59
The Elaboration Game
Grade level: All levels
Objectives:
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A routine for careful observation and description
PURPOSE:
THE ELABORATION GAME
1. As a group observe and describe an specific section of the
•
This routine encourages
learners to look carefully and
topic or art work.
2. One person describes what she sees.
Another person
deeply at details. It challenges
elaborates on the first person’s observation by adding more
them to develop verbal
details up to four persons. (Observer only holds on giving
descriptions that are elaborate,
ideas or guidance)
nuanced, and imaginative. It
3. Identify other section of topic or art work and repeat
process with four different persons.
Repeat until whole
group has participated.
also encourages them to
distinguish between
observations and
interpretations by asking them
4. Discuss whole ideas of topic or work. Interpret.
to withhold their ideas about
the artwork.
Tips:
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This routine is pretty much self-starting.
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Give learners lots of "think time"
•
Discuss whole ideas of topic or work. Interpret