Curated OER
Hieroglyphic Cartouche Pendants
In ancient Egypt, mummified bodies were embellished with elaborate cartouches housing the name of the deceased. Elementary artists can read all about Egyptian burial practices then create a cartouche of their own using clay and real...
Curated OER
Reflections Of Me!
Young scholars create a 2-D and 3-D work of art depicting qualities and experiences from their own lives. This innovative lesson uses hollowed out, recycled books as the "art canvas" for the project.
Curated OER
Sculpted, Painted Balsa-Foam African Masks
Students create an African mask. In this African art lesson, students use Balsa-Foam and acrylic paints to construct an African mask. Students carve out the facial features and seal it with a coat of Gesso.
Curated OER
Coil Vessels with Symbols
Eighth graders explore symbolism in Renaissance art, use ceramics vocabulary, and demonstrate craftsmanship in working with clay.
Missoula Art Museum
Dance with Your Fingers, Draw with Your Toes
Pair dancing, music, and art into one elementary instructional activity. Using the work of Henri Matisse and Rudy Autio as inspiration, kids spend a few days listening to music that fits the moods of various pieces of art, then work on...
Curated OER
Forest Dwellings: Toad House
What a great project to use as part of an exploration of animals or habitats. Learners design a clay model of a home for a forest animal. This could be a great way to cement what your class has learned about habitats.
Curated OER
Ceramic Wall Tile Murals
Grab your class and start brainstorming an image you'd like to see as a mural. Included here are all the steps needed to design and create a ceramic wall mural. The kids come up with the drawings, then they each make a tile that will...
Curated OER
From Mud to Masterpiece: Individual Clay Mosaic Relief Murals Inspired by Rudy Autio's Public Murals
Students create clay mosaic relief murals as analysis of Abstract Expressionism. In this clay art lesson, students analyze the abstract expressionist art of Rudy Autio and create their own clay mural using fire clay and glazes. Students...
Curated OER
Clay Gargoyles
Students observe Gargoyles and listen to an explanation of their place in art history. They create gargoyles with clay and paint with stone finish.
Curated OER
Making a Chiminea
A chiminea is an outdoor fireplace usually made from terracotta. Your class will make miniature versions of this useful heating device to practice specific sculpting techniques. This lesson spans four days. It includes vocabulary and an...
Curated OER
Gargoyles: Ceramics
Study the symbolism and significance of Gargoyles throughout the Gothic era, and then make one. Kids visit three different websites to learn about these goolish protectors, then hone their sculpting skills while making one. They make...
US Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Counts
Agricultural survey and the documentation of livestock or goods was the basis for the first written language. Youngsters discuss sorting and counting, and how these skills have been used for thousands of years. They accent their class...
Curated OER
Nature - animals in environment
Seventh graders observe and draw animals in their environment. They also examine the work of other artists. They choose one animal and create a clay model of it in its environment.
Curated OER
Minoan Pottery - A History Lesson
Accent your next ancient pottery art project with easy-to-follow background information. An article describes the background, significance, and history of Minoan Pottery. It includes links to images, sites and ideas. Tip: This is a great...
Curated OER
Ceramic Handbuilding
Students are taught the three basic handbuilding techniques used in beginning pottery: pinch pot, coiling, and slab work. They complete 4 pieces of pottery. Students comprehend the basic pottery process from start to finish. They discuss...
Curated OER
Greek Vase Painting Project
Students identify the cultural context of ancient Greek, and especially Athenian, vase painting and the range of vase painting depictions of daily life and mythology. They experience the artistic and technical process of creating Greek...
Curated OER
Let's Make Play Dough
Students create their own play dough to use for art projects. In this art lesson, students measure, pour and mix the ingredients to make their own play dough. Then, students use the clay to create their own sculptures.
Curated OER
Protest Art in Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Students study the social class conflicts that existed during the Russian Revolution by reading the short stories of Anton Chekov and Leo Tolstoy. They analyze the stories to find criticisms of pre-Revolutionary Russia before designing...
Curated OER
Magical Courtly Structure
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the creation of a model that is focused upon the theme of an imaginary world. They work in groups to create a magical and courtly structure using modeling clay. Then students talk about...
Curated OER
The Importance of Place
Is art connected to geography? It sure is! Your class will find out how even clay that comes from a certain location can have deep symbolic meaning. The class will analyze the piece, Mud Woman Rolls On and then research how geographic...
Curated OER
Draped Slab leaf bowls
Students explore beauty in nature, explore the structure of the leaf and purposes of the leaf. Students study the draped slab forming technique
and demonstrate craftsmanship in handling clay.
Curated OER
Accenting the Negative Space in Ceramics
Fourth graders apply knowledge of the elements of design and hand building techniques in clay to illustrate the concept of negative space by cutting shapes out of the form to create an intricate pattern.
Curated OER
Ceramic Rattles
Students create ceramic rattles using the pinch method of building with clay. They view a slide show of different types of rattles, draw designs of their rattles, and create them using clay and the pinch method. They create the rattles...
Curated OER
Sun Relief Sculpture
Sixth graders create a slab project based on sun images throughout history.