PART III: STUDENT/FAMILY WORKSHEET

HOMECOMING

Your child has learned about a work of art by Romare Bearden called Return of the Prodigal Son. Ask him or her to tell you about it.

Bearden's work is about family, and the love and support that it provides its members. He believed that family is always welcoming, always forgiving, and always willing to help each other change their lives for the better. Bearden felt that one of the most important aspects of life and culture is ritual–the many customs, ceremonies, and beliefs that are part of everyday life and that help to bond family members together.

FAMILY PROJECT

1. Choose a family tradition or event that everyone enjoys–it could be a holiday, a reunion, a visit to a special place, etc.
   
   
2. The student who brought home the worksheet can then create a work of art on another blank sheet of paper, illustrating that tradition or event. He or she can use any materials or combination of materials (e.g. crayons, markers, pencils, photographs, images or words cut from magazines or newspapers, and anything else you can think of!).
   
   
3. Any other family member who wants to can add to the artwork!
   
   
4. When the work is completed, help your child write a paragraph describing the activity. Each family member could add one or two sentences. Write the paragraph in the space below.
   
   
5. Your child's teacher will combine all of the pictures and paragraphs in a book that will be sent home to each family.

DATE DUE: ________________________________

This worksheet is part of a packet that was published for use in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery's Looking and Learning program, a component of ARTStart.