Exhibition Education Programs
The Decorative Experience
Social Studies, Art — Grades K-122
Time required: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Arranged geographically
by continent, beautiful art objects from the world over illustrate ways of life,
religious beliefs, aesthetic concepts, trade, natural resources and materials science, and history. Carved wood
furniture, containers, and sculptures; woven baskets from many lands and peoples; colorful textiles used as
clothing and floor coverings; ceramic figures and vessels; shiny glass and metal objects of many kinds emphasize
the ingenuity and creativity of peoples everywhere.
The diversity of works, media, geographic origin, and cultural groups represented allows many different ways of using the exhibition. For example, elementary students can explore the visual arts through elements of art and principles of design, comparing and contrasting different media. The natural environment and natural resources can be the springboard for identifying various ways that peoples around the world exploit their resources and change materials to meet everyday needs. For example, the Native American art section reflects the resources of different regions of the Americas, as well as trade, economy, and adaptations to European influences.
History can be viewed through an examination of works from a particular region or country, for example,
the Asian section of the exhibit includes Chinese objects that span 2,000 years of that country’s history,
illustrating trade, government, technology change, and religion.
The status and role of individuals can be seen in the ownership and use of items from Asian, African, and American peoples. Symbols of belief, social status, and ethnic identity appear on many objects.
Tennessee Social studies curriculum: Standards – Culture, Economics, Geography, History, Individuals, Groups and Interactions
- K – 1.02, 1.03, 5.01, 6.01
- 1st – 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.01, 2.03, 3.03
- 2nd – 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 2.03, 5.02, 6.02
- 3rd – 1.01, 1.02, 1.04, 2.02, 2.03, 5.02, 5.02
- 4th 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 5.03, 5.11
- 5th – 1.02, 1.03, 2.04, 3.01, 5.03, 5.04, 6.02
- 6th – 6.1.spi.1, 6.1.spi.2, 6.1.spi.3, 6.1.spi.5, 6.1.spi.8; 6.2.spi.1, 6.2.spi.2, 6.2.spi.5, 6.2.spi.6; 6.3.spi.3; 6.4.spi.1, 6.4.spi.4; 6.5.spi.3, 6.5.spi.4, 6.5.spi.5, 6.5.spi.6, 6.5.spi.11, 6.5.spi.12, 6.5.spi.13, 6.5.spi.15, 6.5.spi.16; 6.6.spi.1, 6.6.spi.2, 6.6.spi.3
- 7th – 7.1.spi.1, 7.1.spi.3; 7.2.spi.1, 7.2.spi.2; 7.3.spi.9, 7.3.spi.19; 7.4.spi.4; 7.5.spi.1, 7.5.spi.2; 7.6.spi.2
- 8th – 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 2.03, 3.05, 5.02, 5.14, 6.02
- World history, high school – 1.2, 1.3, 5.3, 5.4, 5.4, 5.9, 5.10
- World geography, high school – 1.1, 1.3
Tennessee Visual arts curriculum: Standards – Structures and Functions, Evaluation, Historical and Cultural Relationships, Interdisciplinary Connections
- 1st – 3.3, 4.1, 6.2
- 2nd – 2.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.1
- 3rd – 2.3, 3.3, 4.1
- 4th – 2.3, 3.3, 4.1, 6.2
- 5th – 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 6.2
- 6-8 – 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 6.2
- 9-12 and art history – 1.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2