Sixth graders compare their lives to trees and make connections between the two, consider how trees are metaphors for people, and draw and label trees to represent themselves. Students then read brief stories, fables or nursery rhymes,...

Students practice dramatic 'living' through various drama activities. In this drama lesson, students define drama, view examples of dramatic elements in Cyrano de Bergerac and Roxanne, define characterization within the dramas, study the...

Students construct a quilt using symbols of the past and present. In this communities lesson, students interview an older adult and discuss the history of their community. Students create a quilt.

Students identify traits of African masks. In this multicultural art activity, students view online examples of African masks and discuss the characteristics of the masks. Students create an original 2-D version of the African mask by...

In this music worksheet, students draw quarter notes and half notes. The lesson is dependent on classroom access to a musical lesson from Boombox classroom, found at the Sweet Bird Classics home page.

In this African music worksheet, learners read about how family life, community music, and rhythms are part of the culture and music of Africa.

Students create raven masks. In this Northwest Coast Native American instructional activity, students design and create Kwakiutl-style hats that feature the shapes, animals, and colors used by the Northwest Native Americans.

Watching is not the same as seeing. Transform viewers from passive watchers to active students of film with this 34-page packet, filled with lessons and activities that use Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to examine the technology, the...

The house lights dim, the curtain parts, lights slowly come up, revealing the stage. Before the actors appear, before a word is spoken, the audience is drawn in by the lighting, by the colors, by lines of the set, by the props, and...

Whether studying metaphors or Greek mythology, this labyrinth project is a fantastic lesson plan to add to your unit. It includes two versions of the labyrinth; making it with yarn or stone. If your materials are limited, you can even...

Students examine the art and history of Japan and use it to help them conceptualize and create a work of art that reveals something about their own culture. They examine, interpret and analyze Noguchi's work and reveal information...

Students investigate a variety of African mask types, design several masks, and create an example of an African ceramic mask in this 5th grade through High School Art lesson. The lesson can take anywhere from 6 lessons to 16 lessons.

Student complete a month-long unit on the symbolic and practical reasons for American Indian artwork. They explore websites, discuss elements of design, create an Indian backpack, Kachina Doll, weaving, sand painting, and totem pole.

Learners study new ideas and art concepts, while reinforcing others, through a Chinese cultural tradition. They determine how cultural differences differences affect painting processes.

Students explore puppetry. In this puppetry lesson, students research the history and culture of puppets. Student begin to understand that art work has special characteristics. Students create their own marionette puppet.

Students view and analyze fragments of advertising images from magazines to become familiar with different techniques used to sell products, write captions for advertisements, and create their own advertisements from scratch based on...

Students research the history and contributions of Jazz in their local environments. They then design and create a wide variety of presentations to share with the class using as many mediums as possible.

Students investigate the linear characteristics of cultural art.  In this art analysis lesson, students discover the Pre-Columbian Chimu culture and the many masks they created.  Students identify the different shapes and lines...

Learners write, adapt, and compose a song related to the West Virginia State Museum.  In this music instructional activity, students create a composition for a work of  visual art. Learners incorporate major and minor melodies.

Students recognize and use the visual arts as a form of communication. They use the computer as a visual arts tool to gather images for a story they are telling. They discuss related stories that differ in their realistic images. They...

Students evaluate the messages in music. In this communication through music lesson, students listen to various musical selections and determine the message being conveyed in the song. Then, students create their own message as they...

Learners discuss and examine the work of artist Cai Guo-Qiang.  In this art instructional activity, students analyze how cultural and historical factors impact the visual arts. 

Learners create Japanese side-bound books using traditional bookbinding methods and original Haikus in this Art lesson for the High School classroom. The lesson can be modified for any grade level and can be accomplished in two class...

Students study several examples of Japanese abstract art and how this style impacted the Impressionist movement of the 19th century. This lesson includes ideas for student-created sketchbooks.