Curated OER
Elements of Design
Students define basic design vocabulary. They examine fabrics and sort into similar piles, design a picture of a beautiful room and label each art element in the design. They read an article from an interior design magazine and summarize...
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Abstract Planes in Paper Sculpture
High schoolers create maquettes of abstract sculptures utilizing the elements of art; line, shape, value, color, space and texture and the principles of design; balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm and movement, pattern and unity. These...
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Shaping the View: Composition Basics
Students examine the elements of composition in various artworks. They analyze and discuss paintings, explore "The National Gallery of Art" website, identify the shape of compositions in paintings, and draw a diagram.
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Japanese Tea and Teacups
Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...
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Geometry of Democracy
Students explore the architecture of New England by identifying geometric shapes. In this architectural lesson, students examine photographs of classic building architecture and use a transparency to trace geometric shapes they...
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Pioneer Values in Willa Cather's My Antonia
Included in this resource are a variety of activities to do while reading Willa Cather's My Antonia. The activities, which range from mapping out Nebraska to writing activities about pioneer living, are all designed with one...
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www.Me.Com
Create a graphic autobiography integrating images and text. Working within the structure of the programs Comic Life and Photoshop, pupils integrate the Principles of Design. They focus on balance, rhythm, proportion, and text structure....
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MEDIA COLLAGE
Students use old magazines to create a collage. They may focus on elements of design. They discuss their collage or they may write a brief essay.
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Stories in Quilts
Have your class analyze the narrative art in quilts. They identify elements in this domestic art and the stories they tell. They define a story quilt, view an example, and analyze the work of Harriet Power. This is a great lesson to...
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Simple Machines
Students design objects in the Museum of Modern Art's collection of simple machines. In this simple machines activity, students explore the machine age in the MoMA's design collection. Students identify simple machines and the elements...
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Carbon: Structure Matters
High schoolers read the Who We Are Section on Calfee Designs Webpage and discuss carbon usage. They work in pairs to look up the minerals diamond and graphite then create a chart on the properties of each mineral then compare how they...
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Totem Mask
Sixth graders study totems of the Northwest Native Americans and design their own.
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Exploring Nature: Powerful Forces
Pupils observe samples of artwork which use line, shape, and form to show movement and depict natural forces of nature. They create their own piece of artwork that shows a natural force and movement and then write a descriptive paragraph...
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Artists Teach Us to See the World through Visual Symbols
Tenth graders analyze a biographical piece of art by Raymond Saunders. They identify shapes, symbols, and lines that are used, and how the piece relates to the artist's life and modern society. They design and create an original piece of...
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Exploring A Streetcar Named Desire
Students investigate the dramatic elements of a Streetcar Named Desire. In this drama lesson plan, students explore the theme of the Tennessee Williams play as they read the play and watch performances of some of the acts. Students then...
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A World of Money
Students explore the traditions related to the creation of national currencies. The role currency plays in shaping a national or regional identity and the influences that the designers of world currency exert are examined in this lesson.
US National Library of Medicine
Mental Health Awareness Project
Here is a thoughtful group assignment for researching mental health disorders. Team members focus on a different aspect of a chosen disorder: symptoms, treatments, and community resources.
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Architecture Through the Ages
Students study the art of architecture in four well-known structures around the world. In this world architecture lesson, students read books about architects and study architectural structures in the world. Students draw a dream city on...
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Apulian Oinochoe
Students analyze Greek vase painting and create their own vase art. For this vase painting lesson, students analyze the design element shape and the relationship between figure and ground. Students design a figure/ground relationship...
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Add'm and Eve in the Garden
Students research and design five different shaped raised beds for the school garden. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, measure and create a cost analysis for the construction and design, and submit their plans to the...
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Kites of Japan
Young scholars perform research into the designs of Japanese kites in order to appreciate them for their aerodynamic designs. The appreciation builds student interest in order to produce their own similar designs.
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The 1980's Series - Music
Students examine artwork by Keith Haring, and listen to music popular in the 1980s that influenced him. They develop storyboards, and film music videos for their favorite song.
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Texture, Texture, Read All About It
Fourth graders use clay to create a slab vase with a surface design that emphasizes the elements shape and texture. They complete a self-evaluation of their project which is imbedded in this plan.
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Sea Urchins - Diadema Antillarum
Students investigate oceanography by painting sea life. In this crustacean lesson, students identify sea urchins in our ocean environments and describe the functionality of their spherical-shaped bodies. Students design their own sea...