Harping back to Sam's last lesson about beauty, we'll approach the topic of art as something that is defined by the beholder. And so our question will be, as we break into groups of three that we should try to define what art is. I'll show a painting which everyone will clearly view as art, and then I'll haphazardly scribble something else on the board. I'll ask if they're both art. I'll ask them to talk about this in their groups and decide on their definition of what art is, and then we'll share each group's definition.

I'll put ten different great paintings on the board. We'll break into 3 groups and I'll give each group a set of names and titles for the paintings. The groups will have to talk to each other and decide which ones belong to which picture. I'll tell each group how many they've gotten wrong so that they can change them around. Then we'll check the answers and make sure everyone knows which paintings are which.

After everyone knows the names and artists for each painting, I'll hand a critique sheet out to everyone and break them into pairs. Each pair will now have time to decide what sentence they're going to write as a critique for each painting. I'll write a few 'critic-ish phrases" that one might hear at an art gallery, like : "It's a load of rubbish." "It's a masterpiece." "A child could make that." "It's priceless." The students will pass the pictures around to each pair to look at closely and decide together. The idea is that if there is debate on what to say, they'll talk it over and try to convince the other. I'll ask for feedback from pairs about certain paintings if we don't have time for them all.

Students will now get into groups of 4 or so. I'll write two words on the board: Visual Arts and Performing arts I'll get each group to make a list of as many kinds of art that they can put into the two categories. I'll give them about two minutes. Hopefully we'll get a really good mix of examples like: drama, modern dance, sculptor, fashion design, opera, etc..I'll give them some hints if they're not getting the idea. When they're done, I'll ask them to read some of the words on their lists and we'll discuss which ones are popular in this country and which people have gone to see, etc. If there's time, I wouldn't mind having some students come up and do some miming out of the actions for the students to guess the art form they chose to represent...again, if I think there will be time.

Inspired by 'Who wants to be a Milionaire', we'll have a small easy art trivia show. One person from a group will come up, answer questions. They get one chance to ask for help from their group...I'll just read them A,B,C,D style from a list. If a team gets 5 right, they win...something. Good way to end of class.