Ready for action?
Resources
Downloadable Resources
Tangible Resources
transport, pen and paper, packed lunch
Human Resources
Extra adults to facilitate field trip i.e. parents
Preparation
Prepare paperwork for an off-site visit if necessary. This lesson comprises a specific art education programme created for and offered by the COBRA Museum in Amstelveen. In your context, pick an artist whose work is on display in the gallery you visit. Ideally pick an artist who creates abstract expressionist work which involves expressive movement e.g. action painting by Jackson Pollock.
Goals, messages & concepts
Specific goals
- To see examples of modern art close up.
- To use inspiration from a specific artist (Karel Appel) to explore abstract expressionism.
- To create art together by making a storybook
Specific messages
- There is a theory behind each artistic movement, often concerning how artists view ‘art’ or how they want to express themselves.
- The viewer can find their own story in a piece of art.
Main terms
- Abstract expressionism
- inspiration
- storytelling
Practices & skills
STEM practices
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
- Asking questions and defining problems
Soft skills
- Dealing with uncertainty
- Learning failure is a part of learning
- Teamwork and collaboration
Management skills
- Planning
- Use of resources
Course of activity
step 1
Explore abstract expressionist art in an art gallery.
step 2
Remind students of how the Storysack helped illustrate the story of Crocodile’s Masterpiece and bring it to life. Using the skills developed in LU1, students should choose an abstract expressionist painting and imagine a story around this work of art.
step 3
In groups, student will develop their stories into a series of paintings and collate these into a painted storybook.