The first day was filled with team building activities that included problem solving and creativity. Sculpture students completed the Marshmallow Challenge. Students worked together to build a tower out of spaghetti noodles that would support a marshmallow on the top. The tallest tower was over 30 inches tall! Intro 2D Art students completed a series of challenges including building a tower out of styrofoam cups (harder than it sounds!), performing an active illustration (kind of like Charades with props), and creating a group logo that represented all the students in the group. Painting students worked in teams to create an artwork about Failure. After the challenge, we discussed what it means to fail and in most cases, failure is only perceived - if you've learned something new that you apply in the future, it's probably not a failure.
Day two included an activity called "This or That?" Students were to choose between two different options, even if the student doesn't really like either. Then, they had to be able to explain their decision. The first questions were a little silly. Burgers or pizza? Water or pop? Tennis shoes or sandals? The final questions were about artworks. Students were to look closely at the artworks, describe, discuss similarities and differences and decide which they liked better.
The two activities pushed the students to work together, make observations and decisions about art, and encouraged use of art vocabulary. Students also practiced presenting their ideas in front of the class. More art-making and critical thinking ahead!