Directions for the Teacher
Use the following resources to engage students in learning more about the MOMIX presentation of ALICE while practicing their inner ‘art critic’. Student responses may be spoken, written, drawn with pictures, and/or play-acted as appropriate for the age and ability of the students.
Read some or all the following information about MOMIX with students. You may read it aloud, display it on a smart board, or hand it out for students to read alone or with a partner.
Videos featuring MOMIX
Trailer for MOMIX Alice
Other examples of work
Example of solo act
Interview with creator Moses Pendleton
Art Critique
Prior Knowledge: Students will access prior knowledge about critique by attempting definitions of the four part art critique: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment
Step 1: Describe
List everything you see, even if you don’t know what it is. Ask yourself:
- What do I see?
- What colors are used?
- What shapes are visible?
- Where is the scene?
- Are there any unknown objects?
Step 2: Analyze
Explain how what you see is being used in the piece of art. Ask yourself:
- How are lines used?
- How are shapes working?
- How are textures effective?
- How does the viewer’s eye move around the piece?
Step 3: Interpret
What is going on in the artwork? Ask yourself:
- What do I see happening?
- How does this make me feel?
- What is the most important part of this piece?
- What did the artist create this piece?
- What does this arts ‘say’ to me?
Step 4: Decide
Do you like this piece of art? Why or why not? Ask yourself:
- What do I like about this piece?
- What did the artist do best?
- What do I disklike about this piece?
- What would I change if I were the artist?
Presentation of Information: Students will engage in a short presentation on the artist MOMIX and read information provided. This should be conducted as whole group instruction. Students will then brainstorm and discuss what was read in small groups of 3-5 peers and have a Think-Pair-Share over the selected videos/reading passages. Student groups will present to the class in turns about their observations.
Steps of Think-Pair-Share
Steps of Think-pair-share
- Students THINK individually about an open-ended question posed by the teacher related to the content.
- Students are instructed to form PAIRS (Two students site together) and exchange their answers or thoughts. They compare their ideas and identify the answer they think is the best and most convincing for the question posed by the teacher.
- The pairs SHARE their ideas and engage in the discussion with the other pairs or the entire classee either orally or by using visual aids.
The Critique: After attending the performance, students will write a critique to:
- analyze composition and design in Alice
- interpret meaning and content Alice
- apply criteria to evaluate overall skill and technique in Alice
- relate knowledge and personal experiences to Alice
- in addition, students could reflect on how they would hypothetically improve the artist’s work
Sharing/Assessment piece
After writing their essays, students post (on the wall or a digital wall) and share their art critique along with a “Star Rating” “I give it 5 Stars!” Students may also share and debate their opinions in class.
Reflection piece
Once the students have explored art critique, witnessed Alice, and written and reflected on critiques of the production (their own and others) there can be a whole class reflection on the presentation. Taking the time to consider their thoughts, feelings, and ideas about this presentation will help them transfer this knowledge and experience to new works of art they may encounter in the future
Special thanks to the Opening Nights Education Committee and Stacy Weaver.
Stacy Weaver holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and a minor in Dance from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree from Florida State University in Instructional Design and Educational Technology.
Ms. Weaver is the Dance Director at Raa Middle School for Fine and Performing Arts. She is the coach of the Raa Dance Team and The Leonettes Dance Team at Leon High School. Before teaching in Leon County, Ms. Weaver worked at Florida State University in CPALMS at the Learning Systems Institute and at the Florida Center for Reading Research. She is currently a professor at the Florida State University School of TeacherEducation.
