Jardines de la Villa de los Medici by Diego Velázquez. Narrative writing

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/45MyB11759AoPTGA8

Activity shared by Carmen Arias:

I would use the picture I chose for the padlet "Jardines de la Villa de los Medici" by D. Velázquez. For me this is a very misterious painting, the atmosphere of this Villa.

I would use it for producing narrative writings in groups. We could call it Collabotative Writing.

First speaking:

-for description: 

"What can you see?" 

-and for speculation:

 What do you think is happenning? 

 What are the people doing? 

 What can there be behind those doors? 

After description and speculation, in groups , we can start a circle writing.

In groups of 5 or 6 students, the idea is to produce a COMPOSITION (narrative, descriptive...)  through micro writing . The teacher provides the beginning for each writer : intro for the first ( It was a cool bright morning in...  ) 

Depending on what kind of thext you want them to write , you give different beginnins to the rest. The last one closes with a summary, conclusion... whatever the teacher decides.

Each student writes only one sentence following what the previous one wrote. There is a specific timing (e.g. 3 minutes for each one and then they have to pass on the piece of paper for the next to go on). Then the class has 3/4  different writings and in big group they give a title to each writng .

After description and speculation, in groups , we can start a circle writing ...and then all together in big group, give a title of the 4 / 5 writings produced.

For me this has always been a very misterious painting... Velazquez went to Italy and he did not paint any of the opulent properties the Medicis owned , but this semi ruined door, like an abandoned place, but at the same time there are soldiers and some kind of work in progress... to demolish it? to repair it? 

Moreover , it is an impresionist painting in the XVII century.... Velázquez was a genius!