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Writer's pictureJessica

Symmetry and Poetry

Skills: Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual arts


What You Need: Poster paints, construction paper, lined paper, pencils

What to Do: By using paint and paper to create a Rorschach-like symmetrical design, students will be inspired to write a descriptive poem filled with figurative language about what they see in their abstract artwork.


Steps:

  • First, have students pour droplets of poster paint in various colors onto a piece of construction paper; two or three different colors work well.

  • Next, they should fold the paper in half, pressing it down to distribute the paint evenly. When the paper is opened, a symmetrical design should appear. Give students a few minutes to reflect on their design, letting their imaginations run wild.

  • Teach them a simile, hyperbole, and rhyming couplets.

    • Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind used to make a description more emphatic or vivid

      • As brave as a lion, crazy like a fox

  • Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

    • I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse

  • Rhyming couplets: Two line of the same length that rhyme and complete one thought

    • Think of rhyming in a song

  • Next, instruct students to write a poem inspired by their artwork, describing what they see as their eyes move across the painting. Encourage them to use one of the methods below.

  • After trading papers with a partner to edit for style and consistency (and to check that all poetic elements are included), students can share their artwork and poems with the class.

  • IF THERE IS TIME: Extend the learning by having students use the shapes and images they see in their artwork to choreograph their own dance.




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