Curated OER
Finding Main Ideas
Elementary schoolers read paragraphs one at a time in order to pick out the main ideas. They choose which sentences are most important in a paragraph. This type of exercise prepares learners to identify the main idea in longer narratives.
Curated OER
Leaf Unit
Students complete a unit on leaves and their functions. They identify leaves and the trees they belong to, read various books, observe the process of photosynthesis on a flannel board, and create a leaf collage.
Curated OER
Texture With Chemical Reactions
Students explore the use of different textures in watercolor paintings in this late-elementary lesson. Emphasis is placed upon the art element of texture using the science of chemical reaction. The lesson includes one possible extension.
Curated OER
Multi-Color Leaf Prints
Students create multi-color leaf prints. Using different shapes and sizes of leaves, they trace them onto a plate and cut it out after adding the veins. They color it with one color and turn it over to make a print and repeat the...
Curated OER
Crayon Resist Fall Leaves
Students create examples of fall leaves using crayons, paints, and white paper in this fall Art lesson plan for the early-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed upon a class lecture/discussion about why leaves change color prior to...
Contemporary Arts Center
Sultan and Donovan Printmaking: The Collargraph
As part of a study of printmaking, class members study the works of Tara Donovan and Donald Sulta. They go on to build a printing plate using glue, textured paper, and found objects.
Curated OER
"Music Be the Food of Love:" Found Poetry with Shakespeare and Hip-Hop
Lines from Shakespeare and from hip-hop artists provide learners with an opportunity to examine the literary devices these artists use to express their ideas about love. Groups use the provided lines to craft found poems, and then the...
Curated OER
What Can a Leaf Be?
Students identify leaves for an art project and create a collage. In this leaf lesson, students review leaf characteristics. Students use leaves to create a collage of an animal or creature. Students write recipes of leaves for their...
Curated OER
Plaster Casts of Natural Objects
Fourth graders observe objects in science and create a contour picture of the the object. In this arts and science observation lesson, 4th graders develop a clay sculpture of their object. Students generate a list of texture words to...
Exploratorium
Exploring Tessellations
Looking for a good lesson plan on tessellations for your elementary schoolers? This one looks to be quite good! Pupils discover that a tessellation is any pattern of repeating shapes that cover a surface without overlapping or leaving...
Curated OER
A Fine Feathered Flock
Students role play different situations. For this respect lesson, students read Mr. Lincoln's Way, identify the story elements and answer comprehension questions. Students discuss how they can always treat others with respect and role...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Handprint Tree
Students work cooperatively to create a classroom thanksgiving tree in this November art instructional activity for the elementary classsroom. Included with the instructional activity is a short resource list of books that contain more...
Curated OER
Smiling Flowers Bulletin Board
Students create paper plate flowers using basic art supplies, digital pictures of themselves, and "stems and leaves" in this Art-based instructional activity that incorporates digital technology. The instructional activity is ideal for...
Curated OER
Japanese Fan
Students discuss Japanese culture and the functional and artistic uses of fans and create paper fans using watercolors, popsicle sticks, and tape in this Art lesson for the elementary classroom. Can be used as an introduction to...
Curated OER
Egg-sceptional
Students design colored Easter eggs in this simple Art activity for the elementary classroom. The dye is created using almost boiling water and should be done by the teacher. This activity is ideal for the spring-time months and...
Curated OER
Little Cloud
Students create "little clouds" after reading the story "The Little Cloud" by Eric Carle in this cross-curricular Art and Language Arts lesson plan for the early-elementary classroom. The author suggests using this with a "Raindrop...
Curated OER
Log Cabin
Students create log cabins out of strips of construction paper in this Art lesson for the early-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed on the study of how people live today versus in the distant past. A resource link is included for...
Curated OER
Khamsa Good Luck Hands
Students study the use of symbols in cultural art and create a collage of their hand prints. In this symbolism and art lesson, students learn about the use of symbolism in cultural art by studying the Moroccan art design called a Khamsa....
Curated OER
Positive/Negative Bugs
Bugs can be creepy - and fun! Kids create a positive and negative design by repeatedly drawing a simple insect overlaid with a geometric shape. The outcome is really neat and will help build spacial reasoning, visual acuteness, and...
Curated OER
Sign of the Beaver
This well-designed presentation serves as an excellent test review for students who have just read the book "Sign of the Beaver." Students must answer fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and matching questions from each chapter of the...
Curated OER
Line With Printmaking
Third graders investigate the use of lines in different pieces of art by creating their own ink print. In this art analysis instructional activity, 3rd graders identify the contours and lines of natural objects such as twigs and leaves....
Curated OER
Introduction to Primary Sources
Students explore the usage of primary sources, what they are and how they originate. Artifacts are compared and contrasted as part of this historical inquiry as questions are formulated and conclusions drawn.
Curated OER
Making a Magical Story
Fourth and fifth graders use their knowledge of developing character, dialogue, and setting to produce an original story. An excerpt from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is used as inspiration to get everyone's creative juices...
Curated OER
Faux Fossil Fun
Elementary schoolers investigate how fossils are created by reproducing the process of creating an impression and filling it with a hardening material. The art lessons from this source are just fantastic! The lesson plan is well-written...