PREPARATION FOR THE MUSEUM VISIT

These notes suggest points to emphasize in order to concisely introduce students to the de Young Museum's African art collection. All the information needed for the discussions can be found in the teachers' guide. More advanced discussion topics may be used as follow-up lessons after the students have visited the galleries and established a basic familiarity with African art and the concepts and terms appropriate to their grade level.

Kindergarten and First Grade

  1. Discuss with the class the presence of animals in African art. Identify animals in several of the objects in the slide show. Remind students that representations of animals and animal elements can embody characteristics of that animal (leopard = royalty; elephant = strength and wisdom).
  2. Discuss materials such as wood, fabric, raffia, and beads. Help children to learn to recognize different materials and, if possible, the potential meanings of different materials. For example wooden objects imply forests and sedentary lifestyles, gold and beads signify wealth and prestige, raffia represents the power of bush and the wild things that live in the bush.

Second and Third Grades

  1. Discuss the diversity of the African continent and its many cultures, geographic regions, ways of life, and styles of art. Discuss West African and Sub-Saharan art and its differences from art of other parts of Africa. Supplement slides with encyclopedia or book pictures.
  2. Discuss the ideas of traditional and modern art. Remind students that the African art in the de Young Museum's collection is traditional but that Africa also has modern cities and modern art. Show students examples of modern African art (See Africa Explores in bibliography).

Fourth and Fifth Grades

  1. Discuss how traditional African concepts of art and beauty differ from our own. Help children to gain an acceptance and appreciation for new things. Encourage children to use terms such as different, abstract, and patterned.
  2. Discuss the functions of traditional African art and how this differs from Western art, which is usually primarily intended to be viewed. Talk about the way in which African art objects were meant to be seen and used (their contexts, such as the masquerade). African art objects in the museum are out of their original contexts; they are not displayed or used as they were intended.

Middle School

  1. Discuss the importance of ritual and ceremony in marking important stages of life. Relate the Baule ceremony to Western graduation or religious ceremonies; both mark one's coming-of-age in society. Talk about the importance of bush schools-learning new skills and gaining new rights and responsibilities-as compared to students' own experiences in preparing for Western ceremonies.

Programs for Children at the de Young

The Education Department of The Fine Arts Museums sponsors a wide range of programs for teachers, adults, families, and students. To receive our annual listing of programs please call 415.750.3640.

Docent School Tours

To arrange for a docent tour of the African galleries for your class please call 415.750.3658. Please arrange docent tours eight weeks in advance of your visit.

Introduction | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Slide List | Museum Visit