Rome as our classroom: Year 2 visit the Museum of Modern Art

Year 2 visited Galleria Nazionale Di Arte Moderna for a guided tour and workshop to explore the concept of “Abstract Art”. We set off enthusiastically sitting in our pairs all safely buckled up on the bus. Remembering to respect just one of our Essential Agreements for safe behaviour choices, when we’re out of school on a trip.

On our way we discussed expectations and wonderings:

"I wonder if we will see paintings artists did by flicking." Chiara
"Will there be scribbling pictures?” Ginny
"Will we only see painting or will there be models and sculptures too?" Angelica, Kai, Anton & Ahmed
"I feel relaxed when I see paintings that make me have feelings." Anton
"I think the museum will be dark and light to see the paintings best." Layla
"I am happy having a new partner to be with." Latifah, Tomas

On arrival we met our guides Giulia and Clara who helped us think about how to be a good visitor in a museum:

• stay close in our group and walk in a line like a snake when we move to new areas
• use small inside voices
• only touch and go close up to the work if our guide tells us to

Once in the museum we observed and discussed four different works of abstract art and discussed what is meant by the term. Students shared their observations about the types of colours, lines marks and shapes they could see and what each work made them think, and wonder. Very similar to what we have practised doing in class. We had the opportunity to see how the same work can look very different from close up, far back and from different angles as we walked around each.

The more we talked the more we realised that we could actually see many things in the pictures which at first sight seemed to show nothing we could recognise. We began to see sunsets, animals, numbers, letters, the sea, helicopters, fire cracker’s gates, cages and so much more. Pupils commented that we can all see different things and all be right at the same time.

Finally students had a go at two different tasks to inspire them in creating their own abstract works of art. Firstly they were presented with black and white copies of small sections of the works discussed and worked to create their own shapes and images trying to reproduce the same style of mark making for each. The second task was to create large abstract compositions. Pupils collaborated to work together on the shared large projects, experimenting with the different techniques displayed in the works seen earlier in the museum. After our busy morning in the museum we went over the road to enjoy our picnic lunch and appreciate playing in the shared, natural public space to be found in Villa Borghese.

- Ms Capparucci