National Gallery of Art
Islamic Art and Culture
Provided by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, this resource for teachers examines Islamic art, including calligraphy, arabesques, and geometric designs. A recounting of the spread of the faith and the tumultuous political...
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Islamic Scientific Contributions to Civilization
Seventh graders explore several well documented artistic and scientific accomplishments that were discovered or perfected during The Golden Age of Islam. They are staff writers of a magazine who create a feature article about a topic...
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Middle Eastern Geometric Art
Students examine how Islamic artists represented their beliefs in logic and order through the geometric patterns in their art works. They analyze star patterns in Middle Eastern designs, and create geometric patterns using geometric shapes.
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Islamic Art; Exploring the Visual Arts of the Middle East
Students create a monogram, based of the idea of a Turkish Tughra. They examine the connection between writing for communication and writing as an art form. They explore the vocabulary related to the use of art media in the classroom.
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Art in the Muslim World
Students explore the basic elements of Islamic art and create their own artistic calligraphy. In this Islamic art lesson, students discuss calligraphy and watch a video about Islamic art. Students complete a response sheet for the video...
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Middle-East Reflections
Practice symmetry and patterns with this Mid-Eastern art project. Your class will create beautiful, reflective mosaics that will brighten up the classroom! A list of necessary materials is included.
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Shirin Neshat
Students research the life of an artist to make a comprehensive analysis of works and how they were formed through personal beliefs of the artist. The influence upon culture is the focus of the investigation to be conducted.
Facing History and Ourselves
Public Art as a Form of Participation
David Binnington's mural commemorating the 1936 Battle of Cable Street is the focus of a lesson that looks at public art as a form of civic participation. After reading background material about the mural, individuals analyze a segment...
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Spirit of Islam: Wrapping It Up
Students develop an action plan for overcoming stereotypes of the Muslim faith based on research they have conducted in previous lessons.
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Fusion: Calligraphy of Thought
Students read about Calligraphy of Thought, a collection of poetry linking Islam to the West. In this art and poetry lesson, students read about the poetry collection and complete a culture flower.
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History in the Painting
Students examine the topic of art history. They identify objects that were created long ago and the artists that made them. They create a tile design of their own to be displayed at school.
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Build a Bargueno
Students create a decorative drawer front concealing student treasures. This be accomplished by exploring the functions of a bargueno (writing desk). The discover how cultural influences impact the artist's motif.
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Textured Pottery using Self-Hardening Clay and Multicultural Design
Students create textured pottery. In this multicultural arts lesson, students follow step-by-step directions to create textured pottery with a multicultural design out of self-hardening clay.
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World History People Review
Who's who in World History? Help your historians keep track of major figures with this World History People Review, where students match 96 world figures to the appropriate descriptions. The matching questions are grouped by historical...
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Creating with Clay
Students are introduced to the Art Museum's Ahambra Vase. They explore the difference between throwing on the pottery wheel and hand building. Students create a functional vessel using two of the three hand-building techniques. They find...
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Rock On And Carve Off
Sixth graders work in groups of four to create one subtractive relief bust out of clay. Team results are shared and discussed to analyze the degree of planning and skillful manipulation of materials necessary to complete a limestone bust.
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Reading and Writing About Boxing
Students analyze the life of Jack Johnson and his relationship with other boxers. They write about his life by using the same style as Muhammad Ali, his taunts and boasts using rhyming.
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Medieval Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria: The Influence of Culture in Africa
Students are introduced to the concept of cultural diffusion. In groups, they identify the culture of Mali, Nigeria and Ethiopia and work together to research how cultural diffusion has changed the country. To end the lesson, they...
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Mali
Seventh graders begin the lesson by reading primary sources about the country of Mali. Using maps drawn in the past, they discuss what they can gather about the country from the map and how it has changed over time. They use a graphic...
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West African Art
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of West African Art. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They focus upon the history, geography, economics, and political systems. The information is used to...
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Inked Geometric Mandalas
Fifth graders gain an appreciation for mandalas in many cultures. Compare and contrast designs from many cultures. They see geometric design in mandalas and become aware of symmetrical balance and radial balance. They create a mandala...
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Constructing a Timeline of African History
Young scholars create a timeline of African History. In groups, they research and describe eight different important periods in the country's history. They apply this information to compare and contrast them and how it has allowed...
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Creating a Place of Contemplation Based on Hindu Temple Architecture
Learners study the architecture and decoration of Hindu temples, compare them with, and apply them to, a place of contemplation they will design for themselves.
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Religions and Mentors: Making Cultural Comparisons
High schoolers compare the Tirthankara of Jain religious stories and compare it to mentors who appear throughout Western stories. Studentsl create a narrative or a portrait in honor of a mentor of his or her own.