- Definition
The "middle ground" in art is the area between the foreground (what's closest to you) and the background (what's furthest away).
In a drawing of a house with a fence in front and mountains behind, the house itself is in the middle ground.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: The middle ground is like the space in the middle of your play scene, behind the toys up close but in front of the wall.
Ask your child: What's happening in the middle of this picture?
Common mix-up: Kids might only notice what's closest or farthest away in a picture. The middle ground is an important layer that connects the foreground and background to create depth.
Examples
- A boat on a lake is in the middle ground if the dock is in the foreground and the far shore is in the background.
- In a drawing of a park, a bench behind the front flowers but in front of the distant trees is in the middle ground.
middle ground 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 ↗
