Art Trivia Incentive System

Jo-Anne Kuchmak, Lower School Art Teacher
One of my favourite classroom incentive systems is something I call Art Trivia (my students like to call it, “Are you smarter than Ms. K?”). It encourages the boys to participate orally and collaborate as a team while they test their art knowledge.
At the end of most classes following clean-up, the boys tuck in their stools and hop on to the desks in the studio. As a team (each table has an artist name as their team name), the boys are asked a number of questions that are based on art history facts they have learned, color theory concepts and facts about art history movements.

The boys must come up with the answers as team (everyone has to know the answer), once each member knows the answer the team races to put their hands up. Quietest teams are chosen and points are given out accordingly. Most times answers are shared orally, however, for longer answer question, the boys are asked to write our their response. Points can be given to all groups if all teams have worked hard together to come up with the answer.

All classes participate in this system, as we all have a fun time answering trivia like questions while sitting on desks. Teams within classes win based on which team has accumulated the most points per term. The class who accumulates the greatest number of points over all other classes wins as a whole class. Prizes awarded include cool art supplies and hockey, baseball and Pokeman trading cards.

Occasionally we even get faculty members involved. Ms. Whittaker, Mr. Bell and other teachers in the Lower School have all participated in this incentive system. It’s a light, fun way to engage, review and work as a team in the art studio.
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