Rebekah Groh

ARU 440: Art Criticism Final Project

POPCORN: A Response Activity

Popcorn is an interactive game I have created as an entry or exit activity. It can be

adjusted for all age groups. I will describe it for a middle ground, middle school grade level.
The idea is to introduce students to ten Popcorn words at a time. These words would
include a mix of descriptive words, formal and expressive. I would have the current ten words
displayed on a board. These words, current or pass may be used by the students to help assist
them in interpreting a piece of art work.
The game, student break up into groups (5-10 in a group). The starter yells popcorn and
tosses the oversized popcorn kernel to another student. The student who catches the kernel picks
a popcorn word and hands the kernel to student to the right. That student then makes a
connection using the word to the piece of artwork. After doing this they yell popcorn and the
game continues. A student may only sit down after saying a word and making a connection.
Incentive to catch the kernel, if you drop it, you have to give two connections and words. The
students continue until the last student makes a connection.
The game is followed up by a worksheet, this ensures the students pay attention to the
activity as a whole. The worksheet ask students to pick two different classmates responses and
answer two questions in three to five sentences each. The questions are to state the word and
why they agree with the student and the other is, to state another word and why they disagree
with that connection.
This game is to engage student in criticism in a playful manner. It is to be a quick
activity to get them use to talking about art. I want the students to realize there is no right or
wrong answer as long as they can back up their statement. They will ultimately see that different

people have different interpretations and no one is necessarily the right one. This activity will
encourage the use of their new vocabulary while helping their own word bank grow.