The Creative Teacher

4. Using Art

Another important way of becoming a creative teacher is the use of art. Art assists in a natural way. Looking at art and talking about art invites and encourages learners to use their imagination in astounding ways, because art encourages thoughtful attention to discover what it has to show and tell. Also art connects to social and personal dimensions of life in powerful affective ways. Students of all ages respond to this aspect of art, because it speaks to their intermost beliefs and values. If you want a bit of real magic in your classroom chose a picture, which tells a story like Bruegel's The Letter. Ask the group to Brainstorm all the questions they are curious to have the answers to. Examples of questions might be, Is the young girl in the picture sending or receiving a letter? What sounds can you imagine in the room? Or even more technical questions like, Where is the light coming from?

The questions never stop, because the more one looks at the picture, the deeper and deeper one goes to the "story" being told in the picture.

Students next chose one or two questions to answer always being ready to support their answer with some evidence found in the picture. The discussion goes on and on and interest never flags.