Do you want to teach your elementary art students how to look at art in a more meaningful way? The Inside Out Strategy is a great tool to use with kids to help them understand and appreciate the works of art they are looking at. This strategy encourages students to look beyond what they see on the surface and to make deeper connections with the work of art. In this blog post, we will discuss how to use the Inside Out Strategy for looking at art with kids.

What is the inside out strategy?

The Inside Out Strategy is an approach to viewing art that encourages kids to look at it from a new and unique perspective. Instead of just looking at the artwork from the outside, they imagine they are in the artwork, and use their five senses to experience what it would be like from the inside. This strategy helps kids engage with the artwork on a deeper level, and allows them to think more critically about what they are seeing. It also encourages them to think about the various elements of the artwork, such as colors, lines, shapes, and symbols. By looking at the artwork from the inside out, kids can gain a greater understanding of how these different elements come together to create an overall work of art.

How does this help kids look at art?

The Inside Out Strategy encourages kids to use their five senses and descriptive language when looking at art. By using this strategy, kids can think beyond what they see in the artwork, engaging their senses to gain a deeper understanding of what the artist was trying to convey. As they engage all five senses, kids can learn to appreciate art in a meaningful way.

For example, if a child is looking at a painting of a meadow with rolling hills, they might focus on the colors, shapes, and lines in the painting. However, if they were to use the Inside Out Strategy, they would also take into account how the grass might feel underfoot, how the air smells, or what sounds they might hear. This helps them to gain a richer experience with the artwork and makes them more aware of the artist’s intentions.

Tips for using the Inside Out Strategy

To help kids get the most out of this experience, here are some tips for using the Inside Out Strategy:

- Ask open-ended questions as prompts: Encourage kids to ask questions about what they are seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting. You can ask open-ended questions to lead them toward answers if they are stuck.

- Take their time: Give kids the freedom to take their time and explore the artwork without rushing. This will give them a chance to observe the different details and really pay attention to the artwork.

- Have them justify: Ask kids to come up with their own interpretations of the artwork. This can help them build their critical thinking skills. Their responses do not have to make immediate sense to anyone else, but you can ask them to justify their ideas using the artwork. For instance, if the student is looking at Starry Night and says they feel heat, you might need them to explain. If they say, "it just looks hot," you can ask further questions. They may have a perfectly good explanation for why they said that, but if they don't you can ask them to try again.

Try it out!

Now that you know what the Inside Out Strategy is and how it can help kids look at art, it's time to put it into practice! Let your kids explore their creativity as they observe art through a different lens.

Ask them questions about what they're seeing and let them express their own interpretations. The key is to remember that there is no wrong answer, only answers that need justification. With this strategy, children can learn to appreciate art in ways they never thought possible. Let me know how it goes!

I’m Amanda, and I align standards and integrate content to help teachers meet the needs of the Whole Child in art class! I have yet to find a standard that I couldn’t teach through art, and I want to share it all with you.

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