contemporary Irish life.

• During the Street Art Project, students might believe that only famous artists create art with important messages.

  During the Street Art Project, highlight local Irish street artists and their use of accessible materials like stencils or wheatpaste to show that art and identity are shaped by everyday people in their communities.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Simulation Game
• Think-Pair-Share