Compare and Connect: How do others view our identity and how does it show up in artwork? (Ready to Go Resource)

Ready-to-go resources are short, flexible learning activities that center art as texts. In “Compare and Connect” students use a guiding question to compare works of art within the context of a shared theme and produce brief writing examples. The activities are presented in google slide decks with teaching notes to make classroom implementation easy.

Guiding question: How do others view our identity and how does it show up in artwork?

Featuring Beverly McIver’s Truly Grateful and Karl Schimdt-Rottluff’s Portrait of Emy

Make your own copy! Check the slide notes for the teacher’s guide.

Total Activity Pacing: 30 min, over two days

Pacing: 1 min

Grade(s): 3-5 

Activity Overview:

• In this Compare and Connect activity, students will explore the idea of identity by analyzing two paintings. Both artworks are portraits and students will discuss how others view our identities and how that shows up in the artwork. The artworks will serve as inspiration for an ELA narrative writing about the person in the portrait from the artist’s perspective. 
• In Day One: Discuss, students will look at the two paintings and discuss how others might view our identities and how that shows up in the artwork. Students can share their thoughts and opinions in small groups or partner shares.
• In Day Two: Write, students will choose one artwork and write a narrative from the perspective of the artist. Using details from the artwork, and from the background information of the painting, students will be able to fictionalize what and how the artist felt about the person they were painting.