Curated OER
Greek Pottery Designs
Get creative while exploring the art and history of the ancient Greeks. Learners create construction paper representations of Greek pottery, focusing on the differences between geometric and organic shapes. This project could enhance an...
American Institute of Architects
Architecture: It's Elementary!—First Grade
Build an interest and appreciation for architecture in your young learners with this fun 10-lesson art unit. Engaging children in using their five senses, the class first observes the environment around them, paying...
Curated OER
Designing a Quilt Pattern
Students create and color a one-patch quilt design based upon a regular hexagon. They examine quilts and photos of quilt designs, read a handout, and complete their quilt design on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Social Studies: Adinkra Printing
First graders demonstrate a sense of artistic composition by creating shapes and symbols in the pattern of African Adinkra printing. They use glue to create a raised design and then print it on colored paper. Students use symbols from...
Curated OER
Family Quilts Keep Us Warm
Students explore different types of families and cultures. They create a paper quilt with geometric designs of similar colors to show unity and pictures of each of their families to show diversity.
Curated OER
Math Quilts
Students examine geometric shapes. In this geometric shape lesson plan, students examine how geometric shapes flip, turn, and slide to create a pattern. Students analyze the role that quilts played in helping slaves escape to freedom. ...
Curated OER
Bead Weaving on a Loom
Students investigate the process of weaving and how Native Americans wove beads on looms. They research Native American geometric patterns online, design a pattern on graph paper, and create a patterned beaded band.
Curated OER
Ukrainian Style Scratchboard Eggs
The class explores Ukrainian motifs, the scratchboard technique, and two-dimensional art. They design and produce a Ukrainian style egg with tagboard, crayon, tempera paint, and a stylus. Ukrainian egg designs are similar to those used...
Curated OER
Identifying, Mapping, and Personifying Countries Involved in WWII
Get artsy with this WWII group activity, starting with a whole-class assignment. Create a map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Pacific using geometric shapes cut from construction paper and placed on the floor. Consider splitting the...
Curated OER
Community & Architecture
Learners investigate the Bamum people of Cameroon and the use of symbols in African societies. They read a handout, and design a palace using African symbols, presenting and describing their design to the class.
Curated OER
Visual Elements in the Giant Kites of Guatemala: Shape, Rhythm, and Color
Students view pictures of and discuss geometric shapes included in kites from Guatemala. They discuss the repetition of shapes and how that creates a motif. Students draw three concentric arches across their paper. They create a design...
Curated OER
Navajo Yei
Students explore geometry in Navajo culture. In this geometry lesson, students search for different geometrical shapes in Navajo art. Students then create their own rug or jewelry design using geometrical shapes.
Curated OER
The Gift Drawings of the Shakers
Students create their own "gift drawings" that are inspired by the dreams and visions of the Shakers. In this gift drawings lesson plan, students learn the history of the Shakers, make their own drawing, and practice elements of design...
Curated OER
T H E P O W E R O F A R C H I T E C T U R E
Students arecognize the architecture of another culture, how the architecture of a people records their history, explore artistic elements, explore and use geometric concepts of shape, pattern, and symmetry.
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Kente Cloths
Second graders create examples of Kente cloths using paper, markers, and paints in this multi-cultural Art lesson for the second grade. The two part lesson includes an introduction of Kente Cloth designs and can be accomplished in one day.
Curated OER
The Art of the Quilt
Students examine why fabric was first sewn in layers and how it was used. They identify, compare and make 3 different fabric design types which will become a basis for looking at the quilts created by African Americans. They begin the...
Curated OER
Exploring the History of Canyon de Chelly: Pottery
Students study the tradional Native American methods of making pottery. They examine the patterns used and design their own pattern that they will use as they make their own pottery utilizing the clay from the surrounding environment.
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Celebrating Ancestors
Students participate in a "hands-on" activity, to explain that African masks were and are more than aesthetic artifacts, they are functional implements of the many cultures of the African continent.
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Countries Involved in World War II
Students create their own floor map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Pacific. They locate, identify, and speak for one of the countries involved. In addition, they classify the country they represent as an Axis Power or as an Allied...
Curated OER
Prairie Activity: Prairie Quilt
Students investigate prairie life in the 19th century. They research quilts and prairie images online, take a photo of an object related to prairie life, transfer the image onto fabric, and create a class quilt.
Curated OER
Weaving with Seed Beads on a Bead Loom
Students describe, and try, the process of weaving and demonstrate how Native Americans and others wove beads on a loom to create long, narrow bands for hair and bracelets.