ACTIVITY FOR THE ART CLASS

Mª Reyes Rodríguez Alonso, CP Aniceto Sela

“Las Meninas” : two different approacches.

1. Final task: to make a poster with all the children’s photos dressed
as the Infanta Margarita.

2. Objetives:
2.1 To approach to one famous picture.
2.2 To learn more about two Spanish artists.
2.3 To learn more about the characteristics of an important painting
of Velazquez and Picasso’s version of it.
2.4 To interpret the different styles used by the two painters:
Realism and Cubism.
2.5 To compare two different techniques of the same painting.
2.6 To use English to get all the information and to communicate in
the classroom.

PAINTING: “La familia de Felipe IV” (Las Meninas).

3. Steps:

3.1 Tell the children some information about the two

painters (Velazquez and Picasso); The period, a few
biographical data, their different styles…
About the paintings: children will look at the pictures
and describe what differences they can observe.
This is an information session just to contextualize the
future work with the children. In this previous part we
have used books, pictures and the portable computer with
a projector in order to comment and give opportunity for
conversation. The assistant has an important function in
this oral session because she has to ask some questions
to make pupils speak. We have prepared previously a list
of significant questions

 How many people can you see?

 Where are they?
 Are they inside or outside?
 Is it in the morning, at night?
 Are they wearing modern clothes?
 What are they wearing?
  What are they doing?
 What colours can you see?
 Has the painter used straight lines or curved lines?
 Can you see any geometrical shape?
 Which one do you like best? ...

3.2 Give the children two big posters with the outlines of the
paintings so that they can complete the picture. We decided to
focus our attention on the figure of the Infanta Margarita. In fact the
intention is to present our version of her portrait.
In this part of the work we have split the big group in two
small groups of 8 0r 9 children. Each group chooses the
version they want to do.
The teacher and the language assistant lead the work in one
of the teams. The children have to use English to share their
opinions, to ask for the materials (they can use whatever
material they like) and so on.

3.3 Cut out the face of the figure so that the children can put
their faces through the hole.

3.4 Take photos of every child and make a poster with all the
portraits..

4. Timing
It took us a month (2 sessions a week) to complete the work.

5. Assessment

The evaluation of the work is positive. Everybody did their part. It was
designed as a team task and they tried to use English.
The activity was stimulating as it was different and the final task was
even more fun. They enjoyed a lot
during the process and even more
when they saw themselves as if they
were the Infanta Margarita.
The work is more productive when they
can do it in two groups because they
can interact and we, as teachers can
have more opportunities to listen and
talk to pupils.
PHOTO GALLERY
HOW NICE!!!!