The Ruskin Foundation - How to See

Curriculum Links / QCA Schemes of Work

Science - Key Stage 2

Green Plants
Changing Materials

Science - Key Stage 3

Physical Changes
Geological Changes

QCA Schemes of Work

1B – Investigating Materials (Art and Design)
1B – Growing Plants (Science)
3D – Rocks and Soils (Science)
3F – Light and Shadow (Science)
8A – Objects and viewpoints (Art and Design)

Bits of Information

In Ruskin’s many books he wrote extensively about the importance of visual literacy. He focuses upon a number of underlying principles which we wish to promote in an accessible form, hence the creation of the comic. The comics’ main messages are as follows:

• Everything has a story: appearances reflect a life history which the eye can read
• Everything is related: a rock is a mountain in miniature
• Imagination reveals the invisible: what you can see unlocks what you can’t
• Seeing how things change helps you to see into the future
• Perspective: your point of view determines what you see
• Things seen clearly can speak to the human spirit of something sacred

There is no one Ruskin book that contains all these ideas. Rather these are ideas scattered throughout his many books.

The comic illustrations have been created by the British artist Hunt Emerson. Hunt is one of the top graphic artists. He has previously worked for the Beano as well as creating a range of other comics and graphic novels.

Classroom Activities

• Make a Flick Book – Taking the theme of how everything in nature is in a state of changefulness get the pupils to look at pages in the comic showing how trees and mountains change over time. Get the pupils to make a series of drawings showing a plant or tree changing over time. These series of drawings will need to be made on small square bits of paper. The drawings when complete can be stapled together into a flick book. Alternatively the images can be scanned into a computer and animated as a sequence in a programme such as PowerPoint. When the programme is run the images will show the changes.
• Patterns in Nature – Go outside and get pupils to collect leaves from some trees. (Note which leaves come from which trees.) Get the pupils to study their leaf through a magnifier. Next get them to make a careful observational drawing of the leaves clearly showing the shape of the leaves, and the pattern of the veins in the leaf. Next return to outside and do a careful observational drawing of the tree itself, showing the patterns of the branches. Now compare the leaf drawing to the tree drawing. Are there any similarities? Can you find any other similar patterns in nature? On the internet or in books get the pupils to look at aerial photos of rivers, or use maps. Are there any similar patterns?

Trigger Questions / Discussions

1. In the comic Ruskin says “What you see depends on your point of view”. What exactly does this mean? Can you think of examples?
2. In the comic there is a page showing a whole series of people on one page, with different labels on. Why is it sometimes bad to give people ‘labels’ or make assumptions about them before getting to know them? Sometimes appearances may be deceptive. What do you think this might mean in terms of looking at people?
3. In pairs take on the role of either Ruskin or Darren. The Ruskin character has to argue and reason for the importance of looking. The Darren character has to think of questions or examples that might challenge Ruskin’s ideas. At the end of this discuss your own thoughts about looking and seeing.

Website Links and Other Resources

To find out more about the brilliant Hunt Emerson who did all the wonderful artwork in the comic go to his website at;
www.largecow.demon.co.uk

For great instructions on making a flick book go to;
www.accessart.org.uk/drawingtogether/flickworksheet

For a thought provoking book about patterns in nature read;
What Shape is a Snowflake? Magical Numbers in Nature – Ian Stewart