Giotto Picture Study + Free Art Cards pdf

Download PDF

In Enrichment Study 1, our lessons will guide you to enjoy Giotto Picture Study in term 1. To do this you will need:

• Free Art Cards Printable or
• A Year of Picture Study (book - coming soon)

​A picture study lesson takes about 10-15 minutes. Here is how to teach picture study in 3 simple steps.

Why do picture study? With picture study, you and your child are "put in the way" of the great artists and their art.  You are forming a relationship with the artist, so you linger for a whole term.

The objectives:

1. To see beauty in art and inform their own art
2. To increase interest in a great artist's works and life
3. To increase the power of attention and observation

​And now, here's how to do the lesson.

Step 1: Look at the Picture

Enjoy looking together at the picture for a few minutes. Limit your "artistic" comments and let the children practice really seeing (observing) and simply enjoying the art for what it is. Then, post the picture on the wall to be enjoyed throughout the term.

Step 2: Discuss the picture

Let the children really study the picture simply by looking. While looking, you might ask a simple question such as:

• What do you notice about the picture?
• What is happening in the picture?
• What is the focal point of the picture or the main lighting or the main colors?

After looking, take the picture away and ask for a narration. Ask younger children to "tell what you remember" and older children to "draw what you saw".  End with the name of the artwork and the artist.

Step 3: read about the artist

Read about the artist from a living book for a few minutes and ask for a narration. "Tell me about the story in your own words." For the story of Giotto, our family likes, Knights of Art by Amy Steedman. This living book is included in our Enrichment Study 1 Booklists here.

Tips on printing Art Cards

• Includes 6 prints - all 8.5 x 11 inch - standard paper size.
• To print the art cards, select double-sided printing. The front has the picture and the back has the name of the artwork and artist. 
• Use watercolor paper or cardstock for increased durability, and laminating is an option as well.
• For economy's sake, you could view on computer and omit printing.

Books, Articles, and Links  

• Life of Giotto by Giorgio Vasari* (starting on p. 69).
• Giotto article from the PNEU Parent's Review.
• Picture Study from Home Education by Charlotte Mason, p. 307.
• Our resources are free to use under our license agreement. We hope it will bless your homeschool.