Curated OER
Line: a Geometric Exercise
Learners study the different types of lines and create a drawing demonstrating what they learned.
Curated OER
Cast of characters -- Lost in Space Lesson
Students examine how artists use the picture plane to depict two and three dimensions. They view online images, discuss how space is used to depict three-dimensional space, and create a painting.
Curated OER
Three Chicago Painters: Visual Thinking Skills Activity
Students discuss the paintings of three Chicago painters. They are asked to observe their work and comment on it.
J. Paul Getty Trust
Tag: Whose Values
Get young people thinking about their lives and current topics of social justice, advocacy, gender, race, and identity. After examining several works by Barbara Kruger, participants select a tag with one of the questions printed on it,...
Curated OER
A World without Color and a World with Color
Visual arts instructional activity involving the creation of a black and white picture followed by a re-creation of the same picture using color with an emphasis on contrast, depth, and mood.
Curated OER
Sixth Graders Express Themselves
Sixth graders demonstrate an understanding of expressionism by creating a portrait of a friend who inspires a mood or feeling.
Curated OER
When You're Hot, You're Hot...
Learners use the medium of visual arts to demonstrate how colors can evoke different ideas and feelings.
Curated OER
Sea-ing More Clearly
Students explore historical importance of fish as food source, examine works of Robert Harris, create their own fish, and compose accompanying poetry. Students then explore dramatic tradition of Chorus inspired by Greek theatre,...
Curated OER
What Makes You Scream?
Eighth graders study Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream." They produce their own scream using directional lines as Munch did. Line was used by Munch in a variety of directions(horizontal, vertical and diagonal.
Curated OER
You Be the Critic!
Students review several pieces of art and choose one that inspires them. They research the artist and his or her contributions to art and then recreate the artwork and compare their copy to the original.
Curated OER
Penny for your thoughts
Students look at a variety of pieces of art and discuss them according to moods or feelings expressed. They pick a piece of art that they like and then write a poem or story to go with it.
Curated OER
The Life and Music of Celia Cruz
Students create a set and design a costume for a musical performance. In this Life of Celia Cruz lesson, students study biographical facts about Celia Cruz on the exhibition web site. Then students share their creations with the class.
Curated OER
Urban Concentration and Racial Violence
Students research one of the many urban race riots in U.S. history, from the New York City riots during the Civil War to the "Red Summer of 1919" or the hate-strikes of 1943. They present their findings in the form of a newspaper's front...
Curated OER
Take Heed, Scurvy Dogs!
Students examine the use of ghosts in shipping stories. As a class, they assign roles and they act them out in a play. They make it seem as if they are in danger on their voyage and work together to create a script. They ask questions...
Curated OER
The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
Curated OER
The Element of Shape
Pupils find a dictionary definition of "shape" and write a definition in their own words. They select an example of shape from a magazine and find a major work of art dominant in shape. They create their own shape using Adobe Photoshop.
Curated OER
Exhibition: Nathan Oliveira
High schoolers examine the life and works of Nathan Oliveira. In groups, they discuss his influences on the type of art he made and how his emotions are reflected in his artwork. They also note the characteristics of each section of the...
Curated OER
Two Faces of Paul Gauguin
Students examine Paul Gauguin's self-portraits and letters to explore the individual who created them. They consider how first-person art forms aid the process of self-discovery and produce a symbolic self-portrait
Curated OER
Octopus Project: Ceramics
Kids make an octopus out of clay. They practice their sculpting and modeling skills such as pinch pot and slurry technique while sculpting an octopus.
Curated OER
Vivaldi's Storms
Students listen to two selections of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" symphony. In groups, they identify and describe the mood and musical elements used to represent each season using correct vocabulary. They write their observations in a paper...
Curated OER
Double Exposure Lesson Plan: Artistic Analysis of a Photograph
Students view photographs on Web module, practice answering questions of analysis, and identify artistic qualities of photographs by applying the analysis of elements of art.
Curated OER
Interior Design, Lesson 4
Learners choose furnishings and accessories based on color, line, pattern, texture, shape, and mood. They discuss how interiors are affected by furniture arrangements and traffic patterns and examine furniture and make a grouping of...
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Posture and Pantomime: Total Body Movement
Students analyze posture and pantomime in an analysis of total body movement. In this body movement instructional activity, students read a chart of movements and the mood or attitude they convey. Students complete several space and...
Curated OER
The Dream Factory
Students compare postcard samples from Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. They examine them to find common elements they share (tone, mood, romanticized themes, artistic elements, etc.) They create postcards to show the "real" Austin.