The Web Gallery of Art is a virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture of the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism periods (1000-1850), currently containing over 29.000 reproductions. Picture commentaries, artist biographies are available. Guided tours, period music, catalogue, free postcard and other services are provided.
How to integrate Waltees Quest into the classroom: Waltees Quest was created with attention to detail. When students begin their quest, they are asked to enter a name and passcode. This combination can be used at a later time to access a saved game. This makes it ideal for the classroom where students may not have time to complete the game in one sitting. Students can visit Waltees Quest as a center on classroom computers.
Because students can track their progress, they dont have to complete the game in one sitting but could work on it in bits and pieces throughout the school year. The quest allows students to get up-close and personal with a variety of art and history. Students can use what they learn in Waltees quest as a launching point for art history or as inspiration for a creative writing piece. Students can write a story about the art itself, about Waltee and his quest, or a mystery based on the game.
In the elementary classroom, Waltees Quest can be used to introduce
students to the idea of mystery. If you have a projector-connected
computer or interactive whiteboard, students can work together to explore
the museum and find treasures. As students find clues, they can work
together to solve the mystery.
Waltees Quest can also be used as a virtual trip to an art museum, if you can't swing a trip to a local art museum as a class, this site will provide students with the next best option in a way that engages them in discovery.
Tips: Make sure that students know to write down the name and passcode they
use to login, if they want to return to their game they will need this
later!