
Thomas Hudson, The Radcliffe Family, about 1742. 126 in. x 174 in. Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, 2019.7
Instructions:
- Have children practice posing their bodies at different levels (high, medium, low).
- Introduce the idea of a space bubble around their body so children practice keeping their hands and feet to themselves during this activity.
- Have children practice the different levels by asking them to make certain shapes.
- Make a low curvy shape with your body.
- Make a high pointy shape with your body.
- As children are making their shapes, call out what you notice. Ex: “I see low curvy arms.”
- Choose a work of art with a variety of figures.
- Ask children one at a time to pick a figure and stand like they are.
- Once a group of children are posed like the image, have the other children in the audience make observations.
Guided Questions:
- What do you see?
- If this person could say one word, what might it be?
- Where do you see different levels and shapes?
*This Creative Classroom Idea was written by Lauren Dennis, a collaborator in Early Childhood learning at the Denver Public Library.
TIP: You can also use this activity with books- choose one part of the story for children to make a frozen picture. They can also make a tableau of what happened before and after the moment you are focused on, supporting an understanding of sequencing in a story.
Related Creative Activities

Ten Times Two

Materials Matter
Children will explore the movement and texture of fabric and other materials through hands-on group and individual activities. They will then make an all-class fabric “sculpture” and share their creation with others through pictures.

Family Stories
This lesson focuses on Roxanne Swentzell’s sculpture Mud Woman Rolls On to evoke thoughts about families and their stories. Students create their own picture story about family.

What Does Mud Have to Do With It?
Students learn about using common materials from the earth to create art. After spending time examining the materials used by Roxanne Swentzell and learning about her process and intent for Mud Woman Rolls On, students experiment with dirt, sand, water, and straw to gain a real world experience using materials like those used by the artist.

Dancing the Colors of Birds
Through interaction with Ason Yellowhair’s Bird and Cornstalk Rug, the students will explore colors and rhythm through storytelling and dance.

Bumpy, Lumpy and Special
Children will learn how things that are bumpy, lumpy, and not necessarily “perfect” are often just as special as things that seem smooth and “perfect.” They will have an opportunity to explore the idea that imperfection is still important and beautiful (wabi sabi).