Westward Expansion Mural: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Thinking

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Westward Expansion Mural An Interdisciplinary
Approach to Thinking
Benton, T. (1947). Achelous and Hercules.
Smithsonian American Art Museum. 1985.2
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Model Lesson

• Understanding Goal
• Perception is built by knowledge and
  experiences.

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Investigative Question

• How are humans interdependent with nature?

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Introduction Looking and Reflecting

• Look closely at this mural.
• Mural from Smithsonian American Art Museum
• What do you see?
• Whats happening here?
• What questions do you have?
• Write down something that strikes you about this
  mural.

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Introduction Looking and Reflecting

• Step 2 Reflect
• How do your answers reflect your own knowledge
  and experience?

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Investigation Choose an Exploration
Artist 1 Shape 2 Line 3 Color
Author 1 America 2 Paul Bunyon 3 Achelous
the Beautiful and Hercules
Social Scientist 1 Logging 2 Sioux Indians
3 Millions of Acres
Scientist 1 Flood 2 Boulder Dam 3
Plantation
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Share your Exploration

• Share your exploration and resource.
• Describe the new things that you saw in the mural
  after your exploration.

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Formal Assessment

• Discuss What message could this mural express
  about human interdependence with nature? What
  makes you say that?
• Reflect What questions do you have now?
• What did you learn about yourself through this
  activity?

Benton, T. (1947). Achelous and Hercules.
Smithsonian American Art Museum. 1985.2
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