Crafting Freedom
Man in the Middle: Thomas Day and the Free Black Experience
How did free and enslaved blacks work to craft freedom for themselves and their families before the Civil War? Young historians read about the life of Thomas Day, a free black man who also owned slaves and had abolitionist ties in...
Stanford University
Letter from Birmingham Jail: The Power of Nonviolent Direct Action
What strategies are most effective in changing an unjust law? Class members examine the tactics used in the Birmingham Campaign of 1963 (Project C) to achieve social justice and social transformation. After examining documents that...
Curated OER
Art of Mask Making
Students make an African mask. In this culture and heritage lesson, students view samples of African masks and learn about the importance of these masks. Students visit the African Art Museum website to view the styles of mask making. ...
The New York Times
Anatomy of a Scene
Casting, setting, context, frame, camera angle, lighting, soundtrack. Every choice a writer or director makes is conscious. Here's a learning exercise that asks readers/viewers to examine these choices and consider how they are used to...
Scholastic
Lesson Four: The Earth, Layers of Earth
Get your hands dirty with a set of earth science activities! Class members delve into a hard-boiled egg to find the similarities to the earth's layers, create a papier-mâché model of the earth, craft a simulation of the earth's...
Curated OER
Woven Felt Wall Hanging
Artists of many ages use steel, plastic, tree branches and other natural materials to weave a wall hanging. The materials needed for this fine plan are easy to procure, and the process is clearly-described. The results are beautiful, and...
Curated OER
Novel Ideas: History of the American Novel
Explore the history of the American novel in the contexts of literature and US history. How does a novel or piece of writing from a particular time showcase the mood during that historical period? After conducting research and discussing...
Curated OER
Biography of Robert Arneson
Students read and analyze the clay sculpture art of Robert Arneson and create their own clay sculpture. In this clay sculpture lesson, students create a three-dimensional relief sculpture of a face and experiment with creating emotional...
Curated OER
Collaborative Collage - A Lesson in Creative Chaos
Students examine the works of abstract and collage artists. They explore alternate methods of paint application that reinforce the elements of rhythm and movement and create collages based on these principles.
Curated OER
Paper Bag Butterfly Puppets
Whether you're using it to tell stories, explore the letter b, or during a life science lesson, these butterfly puppets will be a hit. Youngsters use crayons, tissue paper, and paper bags to create butterfly puppets.
Curated OER
Painting Techniques- Impressionism
Students investigate impressionist painting techniques. In this visual arts lesson, students view paintings by Monet and practice the dot and stroke technique. Students use shades of green and gentle brush strokes to create grass in...
Curated OER
Class Mural
Middle schoolers discover visual arts by examining a wall mural. In this art appreciation instructional activity, students discuss the history of art after researching information on the Internet. Middle schoolers view famous paintings...
Curated OER
The Human Body
Explore the human body through hands-on activities. Young learners will trace their bodies and place cut out body organs in the proper place, print patterns using cut fruit, sing songs about good nutrition, and use their five senses...
Curated OER
EarTwiggle
In this counting leaves worksheet, learners assist EarTwiggle in counting all the leaves found within a piece of art and then place their answer in the box provided at the lower right hand corner.
Curated OER
Learning through The Duke
Students examine the important contributions made by Duke Ellington to the field of jazz, as well as some of the factors that led to his involvement in the field. As they explore the language of the 1920's, connections will be drawn...
Curated OER
Street Safety
Students explore fire safety rules through a variety of teacher-led activities. In this safety lesson plan, students choose appropriate felt board pieces as they listen to My Car by Byron Barton. Seat belt and car seat safety, as well as...
Curated OER
Life of a Navajo Weaver
Students explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Students demonstrate...
Ballet Austin
The History of Modern Dance
The evolution of modern dance, and the dance history of many of the key figures in the development of this uniquely American form, are the focus of a 13-page packet that includes photos of revolutionaries.
Curated OER
"Jessica" by Kevin Henkes
Students listed to the story Jessica by Kevin Henkes. They make their own imaginary friend using craft supplies. They then participate in an individual story theater in which they retell the story. Finally, they dictate stories about an...
Curated OER
Magnetic Art (3+)
Students explore the different fields of force of magnets and magnetized objects through the movement of metal filings. They use a magnet and metal filings to create a work of art.
Curated OER
Shadow Puppetry in South India
Students read a variety of literature from India, including folktales and fables. They then select a scene or story to script, work together to design and craft shadow puppets of characters and scenery, narrate a story, manipulate the...
Curated OER
Bear Hunt Book
Students create their own illustrated books. In this visual arts lesson, students use the paints and other materials to illustrate their own version of Going on a Bear Hunt. A game, a song, a craft, and a recipe are all included with...
Curated OER
Activities Using Music From Saint-Saens & Moussorgsky
Student create a fish and listen to music while imagining their fish are swimming. In this music lesson, students identify instruments played and move their fish to the movement. Students work with kangaroos and elephants to music as...
Curated OER
Quick As A Cricket
Learners engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of reading a story and then they reenact it while performing a pantomime. They answer questions related to the reading and then children move throughout the class imitating...