- Definition
Substitution is when you change something about an everyday object to make it look or feel funny or surprising, like a teacup made of fur.
The artist Méret Oppenheim's famous sculpture of a teacup covered in fur is a classic example of substitution.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Substitution is like taking a normal object, like a shoe, and imagining it's made of something totally unexpected, like Jell-O.
Ask your child: If you could remake your phone out of any material, what would be the weirdest choice?
Common mix-up: A common mix-up is thinking substitution is just changing an object's color. The goal is to swap a core quality, like its texture or material, to create a surprising or unsettling feeling.
Examples
- A drawing of a soft, squishy hammer.
- A sculpture of a chair made entirely of sharp spikes.
- A couch that looks like it's made of bricks.
substitution 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 ↗
