Visual arts activity
Interview With One Question
Ask one person one question and really listen. Draw their answer into a picture.
Materials and setup
- recording device (phone)
- notepad
- camera
How this changes by age
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Ask one person one question and really listen. Draw their answer into a picture.
Steps
- Think of one question about a grown-up you love (e.g., 'What was your favorite game as a kid?').
- Ask it and really listen to the whole answer.
- Draw a picture of what they said.
- Show the picture and ask if you got it right.
- Say thank you.
- Draw the interviewee's answer AND write the one-sentence version beneath your drawing.
Learning objectives
- Listen carefully to one person's answer
- Turn words into a drawing
- Practice gratitude in communication
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Interview one person with a single question. Record (or write) their answer. Edit it into a 3-sentence mini-story. Always ask permission before recording someone.
Steps
- Pick one good question you're curious about.
- Interview one family member or neighbor with a parent.
- Before recording, ask clearly: 'Is it okay if I write down (or record) what you say?' Only record if they say yes.
- Record audio or take careful notes.
- Edit the answer down to 3 strong sentences.
- Read the final version aloud to the interviewee and ask if it feels accurate — and if they're still okay with you sharing it with your family.
Learning objectives
- Conduct a short structured interview with explicit consent
- Practice active listening and accurate recording
- Edit spoken words into a concise written story
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Mini-documentary: one subject, one question, a short recorded interview edited into a 60-second clip with photos. Consent is a two-step process: permission to record and separate permission to share.
Steps
- Think about your subject ahead of time and draft 5 candidate questions.
- With parent help, pick the ONE best question.
- Get informed consent to record: tell the subject what you're making, who might see it, and how long they'll appear in it. Get their YES before you press record. Only adults can give consent to appear in something shared beyond your family — if your subject is another child, their parent must say yes too.
- Record audio or video of the interview.
- Shoot 3–5 photos of your subject to pair with the audio (only with their permission too).
- Edit to a tight 60 seconds. Share it inside your household first. Before sharing with anyone outside your household, show the subject the final cut and get a second, separate yes for sharing. They can ask for edits or say no even after recording.
Learning objectives
- Prepare thoughtful interview questions
- Record and edit short-form documentary content
- Practice media ethics by treating consent to record and consent to share as two separate decisions
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
Related visual arts activities
Artist Spotlight: Georgia O'Keeffe
Look at O'Keeffe's huge flower paintings. Draw one flower really, really big.
Artist Spotlight: Hokusai
Look at 'The Great Wave' by Hokusai. Talk about the big wave and the little boats.
Artist Spotlight: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Look at Basquiat's energetic crown paintings. Draw your own crown and scribble-words around it.
Blind Contour Drawing
Look only at your hand (not the paper!) and draw it with one line. The drawing will look silly — that's the point.