Fourth Grade Art Lesson 6

Observation vs. Memory

Objective:

The students will compare their own work created by memorizing visual information with their work created by observing the same information. Students will find that looking at the object you want to draw is easier and yields improved results.

Materials:

2 sheets of 6 X 9 paper (index cards also work well), a pencil and each student will use their own shoe

Procedure:

Begin by discussing how great artist become, great artist. Do they just dream up the subject of their work? All great artists used their eyes to look and carefully observe the subject of their work. Typically they do many drawings of the same subject until they understand the form. Today we are going to experience first hand the benefits of looking at something to draw over relying on our memory. Distribute 2 sheets of paper to each student. At the bottom of the first sheet have them write the word observation. At the bottom of the second sheet have them write the word memory. Their first drawing will be on the memory sheet. Have each student remove their left shoe. Have them spend several minutes studying their shoe from a side view. Tell them to look at every little detail and commit it to their memory. Once they feel they know it well, have them put their shoe under their chair and draw everything they can remember about it on the sheet of paper that has memory written on it. Give them plenty of time to work. Once this first drawing is complete, have them sit their shoe in front of them on the table. Redraw the shoe on the sheet of paper that says observation. Encourage the children to examine each detail carefully as they draw. Again, give them plenty of time to complete their work. Once both of the drawings are finished, have the class set up their work with the memory drawing above the observation drawing so that both drawings can be compared. Have the class walk around and look at all sets of drawings. Have them look for similarities and differences that can be found in most sets. Typically they will find that the observation is larger, more detailed and drawn more accurately than the memory drawing. Encourage the class to discover this for themselves.

Conclusion:

Generally the students are very surprised to find the difference in the quality of their own two drawings. There will be a few exceptions, but regardless of the level of ability, the observation drawings are better than the memory drawings for the large majority of students. Encourage the students to do this exercise with other things of interest to them (i.e. their favorite toy, flowers, etc.)

Artwork and Examples used in this lesson

Teachers Memory Example

Teachers Observation Example

Student Memory Artwork

Student Observation Artwork