Curious Curators
In this lesson plan, students investigate the world around them by becoming curators.
Working on their critical thinking skills, groups of students learn how to organize
a collection around a theme. Ultimately, they will produce a museum-style exhibition,
presenting their collections to the class.
Grade Level: 5-8
Time Allotment: 5 standard periods (40-45 minutes each)
Subject Matter: Visual art, language arts, history
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Write a theme statement for a collection, creating patterns of meaning among diverse objects.
- Research information about and write descriptions of artifacts.
- Understand the job of a museum curator.
- Use a group process to reach consensus on the objects to be included or left out of their collection.
- Produce a museum-style exhibition.
National Standards:
Arts Connections from CNAEA: National Standards for Arts Education
- Understands characteristics of works in various art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context
- Understands the characteristics and presentation of characters, environments, and actions in the various art forms
- Knows how various concepts and principles are used in the arts and disciplines outside the arts (e.g., balance, shape, pattern)
Visual Arts from CNAEA: National Standards for Arts Education
- Understands the historical and cultural contexts of a variety of art objects
Language Arts from New Standards: Middle School
- Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
- Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
Life skills: Thinking and Reasoning from NCHS: National Standards for History: Basic Edition
- Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences
Life skills: Thinking and Reasoning from NCSS: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
- Applies decision-making techniques
Life skills: Working with others from NCTE: Democracy Through Language
- Contributes to the overall effort of a group
- Uses conflict-resolution techniques
State Standards:
New York State Learning Standards for English Language Arts - Standard 1 - Language for Information and Understanding
Listening and reading to acquire information and understanding involves collecting data, facts, and ideas; discovering relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and using knowledge from oral, written, and electronic sources.
Students:
- compare and synthesize information from different sources
- use a wide variety of strategies for selecting, organizing, and categorizing information
- distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information and between fact and opinion
This lesson was prepared by: Ann Willmott Andersson
