1.  In its current state, students can use this site to view a limited selection of
  Teachers            artworks chosen by United States schoolchildren to represent the art of several
                                countries across the globe.  The images are linked to sites that give more
                                background information on the artist and the piece.

  Curriculum          2.  The true objective, however, is for students to submit images of the cultural
  Guidelines           icons that mean the most to them.  Teachers can begin by leading students in
                               thinking about familiar artists and artworks.  Some coaching will almost certainly be
                               necessary, but it is the responsibility of the teacher to let the students lead the
                               conversation as much as possible.  The teacher might begin by giving students some
                               illustrated art books to look at, and might ask them to suggest artists with whom
                               they are most familiar.  Some further questions might include:

                                        --Can you name a famous piece in the local art museum?
                                        --Have you seen a poster of an image you think is important?
                                        --Can you think of an image that makes you think of _________?
                                             (insert various themes you have been discussing in class: Love,
                                             Patriotism, Bravery, Beauty, War, Religion, Family)

                               Try to avoid more directed questions (Have any of you ever heard of the Mona
                               Lisa?) if possible.

                            3.  Ask students why those pieces are important to them, and to what extent they
                               think these pieces represent their history and culture.  Guide students in writing a
                               group essay, or compile the thoughts of individual students.

                            4.  Submit the choices of their students via the submission form, along with student
                               comments.  The submission form includes such questions as:

                                         --What is the name of this well-known art piece, created by an artist from
                                                your country?
                                         --What year was the piece created?
                                         --Who is the artist?
                                         --When did he or she live?  In what city or province?
                                         --Why is this artist important to you?  What associations does this work have
                                               in your culture?

                                It will also be very important to have the permission to post images on the website.
                                Please contact the operators of the website where we can find this image, and ask
                                them for permission to reproduce it for educational purposes.  Further information
                                and sample letters are available at the following website:

                                We will need to have a copy of such a letter submitted along with your image.  You
                                may also send a GIF or JPEG image, but this must have a signed letter from the
                                source through which you found it authorizing its reproduction.  Write for help if
                                you are having trouble receiving such permission, at:          jenzuk@aol.com
                                We will do all we can to prevent any possible copyright infringement, but beyond
                                these measures any infringements are the responsibility of the submitting teacher,
                                and the World Art Web operators, the WIT program, and those associated with its
                                publication are not responsible for copyright infringement.

                               5.  In the final stage, students can explore the submissions of other schools, which
                               will be posted to the website. Teachers can ask first if the students were surprised
                               by the selections, and ask what the students themeselves might have considered
                               important pieces from those cultures.  Teachers can then review what the choices
                               of students around the globe reveal about their respective cultures.
                               Some possible directions:

                                       --Have students focused on particular themes?  (War, Patriotism,
                                            Beauty, Family, Commerce)
                                       --What do you know about the history or circumstances of that culture
                                            that might explain why those themes are important to them?
                                       --What media have their artists worked in?  Does the medium relate to
                                            the climate or natural resources of the area?
                                       --Do the figures in the artwork look like you imagine the people in that
                                            country to look?
                                      --How do you think the people in that culture see themselves?  Do you
                                            see them the same way?
                                      --What do you think those students would think of your art choices?  What
                                            would they assume about you?

                             6.  When a number of schools have submitted their choices, a message board will be
                             set up so that students can react to one anothers' choices.  Teachers can post their
                             students' responses to other classes' choices.  Students will have the chance to see if
                             their assumptions about other cultures seem accurate to the people being profiled, and
                             students can gain insight into the way in which others perceive them, as well.