Middle schoolers learn about the artist Canaletto, play a vocabulary game, and create a landscape using collage technique. Background information on the artist is provided along with instructions for the game and vocabulary words to...

Leonardo da Vinci is the focus of a hands-on activity that encourages scholars to become inventors. Pupils brainstorm and sketch their idea, compose a detailed depiction using a mirror writing technique, and antique the paper for a...

Students investigate different painting techniques by studying classic works of art.  In this art history activity, students observe the famous Madonna and Child with Saints painting and describe the texture and images they notice....

Connect science, math, and art for a true interdisciplinary lesson! Learners explore simple machines in art. Through analysis with a physics app, they identify positions of kinetic and potential energy and make conclusions about work.

Family and friendship are two very important themes of the historical fiction novel The Orphan of Ellis Island by Elvira Woodruff. From video clips and writing prompts to reader's theater and family interviews, this resource...

Students analyze art and war and the Futurist movement. In this art analysis instructional activity, students define manifesto and its role with artistic movement. Students explore art as a response to political and social issues through...

Students analyze the art for the Young Countess of Schouvalof and also practice recognizing the work of Le Brun, Leonardo da Vinci, and Andy Warhol. In this portrait art lesson, students analyze copies of the artists work and mark on the...

Students engage in a simulation/role play. They analyze information about flavors and ingredients that create a unique flavor of a culture. They make recommendations to the executive chef on menu items appropriate for international buffet.

Why is arts education so important? It builds critical thinking, analysis and creative problem-solving skills. Learners review the life of Michelangelo Buonarroti, and then analyze his piece, The Pieta. After that, they'll sculpt a human...

Observation is a key skill any scientist, artist, or writer needs to hone. Learners first discuss Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, then they set up a place to observe the people in their school. They closely observe and sketch what...

Young scholars read stories about Italy and identify main events and characters. They take an imaginary trip to Italy and write a story about their adventures. In addition, they practice several italian words and phrases.

Third graders read about Italy and the complete activities that investigate the spice trade. In this spice trade lesson plan, 3rd graders analyze characters, write a thank you note, speak Italian, and complete language activities.

Students work in small groups to create a topographic map of Italy. They must include labeled line drawings of bordering countries and bodies of water. Students use salt and flour clay to make Italy three dimensional, showing the many...

Students discover the focal point in pictures and create their own images using lines and space.  In this art analysis lesson, students create a black dot on a white paper which becomes a focal point for the lines the student will...

Explore idioms with a chicken theme! Consider doing these activities prior to Thanksgiving, as there's a section about wishbones! First your youngsters will match a short list of idioms with their meanings. Then, give each learner the...

Teach your class the perspective Native Americans had on Christopher Columbus. They will examine the effects of Christopher Columbus' exploration on the Native Americans using a reading theater and a carousel brainstorming activity. They...

Students search art objects in these seven detective activities for clues about the people in the past who used them and the world in which they lived.

Students study a portrait of Ginevra by Leonardo da Vinci. In this art appreciation lesson, students study this unique double-sided work by Leonardo da Vinci and are asked to create their own double-sided piece of art.

Students learn about the foods of Italy. In this Italy instructional activity, students learn about the different types of food from Italy, create their own pizzas using paper and markers, share their pizzas with the class, and go to the...

Students explain and use verbal directions, recognize the prepositions used in a conversation, explore Italian art, and acquaint themselves with tourist services in Italy.

This discussion guide accompanies the fiction book Midnight Magic written by Avi, enforces story elements, inferences, and theme/plot. Have the class work on it over time, it will engage even your reluctant readers. 

Students view a video about the rise of the Medici family of Renaissance Italy. They complete a chart comparing Medieval Europe to Renaissance Italy.

Students explore two processes: the filmmaking process and the process of converting a work of fiction to a film, The English Patient." They study World War II history in locations depicted in The English Patient: North Africa and Italy....

Young scholars watch a video about the internal power struggles of the Medici family of Renaissance Italy. They compare the Medici family to the Mafia and produce a written response to the film.