Act It Out

Objective: Students will write a dialogue between two characters or objects in a work of art. 

Materials:   

  • Images of artwork 
  • Paper 
  • Writing utensil 

Introduce: Project or pass out images of an artwork (other options would be to do this in the galleries or with the student’s own artwork!). Engage students in a VTS about the artwork they are looking at. Talk about what a dialogue is and how writers create personalities and a voice for their characters.  

Ask:  

  •  What kind of conversation are the objects/characters having? 
  • What characteristics influence their personalities? 

Activity:  

  1. After students have studied the artwork, have them take notes on the objects/characters in the work. 
  2. Students can then begin writing their dialogue between the two objects/characters. 
  3. Have students share their writing with a partner or group. 

National Standards:  

  • VA:Cr1.1.4a Brainstorm multiple approaches to a creative art or design problem. 
  • VA:Re7.1.4a Compare responses to a work of art before and after working in similar media. 
  • VA:Re7.1.Ia Hypothesize ways in which art influences perception and understanding of human experiences 
  • VA:Re8.1.6a Interpret art by distinguishing between relevant and non-relevant contextual information and analyzing subject matter, characteristics of form and structure, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed. 

Share your artwork with us on social media @milwaukeeart #MAMLearn or email pictures to teachers.mam.org. We’d love to see your creations!