ELA Practice 6.10

Sand Painting

Have you ever seen an old painting or sculpture in a museum? A lot of the time, the art that people make is supposed to last for a long time. If the art is very beautiful or creative, it might be put into a museum so that people can see it for many years to come. But in a place called Tibet, people make art that only lasts a few weeks. This kind of art is called sand painting. First, one artist makes an outline on a large flat surface. Then, other artists fill in the outline with different colors of sand. They use special funnels that allow them to make very detailed designs with sand. The sand paintings are very beautiful! After the sand painting is finished, another artist destroys the painting by brushing the sand away! He destroys the painting on purpose to remind people that nothing in life is permanent. It is often said that the destruction of the painting is a part of the art.

This paragraph describes a:

• different kind of museum

• special kind of art

• life of an artist

Sand Painting

Have you ever seen an old painting or sculpture in a museum? A lot of the time, the art that people make is supposed to last for a long time. If the art is very beautiful or creative, it might be put into a museum so that people can see it for many years to come. But in a place called Tibet, people make art that only lasts a few weeks. This kind of art is called sand painting. First, one artist makes an outline on a large flat surface. Then, other artists fill in the outline with different colors of sand. They use special funnels that allow them to make very detailed designs with sand. The sand paintings are very beautiful! After the sand painting is finished, another artist destroys the painting by brushing the sand away! He destroys the painting on purpose to remind people that nothing in life is permanent. It is often said that the destruction of the painting is a part of the art.

Tibetan sand painting is different from a lot of art because it is:

• A. kept in art museums

• B. made to last a short time

• C. very cheap to make

Sand Painting

Have you ever seen an old painting or sculpture in a museum? A lot of the time, the art that people make is supposed to last for a long time. If the art is very beautiful or creative, it might be put into a museum so that people can see it for many years to come. But in a place called Tibet, people make art that only lasts a few weeks. This kind of art is called sand painting. First, one artist makes an outline on a large flat surface. Then, other artists fill in the outline with different colors of sand. They use special funnels that allow them to make very detailed designs with sand. The sand paintings are very beautiful! After the sand painting is finished, another artist destroys the painting by brushing the sand away! He destroys the painting on purpose to remind people that nothing in life is permanent. It is often said that the destruction of the painting is a part of the art.

The author probably starts by describing art in museums to:

• A. persuade the reader to visit museums filled with beautiful art

• B. highlight how different museum art and Tibetan sand painting are

• C. express the opinion that it is silly to destroy a beautiful painting

Sand Painting

Have you ever seen an old painting or sculpture in a museum? A lot of the time, the art that people make is supposed to last for a long time. If the art is very beautiful or creative, it might be put into a museum so that people can see it for many years to come. But in a place called Tibet, people make art that only lasts a few weeks. This kind of art is called sand painting. First, one artist makes an outline on a large flat surface. Then, other artists fill in the outline with different colors of sand. They use special funnels that allow them to make very detailed designs with sand. The sand paintings are very beautiful! After the sand painting is finished, another artist destroys the painting by brushing the sand away! He destroys the painting on purpose to remind people that nothing in life is permanent. It is often said that the destruction of the painting is a part of the art.

Which is an opinion?

• A. Artists destroy Tibetan sand paintings on purpose

• B. Tibetan sand paintings are very beautiful

• C. Tibetan sand paintings last

Sand Painting

Have you ever seen an old painting or sculpture in a museum? A lot of the time, the art that people make is supposed to last for a long time. If the art is very beautiful or creative, it might be put into a museum so that people can see it for many years to come. But in a place called Tibet, people make art that only lasts a few weeks. This kind of art is called sand painting. First, one artist makes an outline on a large flat surface. Then, other artists fill in the outline with different colors of sand. They use special funnels that allow them to make very detailed designs with sand. The sand paintings are very beautiful! After the sand painting is finished, another artist destroys the painting by brushing the sand away! He destroys the painting on purpose to remind people that nothing in life is permanent. It is often said that the destruction of the painting is a part of the art.

Artists destroy Tibetan sand paintings after a couple weeks to:

• A. teach people that nothing lasts forever

• B. prevent the art being destroyed by wind

• C. use the sand to make another painting

Pick one prompt and answer it below. You have 5 minutes total to think and then write.

Try to write at least a paragraph (3-4 strong sentences).

Don't forget to check your writing (grammar)!

1. My favorite thing to do outside of school is... 
2. What's your favorite video game and why is it the best?