Step 1: For this warm-up, ask students to write down their favourite space from the virtual experience of Centre Block and explain what they liked about it.
Step 2: Quickly go around the classroom and ask students to name their favourite space and what they liked about it.
Step 3: Explain that the art inside the rooms of Centre Block was designed to reflect the country, its history and the role of Parliament.
Step 4: Show students the Flickr album of Centre Block art. Ask students to identify what they see in each artwork and what they think it represents. (Information about each artwork can be found in the Flickr image description.)
Step 5: After cycling through the images, ask students to identify the major themes represented. Write them down on the board. They may include the following:
- Canadian plants and animals
- Canadian people(s)
- History
- Values
- Rights
- Democracy
Step 1: Based on what they learned in the virtual experience of Centre Block, previous lessons and the photo album, challenge your students to create their own parliamentary carving or other artwork. They should apply what they have learned about the work and role of Parliament. Encourage them to be creative: it could be a carving, sculpture, painting, stained-glass window, or anything else that inspires them.
Step 2: Distribute the art worksheet, as well as paper, pencils, markers, or other craft supplies to help students design their work. Have students reflect on the following questions as they plan their design:
- Why is Parliament important?
- In what ways does Centre Block and/or Parliament reflect the country?
- Who and what should be represented in the art of Centre Block?
Step 3: Have students create a design based on their reflections, using the materials provided (or create a written description if they prefer).
Step 4: Ask students to write a short explanation of their design using the art worksheet, including a rationale as to why their work should be included in Centre Block.
Step 5: Once students have finished, ask them to post their designs around the class. Please ensure that the designs are spaced out in accordance with your school's distancing protocols, as students will be taking a gallery walk during the Consolidation exercise.
Step 1: Once all designs are posted around the class, send students on a gallery walk to view each other’s work and share their thoughts about the different designs.
Step 2: Ask students to fill in information about two other artworks they think should be added to Centre Block, completing the second part of the worksheet.
Assessment
Step 3: Have students hand in their worksheets for a participation mark to ensure they have understood the concepts and themes highlighted throughout the different exercises.