PBS
Supernatural Shakespeare and Macbeth
"A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come." The withered and wild witches of Shakespeare’s Scottish play launch an examination of the fantastical elements in Act I, scene iii, paying particular attention to the action, imagery,...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin: Master Diplomat for One Last Time
At 81, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he exercised significant influence in shaping key elements of how the United States operates. The class examines his role, using “The Scene at...
Digital Writing and Research Lab's – Lesson Plans
Teaching Close Reading through Short Composition/Revision
This activity may have writers evaluate short compositions, but their subjects are quite tall: great Americans. Pupils read one another's compositions and closely examine how specific phrases and diction contribute to shaping American...
Curated OER
Interpreting Dramatic Works
Action! Delve into character development in the play Fences by August Wilson, setting the stage for learners to analyze character nuances. Thespians choose a scene from the script, responding with a written account of the...
Curated OER
Looking and Learning in the Art Museum
Learners practice looking skills as they reflect upon the differences between viewing original works of art and reproductions. In this art viewing lesson, students interpret a work of art using formal analysis and research done for...
Curated OER
Shapes and Introduction to Geometry
Students make a quilt. In this geometry instructional activity, students discuss patchwork quilts and learn some different geometric shapes and patterns that are commonly used. Students explore designs with triangles and squares and then...
Curated OER
Gesture Drawing
Students investigate the use of proportion using gesture drawing as the subject matter. They create a painting using the elements of art and principles of design.
Curated OER
Shaping the View: Symmetry and Balance
Young scholars examine how artists structure their compositions to convey a sense of symmetry and balance. They analyze various paintings, identify objects and figures in the paintings, conduct Internet research, and evaluate paintings.
Curated OER
Listening to Poetry: Sounds of the Sonnet
Students experience and enjoy the sounds of poetry. They erform sound experiments with sonnets and closely read and analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare. Students write an analysis of how sound affects meaning in a sonnet chosen from the...
Curated OER
Principles of Design
Students study the principles of design by viewing a PowerPoint presentation and then find examples of those principles in magazines. They look through magazines or sketch clothing that exhibit the principles of design and show their...
Curated OER
Rhythm and Art: Painting
High schoolers make connections between music and visual art. In this integrated arts lesson, students design paintings that challenge them to examine the relationship between art elements and principles.
Curated OER
The Role of the Opera Orchestra
Students listen to and examine a recording of the opera Don Pasquale and study the various musical instruments in an orchestra. They discuss the difference between a symphony orchestra and an opera orchestra. Finally they play the music...
Curated OER
Name Patterns
Here is a fun, colorful, and engaging art project that is sure to get your kids excited! They make a piece of art using watercolor paints, and by making a design out of the letters of their first name. This would be a fantasti art...
Curated OER
Masking Tape Masterpieces
Students create non-objective art based on the design elements of line, color, balance and movement using tape. This simple lesson plan encourages students to create patterns by overlapping and defining lines on a canvas panel. One of...
College Board
2012 AP® English Literature and Composition Free-Response Questions
Does the world shape a person's character? Scholars choose a novel or play, take a close look, and write essays about how surroundings affect a character. Writers also analyze literary elements in an excerpt from a novel and poetic...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Rocks & Minerals
Take young geologists on an exploration of the rock cycle with this six-lesson earth science unit on rocks and minerals. Through a series of discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations your class will learn...
Curated OER
Secrets of Painting
Learners explore colors and shapes. In this art concepts instructional activity, students discuss shapes, lines, and color while creating a variety of abstract designs. The instructions for several art activities are provided. Basic art...
Curated OER
Elements and Principles Using a Movie
Learners identify the elements and principles that appear in an illustration of a room and explain each concept in writing. They watch this movie identifying each of the elements and principles of design portrayed in the interiors of...
Curated OER
Team Shape Picture/Shape Creation
Learners study the concept of shape--two-dimensional objects--and have hands-on experience creating pictures using a variety of shapes. They identify, explain and use the basic elements of design and recognize the effect different...
Curated OER
National Gallery of Art: Prinz Friedrich von Homburg: Ein Schauspeil, 3x
Young scholars explore the work of Frank Stella. For this art appreciation lesson, students look at images of the sculpture Prinz Friedrich von Homburg: Ein Schauspeil, 3x and discuss it as a work of art. This lesson includes two simple...
Curated OER
Artist Trading Cards: Sharing Unique Perspectives
Students examine inkblot images. In this visual arts lesson plan, students consider perception as an element of art as they partipate in activity that requires them create and analyze inkblot art. Students analyze several pieces of...
Curated OER
Facial Studies Through Creation of a Face Jug
Young scholars study facial expressions and create a face jug. In this facial study lesson, students look at images of face jugs through history before drawing thumbnails of facial images. They use the coil method to make a jug, and use...
Curated OER
Checker Board Patterns
Make these funky checker board patterns. They will not only add fun decoration to your classroom, but your pupils will be able to practice using simple geometry tools.They will use tools to make lines and circular shapes using a ruler,...
Armory Center for the Arts
Place Value Collage
How can art represent math? Use a lesson on place value collages to illustrate the different meanings that numbers have in their designated places. Kids observe photographs and paintings that show place value, then work on their own.