Think about a time when you received feedback. Were you excited to hear from others about ways to improve yourself or your work or annoyed that someone was trying to correct you?

Feedback can be tricky, but Maury 2nd graders are getting a head start on the best ways to give and receive that ‘tough-to-hear’ criticism.

As expert “Insect Inspectors” during our realistic drawing unit, these kiddos studied the ins and outs of some rare insect species. Poisonous grasshoppers, majestic butterflies, bizarre beetles and the deadliest of spiders crept onto the practice pages of our sketchbooks as students patiently engaged in the creation of multiple drafts in preparation for their final masterpieces.

8-8 Butterfly

Christmas Beetle

Black Widow Spider

Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper

After creating a series of drafts, three to be exact, students learned to apply direct and specific feedback given by their peers during mid-process critique, in order to improve their realistic drawings each go round.

Things like, “expand the wings longer,” “include thick and thin lines in the details,” and “make your wings more triangular,” were the kinds of specific and direct feedback that led to such amazing growth throughout this unit.

Students were brave and receptive when hearing how to improve. They knew that the advice was aimed to make them better artists and not petty put downs from their classmates.

The ability to listen and apply feedback not only made our second graders better drawers, they became better scientists, observers of the world, and better overall humans!

Our artists all started at varying skill levels. Come to think of it, realistic drawing isn’t even something elementary kids should spent too much time focusing on. In the early years, art is about creativity and exploration but by framing this unit around peer feedback, we were able to get some fantastic results! Check out some of the finished products! Wow!

Next time you are asked to give or receive feedback, think of us, and spread your wings!