Online art activity guides
Out of the BAG is a series of online art activities for families, teachers and individuals to engage in creativity. Inspired by the BAG’s Permanent Collection, our arts instructors have developed projects for all ages and abilities that you can try at home or in the class.
Each activity is available in a downloadable PDF format and uses materials that are easily sourced.
Art capsules
Designed to engage children's exploration of materials and techniques.
In this exercise, students will create an image of a cherry tree blossoming in spring exploring a variety of art materials, the use of colour and tactile experimentation through art-making.
Age group: Kindergarten-Grade 4
Program length: 30-45 minutes
Create a tactile colour wheel to introduce the science of colour mixing. Combine primary-coloured playdough (red/blue/yellow) to create secondary and tertiary colours in a fun hands-on and educational experience.
Age group: Kindergarten-Grade 4 & Grade 4-7
Program length: 30-45 minutes
Art modules
This guide provides information and an activity lesson plan to inspire students to explore artistic creation and to learn about artist Iain Baxter& and his playful but conceptually-driven work. Bagged Day-Glo Oranges is typical of his work at the time that included ‘bagged’ artistic objects like oranges, landscape-based artwork, and even a ‘bagged’ apartment. This work is lighthearted and even humorous, but also has social commentary that still resonates today, at a time when bags and plastics surround us and have serious environmental implications. Bagged Day-Glo Oranges is part of Burnaby Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection.
Age group: Grades 1-5
Program length: 45-60 minutes
This guide provides a lesson and activity to inspire students to explore artistic creation and learn about Canadian artist Ann McCall and her colourful and layered work. Forest and Fauna #1 is part of a larger group of Faune et Forêt (or Fauna and Forest) artworks that combine elements of the two natural realms, into a series of engaging prints. The subject matter underscores McCall’s longstanding interest in the natural world and environmental concerns. Forest and Fauna #1 is part of the Burnaby Art Gallery’s Education Collection.
Age group: Grades 1-5
Program length: 45-60 minutes
This guide provides information and an activity lesson plan to inspire students to learn about Vancouver artist Al Neil and to explore a variety of artistic media in a personalized way. The highlighted artwork, Correspondence #4, is an example of Neil’s multidisciplinary approach to artistic practice, and is part of Burnaby Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection.
Age group: Grades 2-7
Program length: 60 minutes
Art explorations
This guide provides information and activity lesson plans to inspire students to learn more about art-making through the work of Torrie Groening. The highlighted artworks are in the Burnaby Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection and are part of a larger series of the artist’s printed work that focuses on senses. Through observation and experimentation, students will use their own senses in unusual and unique ways outside a classroom or gallery setting.
Age group: Grades 3-7
Program length: 90-120 minutes
Using Henry Fox Talbot’s and Brad McMurray’s work as a foundation, students are introduced to the history of photography, its contemporary relevance, and will create their own photography-influenced art projects including a camera obscura.
Age group: Grades 4-7
Program length: 120 minutes
For the extended version of these programs, please select from the following PDFs: