- Definition
A gallery walk is when students move around the classroom to look at and discuss each other's work, like they're in an art gallery, to share ideas and learn from one another.
Students move in small groups to different posters around the room, writing their answer to a question on each poster.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A gallery walk is like visiting a museum where everyone gets to leave sticky notes with their thoughts on the art for others to read.
Ask your child: If you could add a comment to this picture, what would you write?
Common mix-up: Kids might think a gallery walk is just a quiet tour of classroom art. The key is that it's interactive: students write down their thoughts at each stop and then read and build on what their classmates wrote.
Examples
- After everyone has written a comment, groups walk around again to read what other students thought about the artwork.
- Each station has a different artist's work, and students write down what feeling the art gives them.
- Students look at a sculpture and add a sticky note with one question they have about it.
gallery walk is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
