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III. 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.