National Endowment for the Humanities
A “New English” in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Common Core Exemplar
To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...
Curated OER
Asian Cinderella Tales
Explore the world of fairy tales using this instructional activity focusing on higher- order thinking skills. Learners compare and contrast an Asian Cinderella story to other versions. It is a great way to review the characteristics of...
Curated OER
Shakespearean Comedy on Film
This activity will focus on the aspects of Shakespeare's comedy that become more evident in performance. By viewing clips of the same Shakespeare scene in different film versions, high schoolers have the opportunity to engage in a close...
Curated OER
Scrapbooks, The Collecting of Creative Ideas
Young scholars examine the value and use of scrapbooks in writing and historic inquiry. They view and discuss online interactive scrapbooks by Mark Twain, and in small groups create a collaborative scrapbook that reflects the time and...
Curated OER
How Do Values Shape Conflicts?
Learners work through conflict. In this conflict resolution lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to consider both sides of the whaling issue.
Curated OER
Novel Jeopardy
Play a classroom version of the classic game show Jeopardy, to review and discuss the novel your class has been reading. Questions about plot and other story elements are written on cards and given point values. Divide the class into...
Curated OER
Double Exposure Lesson Plan: Artistic Analysis of a Photograph
Students view photographs on Web module, practice answering questions of analysis, and identify artistic qualities of photographs by applying the analysis of elements of art.
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Heroes Portrait
Eighth graders investigate art appreciation and Renaissance portraits through time. They create a portrait.
Louisiana Department of Education
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Compare and contrast popular works of fantasy literature with an in-depth reading comprehension unit. Language arts learners study the theme of good versus evil, fantastical characters and symbols, and the value of a visual...
Curated OER
Introduction To Composition And Elements Of Design
Students create a finished drawing with a dynamic, asymmetrical composition. Pencil sketches are encouraged for final projects. Students assess their own work prior to submitting the artwork.
Curated OER
The Value of Exchange
Sixth graders examine the relationship between the Jefferson Peace Medal and the nickels in the Westward Journey Series. They make bartering negotiations to similate the ones made by Lewis and Clark. They note the similarities and...
Curated OER
Peace and Non-Violence: the Teachings of Gandhi
Students study the Gandhian philosophy. They define certain elements such as power, beauty and discuss what they know about the struggle for independence in India. Finally students collaborate to discuss Gandhian principles to extend...
Curated OER
Still Life - Realism
Middle schoolers discuss still life painting and the Realism style of art. They plan a personal narrative still life drawing, complete the project and present it to the class.
Curated OER
Silhouettes and Interiors
Learners create a multimedia piece that integrates drawing and collage. Students learn about metacognition and the discovering of self through genres of art and literature by using these steps: inspiration, brainstorm, application,...
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Tribal Origin Stories
The teacher reads and retells Californian tribal origin or creation stories that come from the traditions of a variety of California Indian tribes. Then, pupils get together in groups and retell the stories they just heard; just as...
Curated OER
Television Newscasts
When we watch news broadcasts on television, we receive a much more visual perspective than when we read the newspaper. How do sets, clothing, and music contribute to our understanding of the story? Compare American and Canadian news...
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Illustrating Text
Ideas like this are highly effective for helping build better reading comprehension. The class listens to an excerpt from a grade-appropriate text, and they discuss what clues or words helped them visualize the scene. They then read a...
Curated OER
Let's Talk About Painting
Second graders identify the elements of the arts. In this visual arts lesson, 2nd graders read the book Matthew's Dream and discuss the elements of the arts. Students create their own paintings according to the style of specific artists.
Curated OER
Informal Group Portraits
Students explain one artist's approach to the Impressionist's use of art elements and design principles. They create an Impressionistic painting that contains two figures.
Curated OER
Draw Me a Mammal!
Fifth graders illustrate at least three art elements in a drawing of a mammal they've read about with 100% accuracy. As a review, Bloom's Taxonomy questions are asked as they prepare to sketch something they pictured in the story they read.
Curated OER
Isamu Noguchi/Stone Sculpture
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...
Curated OER
Sides of a Texas Quarter
Pupils study the meaning, symbolism, and value of U.S. coins, especially the quarter. They research Texas symbols online and create a design for the obverse and reverse sides a Texas quarter in a choice of media.
Curated OER
Coin Art 4-6
Students study the historical figures and symbols of U.S.
patriotism depicted on the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter coins and learn that artists designed the portraits and other images on the coins. They research Texas symbols and...
Curated OER
Joseph Stella Art: Line Designs
Students discover the focal point in pictures and create their own images using lines and space. In this art analysis instructional activity, students create a black dot on a white paper which becomes a focal point for the lines...