BC MOEST - Fine Arts K-7

Fine Arts K-7: Glossary and Approaches to Instruction

illustration A picture designed to elucidate and decorate a story, poem, or other piece of writing.

image In visual arts, the term used to describe all visual forms, ranging from a simple mark on paper or on a cave wall to elaborate architectural forms. Images may be representational, abstract, conceptual, performance-related, or functional. They may be 2-D or 3-D, and they may be static or kinetic.

image-development strategies Processes that transform ideas and experiences into visual images. Image-development strategies include distortion, elaboration, exaggeration, fragmentation, juxtaposition, magnification, metamorphosis, minification, multiplication (serialization), point of view, reproduction, reversal, rotation, and simplification.

impressionism An art style developed in the 19th century, characterized by representing subject matter with broken colour and soft edges.

improvisation Movement, dialogue, action, or music that is created spontaneously, ranging from free-form to highly structured (e.g., based on an understanding of a role or within given style parameters), but always with an element of chance. Improvisation allows an artist to bring together elements quickly, and requires focus and concentration.

inner hearing The internal, mental process of hearing inside the head, related to the cognitive process of audiation.

interval The distance between two music tones or pitches.

inversion A change of the relative positions of the notes of a chord, melody, or harmonic interval.

isolation In dance, moving individual parts of the body independently of others.

jigsaw An instructional strategy that promotes co-operative learning. It is based on dividing information among students so that they must pool their information to complete a task. There are typically four steps:

jigsaw image

Students are assigned home groups and are given an overview of the task.
Each home group member is given a different part of the task (e.g., a music selection, choreographic piece, or script, each divided into several parts) so that one student in each home group has the same information. The students with the same information then leave their home groups and form an expert group.
The expert group members work together to gain sufficient understanding of their skill or information to teach it to others in their respective home groups (e.g., they might relate a sequence of events, choose relevant data, or decide on a main idea).
Students return to their home groups, and each expert proceeds to share his or her expertise with the others. The home group is responsible for helping all its members understand the entire content and complete the task.

juxtaposition An image-development strategy used to place, side by side, two or more images or elements in a way that changes the meaning or effect of each.

kiln An electric, gas, or wood-fired oven capable of reaching extremely high heat used to fire ceramic or enamelled objects.

landscape A view of scenery on land, often used as subject matter in visual arts; also refers to the horizontal orientation of a rectangular 2-D image.

language process An instructional strategy for teaching a set dance or ostinato:

Say the steps.
Say and do the steps.
Whisper and do the steps.
Think and do the steps.
These steps can be carried out before adding the music.

layout A sketch of rough ideas or composition plans for an artwork.

lead-and-follow activities Instructional strategies used for movement exploration in dance or drama, effective in building trust and sensitivity between individuals or within a group. For example:

Echoing--the leader makes a movement, and the follower or followers repeat the movement with some change in body shape, tempo, energy, and so on.
Flocking--students move in groups, with no set pattern or formation, all doing the same movements simultaneously.
Mirroring--two students face each other. Student A initiates the movement, while student B follows, maintaining eye contact as appropriate. Students switch roles after a set period of time.
Shadowing--the leader faces away from the follower or followers, who shadow the leader's movement.

line In visual arts, an element of art and design that pertains to the narrow mark or path of a moving point on the surface or along the contours of an image.

logo A symbolic form, frequently incorporating letter shapes, that identifies organizations such as businesses, companies, teams, or schools.

loom A framework or machine for interweaving yarn or thread into a fabric.

magnification An image-development strategy used to increase the apparent size of some or all of the components in an artwork.

making meaning Using roles and situations to develop personal and relevant understanding from human experiences.

maquette A small sculpture made as a trial or sketch for a larger piece.

melody The arrangement and sequence of pitches.

mentoring An instructional strategy--students each select (with assistance from teachers or parents, as applicable) an adult from the local community who uses dance, drama, music, or visual arts in the workplace or in her or his life. Ideally students maintain ongoing contact with their mentors, preferably over the course of several years, using them as resource people with whom to share and discuss fine arts concepts and skills and their application in the real world.

metamorphosis An image-development strategy used to change one form or image into another.

metre The grouping in which a succession of rhythmic pulses or beats is organized; in standard notation, indicated by a time signature at the beginning of a work (e.g., metre image ).

MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface--standard specifications that enable electronic instruments such as synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, or drum machines to communicate with one another and with computers.

mime A drama structure involving the presentation of ideas or feelings through movement, without dialogue; also a performer of mime.

minification An image-development strategy used to decrease the apparent size of an image.

monoprint A type of surface printing by which an image is made with paint or ink on a surface and then transferred by contact to paper. Only one print can be made of each design.

mosaic An image composed of many small, separate pieces of materials such as clay, glass, marble, or paper.

motif A dominant, usually recurring, idea or element.

movement In visual arts, a principle of art and design concerned with creating a feeling of action or a series of actions and with guiding a viewer's eye through an image.

movement journey An instructional--students move in response to a descriptive narration of an event, journey, or adventure.

movement memory The acquisition and retention of kinesthetic sensation that helps the body remember what a given movement feels like. Also known as muscle memory.

multiplication (serialization) An image-development strategy using repetition or reproduction to create an image or series of images.

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Revised: July 8, 1998

BC Ministry of Education Home Page

illustration	A picture designed to elucidate and decorate a story, poem, or other piece of writing.
image	In visual arts, the term used to describe all visual forms, ranging from a simple mark on paper or on a cave wall to elaborate architectural forms. Images may be representational, abstract, conceptual, performance-related, or functional. They may be 2-D or 3-D, and they may be static or kinetic.
image-development strategies	Processes that transform ideas and experiences into visual images. Image-development strategies include distortion, elaboration, exaggeration, fragmentation, juxtaposition, magnification, metamorphosis, minification, multiplication (serialization), point of view, reproduction, reversal, rotation, and simplification.
impressionism	An art style developed in the 19th century, characterized by representing subject matter with broken colour and soft edges.
improvisation	Movement, dialogue, action, or music that is created spontaneously, ranging from free-form to highly structured (e.g., based on an understanding of a role or within given style parameters), but always with an element of chance. Improvisation allows an artist to bring together elements quickly, and requires focus and concentration.
inner hearing	The internal, mental process of hearing inside the head, related to the cognitive process of audiation.
interval	The distance between two music tones or pitches.
inversion	A change of the relative positions of the notes of a chord, melody, or harmonic interval.
isolation	In dance, moving individual parts of the body independently of others.
jigsaw	An instructional strategy that promotes co-operative learning. It is based on dividing information among students so that they must pool their information to complete a task. There are typically four steps: Students are assigned home groups and are given an overview of the task. Each home group member is given a different part of the task (e.g., a music selection, choreographic piece, or script, each divided into several parts) so that one student in each home group has the same information. The students with the same information then leave their home groups and form an expert group. The expert group members work together to gain sufficient understanding of their skill or information to teach it to others in their respective home groups (e.g., they might relate a sequence of events, choose relevant data, or decide on a main idea). Students return to their home groups, and each expert proceeds to share his or her expertise with the others. The home group is responsible for helping all its members understand the entire content and complete the task.
juxtaposition	An image-development strategy used to place, side by side, two or more images or elements in a way that changes the meaning or effect of each.
kiln	An electric, gas, or wood-fired oven capable of reaching extremely high heat used to fire ceramic or enamelled objects.
landscape	A view of scenery on land, often used as subject matter in visual arts; also refers to the horizontal orientation of a rectangular 2-D image.
language process	An instructional strategy for teaching a set dance or ostinato: Say the steps. Say and do the steps. Whisper and do the steps. Think and do the steps. These steps can be carried out before adding the music.
layout	A sketch of rough ideas or composition plans for an artwork.
lead-and-follow activities	Instructional strategies used for movement exploration in dance or drama, effective in building trust and sensitivity between individuals or within a group. For example: Echoing--the leader makes a movement, and the follower or followers repeat the movement with some change in body shape, tempo, energy, and so on. Flocking--students move in groups, with no set pattern or formation, all doing the same movements simultaneously. Mirroring--two students face each other. Student A initiates the movement, while student B follows, maintaining eye contact as appropriate. Students switch roles after a set period of time. Shadowing--the leader faces away from the follower or followers, who shadow the leader's movement.
line	In visual arts, an element of art and design that pertains to the narrow mark or path of a moving point on the surface or along the contours of an image.
logo	A symbolic form, frequently incorporating letter shapes, that identifies organizations such as businesses, companies, teams, or schools.
loom	A framework or machine for interweaving yarn or thread into a fabric.
magnification	An image-development strategy used to increase the apparent size of some or all of the components in an artwork.
making meaning	Using roles and situations to develop personal and relevant understanding from human experiences.
maquette	A small sculpture made as a trial or sketch for a larger piece.
melody	The arrangement and sequence of pitches.
mentoring	An instructional strategy--students each select (with assistance from teachers or parents, as applicable) an adult from the local community who uses dance, drama, music, or visual arts in the workplace or in her or his life. Ideally students maintain ongoing contact with their mentors, preferably over the course of several years, using them as resource people with whom to share and discuss fine arts concepts and skills and their application in the real world.
metamorphosis	An image-development strategy used to change one form or image into another.
metre	The grouping in which a succession of rhythmic pulses or beats is organized; in standard notation, indicated by a time signature at the beginning of a work (e.g., ).
MIDI	Musical Instrument Digital Interface--standard specifications that enable electronic instruments such as synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, or drum machines to communicate with one another and with computers.
mime	A drama structure involving the presentation of ideas or feelings through movement, without dialogue; also a performer of mime.
minification	An image-development strategy used to decrease the apparent size of an image.
monoprint	A type of surface printing by which an image is made with paint or ink on a surface and then transferred by contact to paper. Only one print can be made of each design.
mosaic	An image composed of many small, separate pieces of materials such as clay, glass, marble, or paper.
motif	A dominant, usually recurring, idea or element.
movement	In visual arts, a principle of art and design concerned with creating a feeling of action or a series of actions and with guiding a viewer's eye through an image.
movement journey	An instructional--students move in response to a descriptive narration of an event, journey, or adventure.
movement memory	The acquisition and retention of kinesthetic sensation that helps the body remember what a given movement feels like. Also known as muscle memory.
multiplication (serialization)	An image-development strategy using repetition or reproduction to create an image or series of images.