THEME: PLACE
SUBJECT: EARLY CHILDHOOD
ARTIST: CHIHARU SHIOTA
GRADE: recommended PreK-5th grade
 
OBJECTIVES
Students will learn about the museum (and installation art) as a specific place.
Students will explore how art can make us think about places.
 
KEY QUESTIONS
What do you like about this place?  What do you dislike?
How does this place make you feel?  Why?
What materials and objects do you see in this place? 
Can you tell a story about this place? Who lives here?  What happens in this place?
 
BOOK REFERENCES
1. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
2. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett and Ronald Barrett
3. A Good Night Walk by Elisha Cooper
4. One Afternoon by Yumi Heo
 
VISUAL REFERENCES
1. Traces of Memory by Chiharu Shiota
 
ACTIVITY
Pick a space in your school, playground or neighborhood which will serve as a “frame” for creating a place.  Using different colors of yarn, ribbon or string, have students wind, weave and twist these materials around the chosen framework, i.e. the poles on a playground, chairs in a classroom, etc.  Allow the students freedom to create their place by connecting the objects together with the threads.  Once the students have created the space, ask them to spend time thinking about the space they have created.
 
BONUS
Ask students to create a small memory collage by cutting and gluing magazine photos of various objects onto paper.  Once complete, give students a clothespin or paperclip and ask them to pin their object onto the woven structure.  After everyone has pinned their objects, ask students to carefully walk around and through their structure. Ask students to observe and question: What kind of place did they create?   Does it tell a story?  Who lives or visits this space?  What happens in this place?  What does this place make us feel and think?

______________________________

PENNSYLVANIA CORE STANDARDS
VISUAL ARTS
(9.1.3.A-9.1.5.A)
-know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
 
(9.1.3.B-9.1.5.B)
-recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts
 
(9.1.3.C-9.1.5.C)
-recognize and use fundamental vocabulary within each of the arts forms
 
(9.1.3.D-9.1.5.D)
-use knowledge of varied styles within each art form through a performance or exhibition of unique work
 
(9.1.3.E-9.1.5.E)
-demonstrate the ability to define objects, express emotions, illustrate an action or relate an experience through creation of works in the arts