- Definition
Manipulation means using your hands or feet to control an object, like throwing a ball, catching it, or holding onto it.
A puppeteer pulling strings to make a marionette walk and wave is an example of manipulation.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Manipulation in art is like using your hands to make a puppet move and tell a story.
Ask your child: How would you handle a puppet to show it is happy or scared?
Common mix-up: Kids might think manipulation means tricking people. In art, manipulation is the skillful and creative handling of objects or materials like clay or puppets.
Examples
- A sculptor pressing and shaping a piece of wet clay to form a bowl.
- Folding a piece of paper into a specific shape, like in origami.
- Using software to stretch or change the colors in a digital photograph.
manipulation 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 ↗
