Dear Educator

Thank you for your interest in the Columbus Museum’s Learning to Look tour. This interdisciplinary tour for 1st through 3rd grade students focuses on the elements and principals of art and is designed to meet elementary school curriculum objectives. Additionally, the tour is an introduction to visiting the Museum and to thinking critically about art. The pre-visit and post-visit activity suggestions and guided Museum tour will provide opportunities:

• To teach students about the function of the museum: the museum collects art,
protects and displays art, provides educational tours in the galleries and offers a wide variety of programs to the public.

• To improve the students’ ability to look carefully and to discover how artists communicate with us through their art. We will focus on works of art to allow students to see and discuss the elements of art (line, shape, form, color, texture and space) and selected principles of design and art judgment (pattern, balance, and emphasis). This will help the viewer understand what story, feeling or idea the artist is communicating.

• To relate knowledge of the elements and principals of art to math, social studies and science concepts and creative writing and other language arts activities.

Included in this packet are six transparencies (eleven images). With the exception of the image of the Museum, they are grouped in pairs to accommodate suggested discussions and comparison activities in the classroom. Basic vocabulary words are listed on the artist sheets and throughout the packet in color. Discussion questions and activities suggested are intended for 1st through 3rd grades. Please select those that are appropriate for your students’ level.

At the end of the packet, you will find a questionnaire. Please take the time to complete this and return to the Museum via the Pony. Information ascertained from teachers using these materials will help us in developing future packets. If any portion of this guide needs to be replaced, please contact the Education Department at (706) 748-2562, ext. 651

Sincerely,

The Education Department
The Columbus Museum