Methods of Assessing Background Knowledge

Standard 1050-04 – Fifth Grade Utah Core Curriculum – Fine Arts - Music

Objective 1050-0401: Compare the arts of different cultures to explore their similarities and diversities

First Background Knowledge Assessment

The first background knowledge assessment presented for this objective is an Interest inventory which can include the following questions:

1.	Have you ever been to an art museum?
2.	Have you ever gone to a dance performance?
3.	Have you ever traveled outside of the United States?
4.	Have you ever seen or participated in Native American dances?
5.	How many different types of art are you familiar with?
6.	What is your favorite type of art?
7.	Have you ever eaten at a Mexican, Chinese, or other type of ethnic restaurant? What did the interior look like? What art was there?
8.	Have you ever been to an art festival or show? What did you see? (An example might be the Art Festival Easter weekend in St. George)
9.	If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
10.	Which culture would you like to learn about?
11.	Where do your ancestors come from?
12.	What culture do you already know a lot about?
13.	Can you think of books you’ve read about another culture?
14.	What are some of your favorite foods and where did they come from originally?
15.	Which is your favorite cartoon character and what culture might that character be a part?
16.	What is your favorite animal? Where does it come from?
17.	What culture do you know very little about?
18.	Have you ever participated in any folk dances? If so, where were they from?
19.	What cities have you visited? What different cultures did you see there?
20.	Have you ever been to a live theater performance?
21.	What type of dancing have you done? Folk? Ballet? Jazz? Etc.?
22.	What types of music do you like?
23.	What type of artwork have you done? Charcoal? Watercolor? Pencil? Pottery? Etc.?
24.	Have you ever been in a play or theater production? What was it?

The second background knowledge assessment presented for this objective is the use of K-W-L Strategy Sheet which could be carried out as follows:

Step 1:	Students divide up into groups according to the six continents, excluding Antarctica and including Polynesia with Australia
Step 2:	Students work in their groups with a K-W-L strategy sheet for the arts of all or part of that continent, indicating what they already know and what they want to learn.
Step 3	Class rejoins and discusses the K-W-L strategy sheets from each group. Time is then allowed for regrouping to see if other ideas want to be added to the sheets.

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