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Lesson · Grade 4 · Arts Education

Symbols and Metaphor: When a Picture Stands for an Idea

  • Grade 4
  • Arts Education
  • 1 min 6 s
  • British Columbia
  • BC4-AR-10

A heart, a broken chain and a rising sun show how a symbol stands for an idea, and a white robe shows that the same colour can mean a wedding in some cultures and a funeral in others. A plain face under a storm cloud and then under the sun shows a visual metaphor, and at the end viewers read a small picture that puts the symbols together to mean freedom and hope.

Concept: Symbols and metaphor in art: when a picture stands for an idea

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In one sentence

The question this lesson answers

How can a picture show an idea you cannot see, like love or hope?

A symbol is a picture that stands for an idea, like a heart for love.

Transcript

What the lesson says

How can a picture show an idea you cannot see, like love or hope?

A symbol is a picture that stands for an idea, like a heart for love.

A broken chain can stand for freedom, and a rising sun for hope.

Colours can be symbols too, and different people read them in different ways.

In some cultures white is worn at weddings, and in others at funerals.

A visual metaphor shows one thing as another, like a mood shown as weather.

A storm cloud over someone can show that they feel angry or gloomy.

Swap the storm for sunshine, and the same face now seems cheerful.

Now read this picture: what idea does it show?

The broken chains and the rising sun suggest freedom and hope.

Symbols and metaphors let a picture stand for an idea.

Curriculum

Where this fits

British Columbia, Grade 4

Arts Education, Arts in general: symbolism and metaphor create and represent meaningBC4-AR-10

British Columbia, Grade 5

Arts Education, Arts in general: symbolism and metaphor to explore ideas and perspectiveBC5-AR-12

British Columbia, Grade 6

Arts Education, Arts in general: symbolism and metaphor to explore ideas and perspectiveBC6-AR-08

British Columbia, Grade 7

Arts Education, Arts in general: symbolism and metaphor to explore ideas and perspectiveBC7-AR-12

This lesson is also listed in Grade 5, Grade 6 and Grade 7.

The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.

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