National Gallery of Canada
My Treehouse
If you could build your own treehouse, what would it look like? Using a piece of contemporary art as inspiration, learners draw their own treehouses and add geometric and organic shapes. The lesson touches on Visual Thinking Strategies...
Illustrative Mathematics
What Shape Am I?
Sharpen your pencil and grab a ruler, it's time to draw some quadrilaterals! Given the definition of a parallelogram, rectangle, and rhombus, learners draw examples and nonexamples of each figure. The three definitions are then used to...
Getting to Know
Shape and Form in Art
Introduce youngsters to the important role shape and form play in art with this extensive collection of activities and projects. From teaching first graders how to create mandalas to engaging third and fourth graders in the design of...
Curated OER
Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Shape
Ask elementary students to explore shapes in everyday objects. They will discuss the elements of design and describe the shapes they see in visual images. Students will then design and "build" a new 3D shape. Finally they will show and...
Curated OER
Get in Shape with Geometry
Using geoboards, computer programs, and hands-on manipulative materials, elementary schoolers engage in a study of two and three-dimensional geometric shapes. This instructional activity is chock full of good teaching ideas on the...
Curated OER
Stained Glass for Your Class
Students use a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of white drawing paper, each student creates an original line drawing of a subject that interests them. They can create a geometric design. Students place the completed drawing under an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of...
Curated OER
Geometry is Fun and EverywhereGeometry, You Don’t Care? Geometry is Fun and Everywhere
Third graders investigate shapes in our world. In this geometry instructional activity, 3rd graders describe plane and solid shapes and identify angles, solid objects and lines of symmetry. Students use online resources, graphic...
Curated OER
Start at the Very Beginning
Students explore ocean ecosystems. In this cross curriculum art and oceans lesson, students create a collage featuring three-finger algae using sand paper, tissue paper, and construction paper.
Curated OER
Buildings, Buildings Everywhere
Students gain awareness of shapes in architecture by creating a painting of their school and writing a reflective summary of their study of architecture.
Curated OER
Surface Area with Polydrons
Students explore measurements by analyzing geometric shapes. In this surface area instructional activity, students identify the terms volume, weight, perimeter and area in order to find the requested measurements of specific polygons....
Curated OER
Line: a Geometric Exercise
Students study the different types of lines and create a drawing demonstrating what they learned.
Curated OER
It's Not All Greek to Me
Learners find out the meaning for prefixes used in math vocabulary. By dissecting words used in everyday math, they figure out what the prefix indicates and what the word means. A variety of well-organized worksheets and activities...
Curriculum Corner
Academic Math Vocabulary
The ABCs of math are so important. Find commonly used math terms in a 42-page packet. Each page has the word, a place to write the definition, and a place to give specific examples of the term. A must-have for all math classrooms!
Curated OER
Tar Beach Quilt
Students cut and design a pretend beach after reading Faith Ringold's "Tar Beach" book.
Curated OER
The Giant Barrel Sponge
Students study barrel sponges. In this science and art lesson, students discuss what sponges are, create their own sponge, and share what they created with the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Art From Map-Abstract composition using map and primary colors
The students use a map to create a Mondrian-like artwork. They put to use his severe simplicity in line as well as in color (of course, no green, which was a color he reportedly hated). Shapes created were more organic rather than...
Curated OER
Elements of Art
Third graders discover elements in visual art. In this visual art lesson plan, 3rd graders explore the use of line, shape, and color in visual art. After reviewing works of art, students create unique art pieces. Technology resources...
Curated OER
Hands on Essays
Third graders relate the concept of individuality of geometric shapes to the individuality of topic sentences. They write and revise a persuasive argument essay using an established rubric.
Curated OER
Symmetry and Symbols
Students identify symmetrical and congruent elements in folk art. In this art and geometry lesson, students examine pictures of Masonic Plaque in the Form of a Royal Arch Tracing Board for evidence of congruent and symmetrical elements....
Curated OER
Food Pyramid - Daily Diet Diary
Students keep a daily diet diary and discuss the Food Pyramid. They investigate other geometric shapes as a way to display daily food guidelines. In groups, they design a menu for the Food Pyramid Restaurant.
Curated OER
"Kookie Kitties" - Paul Klee: Finger Puppets
Young scholars examine and discuss the painting, Cat and Bird, by Paul Klee. They identify the various types of lines, shapes, and colors in the painting, and design and create finger puppet versions of the animals from the painting.
Curated OER
Classifying Polygons
Students study polygons. In this math lesson, students play a game in which they learn the classification system for polygons. Students identify the properties of quadrilaterals.
Curated OER
Geo-Vistas
Students create a geometric cardboard sculpture covered with personal drawings.