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II. Visual Literacy © 2006 Nancy Polette 

1. MYTH: 
Constant exposure to a fact or concept means that one will learn it. 
A. Does the head on a penny face right or left? 
B. Does the Statue of Liberty hold her torch in her right or left hand? 
C. When you fold your arms, which hand is tucked in? 
D. When you clasp your hands, which thumb is on top?

2. Looking at illustrations: Key questions to use in interpreting an artist's purpose. 
A. LINE: What lines indicate stillness? (vertical/horizontal). What lines show movement? (diagonal). What lines 
are repeated? 
B. COLOR: Where are the darkest colors? Lightest colors? What feelings do we associate with dark and light colors? Is color used to foreshadow coming action? 
C. SHAPE/SIZE: What is the largest item in the print? The smallest? How does size show distance? Is size used to indicate what is most important in the print? 
D. FRAMES: Are any objects framed in the print? Why?

3. Outstanding books to promote visual literacy: 
Agee, John. The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau. Farrar, 1988. 
Anno. Anno's Journey, Anno's Britain, Anno's U.S.A. Philomel, 1986-88. 
Polette, Nancy. The Hole by the Apple Tree. Greenwillow, 1992. 
Rockwell, Anne. Albert B Cub and Zebra. Crowell, 1977.

CREATIVE THINKING
OBJECTIVE: To define productive thinking processes and explore methods for stimulating students' productive thinking ability.

Fluency: 

The ability to make many responses.

Flexibility: 

Finding new categories. Stretching the mind beyond the expected response. How can you group the items you named under fluency?

Originality: 

Responding in new or original ways. What group and/or items did you name that no one else named?

Elaboration: 

Adding details to make a product more complete. 

Planning: 

Determining a task to be done, the steps to take, materials needed and possible problems. 

Forecasting: 

Determining cause and effect. 

Decision Making and Problem Solving 

A. Examine the facts 
B. State the problem 
C. List alternatives 
> D. List criteria for judging alternatives 
E. Score alternatives on a decision grid 
F. State solution

Evaluation: 

Making a judgment based on evidence.