Smithsonian Institution
African American Music: Let’s Sing and Play Clapping Games
Two lessons focus on making a beat. Using popular African American music of its time, scholars listen and analyze the rhythm then recreate it with hands drums, and cups.
Curated OER
Egg Carton Buggy Mobile
Craft paper, string, and clean egg cartons are used to create super cute bug mobiles. Included are instructions and images to assist you in guiding your class through the process of making these very cool mobiles. The project would be a...
Curated OER
Simple Suminagashi
What a wonderful way to meld art and culture! Learners create art work in the Suminagashi style using this detailed lesson plan. This art form, which is Japanese in origin, employs ink to create beautiful results. This will be a hit with...
Curated OER
Family Album: ESL, Social Studies, Art, Bookmaking, Literacy
Students construct a personalized book with their own family members to practice family vocabulary and literacy in English. This activity would benefit any kindergartener; but is especially aimed at the English Learner.
Curated OER
Exploring Neighborhoods through Art
Students explore neighborhoods. In this color and social studies cross-curriculum instructional activity, students listen to Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, then compare and contrast neighborhoods. Students mix primary...
Curated OER
A Box Of Crayons
Students draw self-portraits on die-cut crayon patterns after hearing the poem "A Box of Crayons" in this Art activity for the elementary classroom. The activity is ideal for celebrating Martin Luther King Day and includes extra...
Curated OER
Bark Art
Students examine Aborigines, a group of people indigenous, or native, to Australia. They view examples of Aboriginal bark art and create pictures in the style of Aboriginal bark art.
Curated OER
Art Through the Eyes of Youth
Learners take a field trip to an art gallery reflecting on the paintings they like the most. Individually, they use magazines to find pictures related to their personality. In pairs, they make a mask to represent their ethnic group and...
Curated OER
Picture Fists Full of Kisses
Ease children's back-to-school jitters with this primary grade lesson based on the book The Kissing Hand by Ruth E. Harper. Starting off with a singing of the song "I Wish I Had a Little Red Box", children go on to discuss and create a...
Curated OER
Art Lesson: Doll Making
Students read and discuss the main characters and supporting characters in the African folktale, "Tiger and the Big Wind." They highlight the physical features of the animal that makes them unique and transfers those same qualities to...
Curated OER
Holiday Paper Projects for Kids
No matter what time of year it is, there's a holiday craft to make! Kindergartners construct several holiday craft projects in a series of holiday art lesson. They complete several paper projects such as 4th of July flags, Thanksgiving...
San Francisco Symphony
Lesson Ideas for Any Music
Music is a wonderful tool you can add to enhance the learning process for every subject. Here is a list of music selections that are categorized by subject, along with some neat teaching suggestions. You'll find songs suited to...
Curated OER
Middle-East Reflections
Practice symmetry and patterns with this Mid-Eastern art project. Your class will create beautiful, reflective mosaics that will brighten up the classroom! A list of necessary materials is included.
Curated OER
Celebration Scene
Art often captures an event or emotion from a specific time and place in history. Explore Painting of Bear and Sun Dances with your class to study how dance and celebrations were important aspects of Native American life. After...
Curated OER
If…Then…Ideas for History
Have your class examine a very old piece of art as they consider history, chronology, geography, culture, and tradition. They discuss the concept of ritual as it is associated with religious practices and research the spread of...
Curated OER
Celebrate Hanukkah in Israel
Explore Hanukkah and its origins with a social studies instructional activity. Learners discover the history of Hanukkah and its traditions. They locate Israel on a map, hear the story of the menorah and create their own dreidel....
Curated OER
From Sheep to Rug
Ever wonder where wool comes from? How it is used to make a woven rug? Introduce the Native American craft of rug making to your preschool or kindergarten class with a discussion. Learners examine and discuss images of a Native American...
Curated OER
Create your own Parfleche!
What is a parfleche? It is a box used by the Plains Indians to carry goods as they traveled. First, the class will discuss the uses of these highly ornate boxes and the nature of the Plains Indians' nomadic lifestyle. Then, the class...
Dick Blick Art Materials
“Gawu” — African-influenced Tapestry
Here's a great way to combine environmental science with art. Kids use recycled materials to create their own Gawu, a tapestry made of discards. Although designed for special education classrooms, the activity is sure to engage all...
Curated OER
A "Teacher Appreciation Week" Card for the Teacher
Anyone can create Teacher Appreciation Week cards for their teachers. This activity is designed to be incorporated with an art class. Learners will design a card and discuss ways to show appreciation for their teacher. Resource links are...
Curated OER
Culture Commotion
Exposing young children to the wonders of world cultures is very important. Here is a sweet lesson which does just that! In it, learners listen to music, and stories from cultures around the world. They learn greetings in different...
Scholastic
Columbus Day/Thanksgiving Ships at Sea
Discover the meaning of Columbus Day and/or Thanksgiving by creating art from food. This activity focuses on making edible ships using easy to find food items. The class will investigate the journeys that were taken for either of these...
Curated OER
Cave Art
Students explore cave art. For this Neolithic Age lesson, students get into groups and research a given topic. Students create a poster with information and visual aids. Students then look a pictures and watch a DVD about artifacts found...
Curated OER
Patterns from Nature: Learning about Australia's Aborigines Through Contemporary Art
Students examine various artworks by aborigines in Australia to discover their culture. Using the artwork, they create their own piece based on their interpretations about their culture. They answer discussion questions and share their...