Little Eyes Look! Little Minds Think!

Little Eyes Look! Little Minds Think!

Use this resource set to guide young learners as they explore and interpret a diverse group of artworks from the VMFA's collection. Each artwork is paired with a guided looking video and a complementary set of engagement exercises to use with your students.

Grade Level:
Early Childhood, Grades K-2
Collection:
African American Art, American Art, East Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Photography
Culture/Region:
America, East Asia
Subject Area:
Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Activity Type:
Resource Set

Little Eyes Look! Little Minds Think!

Image Gallery

Rolling
Sunset
Boys with Banana by the Window, Bronx, NY
Woodpecker
Beautiful Night of Moon and Stars, Miyajima
Bloodline: The Matriarchs

Little Eyes Look and Little Minds Think! What is in this Resource Set?

Use this resource set to guide young learners as they explore and interpret a diverse group of artworks from the VMFA's collection.

Under the suggested activities menu next to each artwork, you will find an educator-led "Little Eyes Look" video. Using an inquiry-based approach that fosters curiosity and creative thinking, educators introduce viewers to vocabulary related to both art-making and the subjects depicted in the artworks. As they consider artistic intention and decision-making, students are supported by factual content about artists' lives and art-making practices. 

Three open-ended engagement activities are also suggested with each work. These simple exercises can be used to foster extended thinking about each piece.

Rolling

Rolling

1961 , American

Medium: oil on canvas

Accession ID: 85.396

Artist Adolph Gottlieb once declared "Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take the risk." Rolling is one of what he called his "burst" ...

Artist Adolph Gottlieb once declared "Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take the risk." Rolling is one of what he called his "burst" paintings which featured calligraphic brushwork and evocative shapes and colors. It is the perfect artwork for students to take thinking risks of their own as they use their imaginations to look take a closer look. Share the "Little Eyes Look: Rolling" video with students as they explore this vibrant Abstract Expressionist artwork.

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Sunset

Sunset

1893 , American

Medium: oil on canvas

Accession ID: L2015.13.35

George Inness revisited the subject of sunset several times in the last years of his life. This example, painted in 1893, offers students a place to think about and make connections to the world ou ...

George Inness revisited the subject of sunset several times in the last years of his life. This example, painted in 1893, offers students a place to think about and make connections to the world outside as they look carefully at the colors, figures, and textures Innes has included in this ethereal landscape. Share the guided looking video "Little Eyes Look: Sunset by George Inness" with students to learn more.

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Boys with Banana by the Window, Bronx, NY

Boys with Banana by the Window, Bronx, NY

1966 , American

Medium: Gelatin silver print

Accession ID: 2017.133

Photographer Shawn Walker was a member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a collective of African American photographers. When the collective began in New York City, they selected the name Kamoinge, which m ...

Photographer Shawn Walker was a member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a collective of African American photographers. When the collective began in New York City, they selected the name Kamoinge, which means “a group of people acting and working together” in Gikuyu, the language of the Kikuyu people of Kenya. This example of Walker's work lets students explore ideas about place, community, and perspective as they spend time with a group of children close to their own age. Share the guided looking video "Little Eyes Look: Boys with Banana by the Window" for a closer look at this arresting image.

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Woodpecker

Woodpecker

2008 , American

Medium: Acrylic, gouache, photo collage, resin on wood panel

Accession ID: 2009.333

" I love nature, I love gardening, I love watching birds, and all of that gets into the work," artist Fred Tomaselli once said. In this example of his artwork, students may find all of Tomaselli's ...

" I love nature, I love gardening, I love watching birds, and all of that gets into the work," artist Fred Tomaselli once said. In this example of his artwork, students may find all of Tomaselli's interests if they look closely, and may even discover some of their own in the process! Share the guided looking video "Little Eyes Look: Woodpecker" with students to explore this complex and beautiful artwork.

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Beautiful Night of Moon and Stars, Miyajima

Beautiful Night of Moon and Stars, Miyajima

1928 , Japanese

Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Accession ID: 2011.433

Japanese artist Kawase Hasui was trained in both traditional Japanese ink and Western oil painting. He worked primarily as a commercial illustrator until 1918 when he began to create his own woodbl ...

Japanese artist Kawase Hasui was trained in both traditional Japanese ink and Western oil painting. He worked primarily as a commercial illustrator until 1918 when he began to create his own woodblock prints. This beautiful example offers students a place to express their ideas about print-making and the natural world. Share the video "Little Eyes Look: Beautiful Night of Moon and Stars, Miyajima" with students for a closer look.

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Bloodline: The Matriarchs

Bloodline: The Matriarchs

2017 , Delaware/Cherokee

Medium: Bronze and cedar

Accession ID: 2017.203

Central to the work of Native American artist Holly Wilson is narrative. She is interested in exploring ideas about family, community, and ancestry. Her sculpture, "Bloodline: The Matriarchs," made ...

Central to the work of Native American artist Holly Wilson is narrative. She is interested in exploring ideas about family, community, and ancestry. Her sculpture, "Bloodline: The Matriarchs," made in 2017, invites students to consider these ideas as they examine the interesting combination of human forms and natural materials. Share the video "Little Eyes Look: Bloodline: The Matriarchs by Holly Wilson" to introduce this beautiful and evocative sculpture.

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Additional Resources

Additional activities and resources that may support young students who have explored the objects in this resource set.

Make Art Anywhere and Anytime (Elementary Level)

This Art in Depth resource offers students, teachers—and parents and caregivers—ideas for how to use everyday items to make art! ...

Activity Type: Art in Depth, Lesson Concept

Collection: African American Art, African Art, American Art, Ancient Art, East Asian Art, Native American Art

Culture/Region: China, East Asia

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Virtual Art Sparks: Nature Journals

Join VMFA Youth Studio Educator, Sandi Wiley, for this Virtual Arts Sparks on creating a nature book (geared toward ages 5-12). In this video, use the natural world as ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Video

Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art

Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Virtual Art Sparks: Expressive Self-Portraits

Join VMFA Youth Studio Educator, Mayzie Zechini, for this Virtual Arts Sparks on creating a self-portrait (geared toward ages 5-12). Using calligraphy techniques and m ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Hands-On Activity, Video

Collection: East Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art

Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Virtual Art Sparks: Found Object Collage

Be inspired by artists that include unique items and materials in their art as you create your own collage using objects found in your own home. ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Hands-On Activity, Video

Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

ArtShticks! Episode 4: Familiar Symbols

Sometimes art can be difficult to understand, but Taye and Kayla learn that when we look closely, we can see elements that are familiar to us. And together, these elem ...

Activity Type: Video

Subject Area: Fine Arts

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Exploring Shape: Squares, Rectangles, Circles, and More!

Use your observation skills to investigate how different artists have used shapes in their creations, and then use a variety of shapes to make your own art! ...

Activity Type: Lesson Concept

Collection: African Art, American Art, Native American Art

Culture/Region: Africa, America

Subject Area: African American, Fine Arts, Math, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Fold It! Create 3-D Works of Art

Let’s explore some folded works in the VMFA collection—and experiment with folding to make art. ...

Activity Type: Lesson Concept

Collection: African Art, East Asian Art, Native American Art

Culture/Region: Africa, America, China, East Asia

Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Hands on Activity: Chalk it Up!

We would love your help to share the VMFA art collection across Virginia! Use these artworks for inspiration and decorate a sidewalk near you! We want to see ...

Activity Type: Hands-On Activity

Collection: African American Art, African Art, American Art, Fabergé, Impressionism, Modern and Contemporary Art

Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Fabergé, Fine Arts, Impressionism, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Adult, College, Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2

Little Hands Create: Leaf Prints

Create colorful prints using leaves and paint. ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Hands-On Activity, Video

Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Little Hands Create: Painting with Things that Roll

Create an active work of art using paint and things that can roll. ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Hands-On Activity, Video

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades K-2

Little Hands Create: Backyard Process Art

Create backyard process art by painting and stamping with things that you play with in your yard or in a pool. ...

Activity Type: Art Activty Videos, Hands-On Activity, Video

Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades K-2