Academic Programs –> National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
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Students pause for a portrait outside the National Students work on sketches of an abstract sculpture of George H.W. Bush. In the classroom, a student studies her face in the | Pre-trip lesson: Students discover the art of creating a portrait and the various uses of portraits throughout history. They study characteristics of portraits from their subject matter and materials to the moods and emotions conveyed by the artwork. Students also explore the importance of symbolism in portraits and how artists often give clues about their subjects and themselves using symbols. Trip: At the Museum, students explore portraits of individuals ranging from former Presidents Lincoln and Washington, to inventors like Thomas Edison, and figures from popular culture such as Jack Nicholson. Students examine the symbolism in select portraits, as well as the messages conveyed by the artists. Post-trip lesson: As a culminating activity, students use mirrors as they create their own self-portraits, which include symbols that illustrate something about themselves. Students also test their knowledge of the artistic elements of portraits as they compete in a collaborative review game and take written assessments. Academic Standards: Reading (4.W-E.3); Mathematics (4.NSO-C.14); Visual Arts (4.4.1) |
