Exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Virtual Journey

Subject Area(s):

• Art Connections

Grade Level(s):

• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

The 5th grade students in Mrs. Gallagher's class just recently finished reading From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The book is about two children that run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and live there for a brief period of time. The point of this lesson is to connect the book to the actual museum. The intent is to expose students to the website, a famous artist and important information about the museum and the book that can be found on the website.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

Students will:

• Gain familiarity of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through its website and this will encourage further exploration of both the site and the museum.
• Use navigational skills and knowledge of keywords to find the information to the questions on the worksheet.

Learning Objectives: 

The 5^th grade class will

• Participate in an interactive portion on the MET’s website to answer questions about the artist Cezanne
• Locate on Museum Kids the answers to the rest of the questions on the worksheet

Motivational Goals:

• To generate interest in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• To connect prior knowledge of the museum through From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to the actual MET museum
• Students will find out answers to questions they may have after reading the book (distinguish between fiction and non-fiction) from a portion of the MET’s site devoted to the book.

Materials:

Worksheet, Smart Board, computers, Metropolitan Museum of Art's website

http://www.metmuseum.org/

Procedures:

Introduction:

Before starting the lesson, talk with the students about the book they just read, From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  Ask students if they can tell me what the book is about? Then go into the K-W-L chart.

Ask students the following questions:

1. K-W-L Chart: What do you know about the Metropolitan Museum of Art based on From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler  and you own personal experiences?
2. What do you wonder about the Metropolitan Museum of Art? What do you expect might be there? What artists? Paintings? Sculptures?
3. What have you learned? (Asked at the end as a evaluation piece)

Explain to students they need to find a partner that they can work well with. There will be two students to one computer and two worksheets per group (one for each student).

Body:

1. Using the Smart Board, guide students through first artist

and point out the importance of keywords when searching for information. Ask students where they think they might be able to find the information needed to answer the questions.   

2. Explain the importance of the home page.

Guide students through the first five questions pertaining

to Cezanne.

3. Have students answer the remaining questions on their

own. Monitor and observe their progress in addition to

providing assistance for students that need help.

4.  Go over the questions and discuss how they found

the answer the questions.

5. Ask students to share what they found interesting and

what they would like to explore further.                        

Assessment:

What are some things you've learned? (L of the K-W-L Chart)

Artists? Were there any questions you had that you now can answer? If you had more time on the website or a chance to visit the Metropolitan Museum

of Art in NYC, name three things you would like to explore further. Go around the room and have each child share at least one thing.

Supporting Files:

• LessonWorksheetIST504.doc
  

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Recognizes the need for information.
• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Evaluates information critically and competently.

• Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Organizes information for practical application.
• Integrates new information into one's own knowledge.
• Subject: Art Connections

National Content Standards (K-12)

• Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines