Visible Thinking Strategies
Teaching students how to observe & question art via Twitter
I see, I think, I wonder...via TWITTER
Using these three starter statements will transform your classroom into a visible learning environment! Through an opened ended, student lead discussion students will learn about the motivations and life of Vincent Van Gogh by observing one of this his many self-portraits and tweeting their observations, opinions, and questions.
Target age: Middle School
Target age: Middle School
I SEE...
What do you see?
I THINK...
What do you think about that?
I WONDER...
-
What does it make you wonder?
Vincent Van Gogh
Steps:
The following three questions will challenge students to respond using the 140 character limit on Twitter. The students can use a preset classroom twitter account. Use the above image as the inspiration for tweets.
Ask the students:
1. What do you see? After hearing responses from a few students have the students tweet their own observation using the hashtag #iseevangogh
2. What do you think about that? (meaning their observation) Have the students tweet this response and use the hashtag: #Ithinkvangogh
3. I wonder...? Have the students formulate a tweet that questions the painting and their ability to think outside of the box when observing. Use the hashtag #iwondervangogh
Next: After all students have responded the class can have a popcorn reading of some of the tweets, going through all three hashtag responses in order.
Last: Students will then go to The National Gallery of Art's page to read about the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Students can also view more of Van Gogh's self-portraits on the Van Gogh Museum website. After reading the students will create a new tweet with the hashtag: #nowiKnowVanGogh
Ask the students:
1. What do you see? After hearing responses from a few students have the students tweet their own observation using the hashtag #iseevangogh
2. What do you think about that? (meaning their observation) Have the students tweet this response and use the hashtag: #Ithinkvangogh
3. I wonder...? Have the students formulate a tweet that questions the painting and their ability to think outside of the box when observing. Use the hashtag #iwondervangogh
Next: After all students have responded the class can have a popcorn reading of some of the tweets, going through all three hashtag responses in order.
Last: Students will then go to The National Gallery of Art's page to read about the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Students can also view more of Van Gogh's self-portraits on the Van Gogh Museum website. After reading the students will create a new tweet with the hashtag: #nowiKnowVanGogh
Listen to the music of Van Gogh's time:
Challenge to Fellow Educators:
How can you use the I see, I think, I wonder strategy in your classroom?
What is a way in which you can use the I see, I think, I wonder strategy in your classroom with the help of digital aids? History example: Show students an antique cotton comb/paddle. Have the students use the learning strategy to figure out what they were used for and what era they are from. Use this as an introduction to studying the Civil War.
Resources:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/index.html
http://www.visiblethinkingpz.org/VisibleThinking_html_files/03_ThinkingRoutines/03c_Core_routines/SeeThinkWonder/SeeThinkWonder_Routine.html
http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/teachers/lessons-activities/self-portraits/van-gogh.html
http://www.allmusic.com/album/masters-of-the-modern-age-vol-1-music-from-the-time-of-degas-cezanne-and-van-gogh-mw0002520342
Pennsylvania Standards:
9.1.8 C Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the art forms.
9.3.8 A Know and use the critical process of the examination of works in the arts and humanities. (Analyze, Interpret, Form and Test Hypothesis, and Evaluate/form judgements)
http://www.visiblethinkingpz.org/VisibleThinking_html_files/03_ThinkingRoutines/03c_Core_routines/SeeThinkWonder/SeeThinkWonder_Routine.html
http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/teachers/lessons-activities/self-portraits/van-gogh.html
http://www.allmusic.com/album/masters-of-the-modern-age-vol-1-music-from-the-time-of-degas-cezanne-and-van-gogh-mw0002520342
Pennsylvania Standards:
9.1.8 C Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the art forms.
9.3.8 A Know and use the critical process of the examination of works in the arts and humanities. (Analyze, Interpret, Form and Test Hypothesis, and Evaluate/form judgements)