Objective: Students will explore how to create a story based on an abstract, up to interpretation, image based on Midgard by Anselm Kiefer.
Look: Introduce the image to the students and have them look at it for a minute. After a minute, instruct students to turn and talk with their table groups about what they see in this image. Guiding questions: What do you see? How does this make you feel? What is in the foreground? What about the background?
Write: Provide background knowledge. This is believed to be the Norse mythological serpent Jörmungandr, who was fabled to battle at the end of the world. The round circle is supposed to be the earth in the painting. Students will now create a one-page creative writing piece showing a beginning, middle, and end adding detail to the painting and showcasing what may have happened before, during, and after the scene. Their piece must answer the question, “what is the serpent surrounding?”
Share: Students will share their writing with each other.
Standards:
- W.5.1 Compose reflective, formal, and creative writing, which may happen simultaneously or independently, for a variety of high-stakes and low stakes purposes.
Share your artwork with us on social media @milwaukeeart #MAMLearn or email pictures to teachers.mam.org. We’d love to see your creations!