Illustrated idioms - Integrating the curriculum

Arts & Activities, April, 2003 by Karen Skophammer

MATERIALS

* Resource books or Internet access

* 12" x 18" white paper

* Watercolor and tempera paints

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* learn the origins of idioms.

* successfully depict an idiom of choice by drawing it on paper.

* successfully paint the idiom.

* look at classmates' work and guess which idiom was illustrated.

* understand that there are different forms of speech that can be confusing.

* realize some of the challenges that advertising and book artists run into when trying to convey a message.

Were speak and write to convey messages to Following the standards of the English language helps others understand what you are trying to say. However, there are some "problem areas" in the English language that can complicate communication.

One of the areas used often in the English language is the use of idioms. Idioms are combinations of words that have a special meaning when used together. For instance, "spilling the beans" means to reveal a secret to someone who isn't supposed to know it. If the words are taken literally, however, they mean to spill some beans from a container.

Idioms appear in every language. In order to understand them, you need to know what the idioms in that language mean. You need to know the "hidden" meaning Imagine how confusing our language full of idioms would be to a person from another country! I realized that I used idioms when speaking to my third- and fourth-graders. (My grandmother was always using them, so I thought everyone knew the meanings of the idioms I used.) My students became really interested in what all these idioms meant, so I developed an art/language unit on the usage of idioms, that would be appropriate for nearly any grade level.

My students looked up the meanings and origins of many idioms. They giggled and discussed the meanings they were finding. The Internet and language-arts books were good sources for finding the idioms.

Each student chose an idiom to illustrate. They were asked to illustrate the idiom's literal meaning on 11" x 18" paper. They sketched the idiom and then used water-based paints to complete the illustrations. I told them to approach this like they were advertising executives trying to gain the attention of people. Their idioms were to be illustrated so that they would capture the attention of audiences of all ages.

When finished, the student typed an explanation for his or her idiom, including the accepted origins of that idiom. These explanations were looked up on the Internet, although some students got explanations from grandparents, too. This written description was displayed along with the illustrated painting of the idiom. The kids had a great time with this "advertising unit" and wanted to know if we could do more idioms. They were "hooked."

Karen Skophammer teaches art for the Manson Northwest Webster Schools in Barnum and Manson, Iowa.