Georges Seurat
Seated Woman (1883, Oil and Canvas)
Guggenheim Museum

The Seated Woman was selected as a masterwork by a group of kindergarten teachers focusing a lesson on shadows and the concept of cause and effect. The teachers met on a weekly basis to develop a unit to cover a 5 week instructional period.

The Masterwork was selected after an internet search. The teachers considered several masterworks and concluded that a simple design which could be replicated by the students was the most appropriate choice to develop interdisciplinary connections through the use visual arts techniques. The work, Seated Woman contained the necessary elements of a light source, an object and a shadow.

The teachers believed this Masterwork provided an example of art the kindergartners could relate to conceptually and it also afforded the opportunity for the students to learn the painting technique of pointillism. A variety of activities were used to help the students discover information about shadows and the concept of cause and effect. The activates included Nature Walk Shadow Hunts, Shadow Puppet Screens, opportunities for improvisation and shadow related songs to reinforce the concept being taught. These activate all required high levels of student engagement.

The technique of pointillism was the inspiration for students to realize and Original Creation. The students were photographed in their favorite shadow creating pose and then used the newly acquired technique to paint their traced images. Students were asked to draw and write about their understanding of the unit as a means of determining the level of meaning they acquired.

Examples of Student Reflections at the End of the Unit

• In a dark room without any lights, you cannot see shadows.
• Your shadow follows you everywhere as long as you have some light.
• To make a shadow you need light, a surface, and an object to block the light.
• Most solid objects can make a shadow.
• Shadows from other objects can "fall" on you, like shadows from trees or buildings.
• Sometimes your shadow is short and fat, and sometimes it is long and skinny, depending on where the sun is located.

Examples of Educator Reflections at the End of the Unit

• I could see the process of their learning. The LBC helped the students engage their learning and make connections
• I think this is what teaching really needs. Through visual arts, music, dance and theatre. Students are able to express themselves and make connections to their learning. It is amazing how much they remember.
• The students want to learn. Behavior problems have diminished significantly.
• Our students' analysis skills improved dramatically. Retention of the concept was evident.
• By providing exposure to the Arts, thus expanding their technical vocabulary, the students were able to communicate at a higher level by using more sophisticated language.
• Students have the opportunity to speak and articulate their ideas, so conducive to great learning.