Fine Arts · Class 1

Active learning ideas

Art Made by Artists Today

Active learning helps students connect the vibrant stories behind contemporary Indian art to their own lives. Seeing how artists blend old and new ideas, like using bindis to create patterns, makes abstract concepts concrete and memorable for young learners.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT: Art History - Contemporary Indian Art - Class 7

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Spot the Blend

Display 5-6 prints of contemporary Indian artworks around the classroom. In small groups, students walk slowly, noting colours, shapes, and traditional elements like lotuses or elephants. Each group shares one observation linking to past art they know.

What materials do you think this artist used to make this picture?

Facilitation Tip

During Gallery Walk: Spot the Blend, position yourself near clusters of students to quietly prompt them with questions like, 'What do you notice about the colours or shapes that reminds you of something you know?'

What to look for

Provide students with a printed image of a contemporary Indian artwork. Ask them to write down two observations about what they see and one material they think the artist might have used. Then, ask them to write one sentence about what this painting reminds them of.

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

Activity 02

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 25 min · Pairs

Artist Chat Pairs

Pair students; one acts as an artist showing a printed work, the other asks key questions like 'What materials did you use?' or 'What does it remind you of?'. Switch roles after 5 minutes and discuss as a class.

What do you see in this painting , can you describe it?

Facilitation Tip

For Artist Chat Pairs, pair students with contrasting strengths—one who observes details and another who connects ideas—to encourage full participation.

What to look for

Show students two artworks: one traditional Indian art piece (e.g., a Madhubani painting) and one contemporary Indian artwork. Ask: 'How are these two artworks similar? How are they different? What makes the second painting feel modern?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 35 min · Individual

Create Your Blend

Provide paper, crayons, and stickers. Students draw a traditional motif like a peacock, then add modern twists such as city buildings or bright neon colours. Display and describe their works.

Does this modern painting remind you of anything you know?

Facilitation Tip

Before Create Your Blend, prepare a tray of materials like acrylic paints, bindis, and old newspaper cutouts so students can experiment without hesitation.

What to look for

During a class discussion about an artist's work, pause and ask students to point to a specific element in the artwork and explain what they think it represents or where they might have seen something similar before. For example, 'Can anyone point to a part of this artwork that looks like it comes from an older Indian art style?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 40 min · Small Groups

Then and Now Match-Up

In small groups, give cards with past art images and matching contemporary ones. Students pair them, discuss similarities in themes or styles, and present findings to the class.

What materials do you think this artist used to make this picture?

Facilitation Tip

During Then and Now Match-Up, give pairs a limited time to discuss similarities before sharing answers to keep the pace active.

What to look for

Provide students with a printed image of a contemporary Indian artwork. Ask them to write down two observations about what they see and one material they think the artist might have used. Then, ask them to write one sentence about what this painting reminds them of.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should focus on guiding students to see connections rather than memorising facts about artists. Using familiar references, like pointing out how a contemporary horse painting echoes traditional pattachitra styles, helps students understand evolution in art. Avoid overwhelming them with too many artist names; instead, let them explore techniques through hands-on activities. Research shows that when students create their own blended art, they retain concepts longer than through passive observation alone.

Students will confidently describe artworks using observations about materials and themes, linking them to traditional influences or modern expressions. They will articulate how artists transform familiar elements into new creations through guided discussions and hands-on work.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Gallery Walk: Spot the Blend, watch for students who say traditional art and modern art are completely separate.

  Use the activity's discussion prompts to ask students to find at least one element in a contemporary artwork that connects to a traditional style, such as patterns or symbols, and have them point it out to their partner.

• During Create Your Blend, watch for students who assume only expensive or new materials are used in contemporary art.

  Provide a mix of traditional and modern materials on their tables and direct them to use at least one simple item like paper or bindis in their artwork, then describe how it feels different from a paintbrush.

• During Then and Now Match-Up, watch for students who dismiss contemporary art as messy or unclear.

  Ask pairs to explain one intentional choice in the artwork, such as why an artist used bright colours or abstract shapes, using the matching cards as evidence to support their ideas.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Inside-Outside Circle