America’s Signs & Symbols

Artists use familiar icons such as the Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and the American flag to communicate their ideas about American culture and encourage examination of our society.

Videoconference presenters show American artworks from the museum’s collection using green screen. Through inquiry-based questions and discussion, presenters engage with participants as they explore artworks together.

Videoconferences can touch on one or more of the following standards

National

Visual Arts
• K-12.7: Perceive and analyze artistic work
• K-12.8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work
• K-12.11: Relate artistic ideas and works from a variety of sources with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding

Historical Thinking
• K-12.2: Draw upon the visual data presented in photographs, paintings, cartoons, and architectural drawings to clarify, illustrate, or elaborate upon information presented in the historical narrative, and appreciate and consider past historical perspectives
• K-12.4: Obtain and interrogate historical data from a variety of sources, including library and museum collections, in order to formulate historical questions from encounters with art and other records from the past

U.S. History
• 5-12, Era 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s)
• 5-12, Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)

Civics
• K-4.2: Basic Values and Principles of American Democracy

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts/Literacy, College and Career Readiness

Standards have been slightly modified to expand the definition of "text" to include artworks.

Reading
• R.1: Read closely to determine what the [artwork] says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific [visual] evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the [artwork].
• R.2: Determine central ideas or themes of a[n artwork] and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
• R.6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a[n artwork].
• R.7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
• R.9: Analyze how two or more [artworks] address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the [artists] take.

Speaking and Listening
• SL.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
• SL.2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
• SL.3: Evaluate a speaker’s [or an artist’s] point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
• SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.