Core Skills Analysis
Media Art
- Identified and described at least three distinct graffiti styles (e.g., tags, throw‑ups, murals) and their visual features.
- Connected the historical origins of street art (such as the 1970s New York scene) to contemporary cultural messages.
- Interpreted symbols, colour choices, and text in street artworks, building visual literacy and critical thinking.
- Discussed how street art interacts with public spaces, considering community values, permission, and audience impact.
Tips
To deepen understanding, have the child create a personal street‑art sketch that reflects a story or cause they care about, then present the meaning to the family. Follow up with a neighborhood walk (or virtual map tour) to locate different styles and record observations in a photo journal. Invite a local artist (in‑person or via video call) to talk about their creative process and the ethics of public art. Finally, integrate a short research project where the child compares street art in two cultures, noting how history and social issues shape the visual language.
Book Recommendations
- Graffiti: Street Art from Around the World by Kiri Evans: A colourful showcase of global street‑art works with simple explanations that inspire young readers to explore their own creative ideas.
- Kid's Book of Street Art by Melissa Sweet: An engaging introduction to street art history, key artists, and hands‑on projects that let kids try safe, paper‑based versions of graffiti techniques.
- The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti by Rosa Maria Martins: A visual travel guide that maps famous murals and tags, providing cultural context and fun facts suitable for curious nine‑year‑olds.
Learning Standards
- ACAMAM064 – Investigate and reflect on the ideas, values and meanings that shape the creation and interpretation of media artworks.
- ACAMAM065 – Use a range of media, materials, techniques and processes to create artworks.
- ACAMAR066 – Explore ways artists communicate ideas, feelings, and narratives through visual language.
- ACHASSK093 – Recognise that people’s cultural expressions, such as art, reflect their values and histories (Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences).
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Match images of graffiti to their style names (tag, throw‑up, mural, stencil).
- Quiz: 5 multiple‑choice questions on key dates, cities, and artists mentioned in the PowerPoint.
- Drawing task: Design a personal tag and write a short artist statement explaining its meaning.
- Writing prompt: Describe how a specific piece of street art you saw makes you feel and why.