Visual & Performing Arts · 2nd Grade · Looking Back: Art History and Criticism · Weeks 28-36

Art as Storytelling

Students analyze how artworks from different periods tell stories or convey messages without words.

• Common Core State Standards
• NCAS: Connecting VA.Cn11.1.2
• NCAS: Responding VA.Re7.1.2

About This Topic

Art in My Community helps students recognize that art exists everywhere, not just in museums or schools. They explore public art like murals, statues, architecture, and even the design of local parks. This topic is vital for helping students feel a sense of belonging and pride in their local neighborhood, and for understanding the role of the artist as a community contributor.

This unit connects to social studies and civics as students think about how public spaces are shared and who decides what art goes there. It also aligns with standards for connecting art to personal and community life. Students grasp this concept faster through collaborative investigations where they 'map' the art in their own neighborhoods and propose new art projects that could solve a community problem or celebrate a local hero.

Key Questions

1. How can a painting tell a story without using any words?
2. What message do you think the artist was trying to share in this historical artwork?
3. How do different cultures use art to remember and record their history?

Learning Objectives

• Analyze visual elements in historical artworks to identify narrative components.
• Compare how different cultures use visual symbols to record historical events.
• Explain the potential message or story an artist intended to convey in a wordless artwork.
• Classify artworks based on the historical period and the storytelling techniques used.

Before You Start

Elements of Art

Why: Students need to identify basic visual elements like line, shape, and color to analyze how they are used to tell a story.

Introduction to Art Appreciation

Why: Students should have a foundational understanding of looking at and talking about art before analyzing its narrative qualities.

Key Vocabulary

Narrative Art	Art that tells a story, either as a sequence of events or as a single moment that implies a larger story.
Symbolism	The use of images or objects to represent abstract ideas or concepts, often without explicit explanation.
Historical Context	The social, political, and cultural environment of the time when an artwork was created, which influences its meaning.
Visual Literacy	The ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image, extending the notion of literacy beyond written or spoken words.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Art is only things that are 'framed' or in a museum.

What to Teach Instead

Students often overlook the design of buildings, playgrounds, or street signs. A 'Sensory Walk' around the school building helps them identify 'hidden art' like the pattern of bricks or the shape of a bench, expanding their definition of what art can be.

Common Misconception

Public art is just for decoration.

What to Teach Instead

Students may not realize art can have a job, like telling a history or bringing people together. By looking at murals that celebrate local heroes, students can discuss how art can be a 'voice' for a community, not just a pretty picture.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Community Map

On a large map of the local town or school neighborhood, students work in groups to mark where they have seen art (murals, statues, decorated signs). They discuss why those specific locations were chosen for art.

30 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Public Art Commission

The class is 'hired' to design a new mural for a bare wall in the school cafeteria. Small groups must brainstorm a theme that represents their whole school and present a 'pitch' to the class (the commission) explaining their design choices.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Statue Stories

Show a photo of a local or famous public statue. Students think about who the person is and why the community wanted to remember them. They share their ideas with a partner, then discuss if there is someone in their own life who deserves a statue.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Museum curators, like those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, analyze historical paintings and sculptures to understand and present the stories and messages they convey to the public.
• Documentary filmmakers use historical photographs and artwork to visually narrate past events, helping audiences connect with history without relying solely on spoken words.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a print of a historical artwork that tells a story without words. Ask them to write two sentences: one describing a character or event they see, and one guessing the story or message the artist wanted to share.

Discussion Prompt

Present two different historical artworks from distinct cultures. Ask students: 'How does each artwork tell a story or share a message without words? What is one symbol you see in each, and what do you think it means?'

Quick Check

Show students a series of images from different historical periods. Ask them to hold up a green card if they think the artwork tells a story and a red card if they do not. Briefly discuss their choices for 2-3 examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find 'public art' if my school is in a rural area?

Public art isn't just city murals. It includes historical markers, the architecture of local barns or churches, community quilts, or even the way a local garden is landscaped. You can also use 'Google Street View' to take a virtual field trip to a nearby city to see larger-scale public works, making the world accessible from your classroom.

How can active learning help students appreciate community art?

Active learning strategies like 'Community Interviews' are great. Have students ask a family member or neighbor about a piece of art they like in town. When students share these stories in class, the art becomes linked to real people and personal memories, making the concept of 'community art' much more meaningful and less abstract.

What is the best way to introduce the idea of a 'mural'?

Show a 'Before and After' photo of a gray, empty wall that was turned into a vibrant mural. Ask students: 'How does the 'After' photo make you feel compared to the 'Before'?' This immediate visual impact helps them understand that art has the power to change the energy and mood of an entire neighborhood.

How does this topic connect to 2nd grade social studies?

It fits perfectly into units on 'Citizenship' and 'Local Government.' You can discuss how communities vote on public art or how artists work with leaders to improve a city. This helps students see that being a 'good citizen' can also mean contributing to the beauty and culture of their home.