The Backwoods of America: Connecting Art to the Arkansas 5th Grade Core Curriculum
This is a guiding tool created for teachers to connect students to art based on the Arkansas 5th Grade Core Curriculum.
The Backwoods of America
Creator: Jasper Francis Cropsey
Date Created: 1858
The Backwoods of America (1858) by Jasper Francis CropseyCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art
What do you infer is happening in this picture? What is your evidence to support your inference?
What can you infer is the time of day and season in the picture? What is your evidence to support that inference?
Take a few minutes reviewing the art piece. Write down some observations and wonders you have while looking at this piece.
Choose one object. Describe the object in as much detail as you can.
One way the artist is drawing your attention to the art is through highlighting.
One way the artist is drawing your attention to the art is through highlighting.
Why is the home highlighted while the areas around it are dark? What could the painter be suggesting?
As we are zooming in, what else do you notice?
How many people can you see?
As we are zooming in, what else do you notice?
How many people can you see?
As we are zooming in, what else do you notice?
How many people can you see?
A system is a group of related parts that carry out functions its individual parts cannot. Can you find some examples of systems in this artwork?
Everything in Earth's system can be placed into one of four major subsystems. These four subsystems are called "spheres." Specifically, they are the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. What are some parts of each of these subsystems on Earth?
Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Atmosphere
Using your knowledge of root words, what are some parts of each of these subsystems on Earth?
Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Atmosphere
All the spheres interact with other spheres. Give an example of how two of earth's spheres are interacting to sustain frontier life.
Can you find a simple food web in this environment? Model one way that matter is cycling in this food web.
Technology is the application of science for practical purposes. One example of technology in this painting is the man’s jeans. Jeans were created in 1873 for the practical purpose of withstanding hard work.
What other details in this painting show evidence of technology at that time?
Compare and contrast life back then and life now. What challenges do you think the people in this painting faced? What evidence can you find in the artwork to support that claim?
During this time period, people found land and built a home there. Why would the man have chosen this spot? What is your evidence?
Would you want to live here? State your opinion, and support it with reasons and evidence from the painting.
