Dick Blick Art Materials
EZ-Grout Mosaics
Young artists create 2-D art using air-dry clay and acrylic paint in this mosaic-making activity. Kids trace their design sketch on a clay slab, cut out the pieces, and after drying, paint and mount their tile design.
Curated OER
The Clay Pot that YOU Built!
After listening to a story called The Pot that Juan Built about Mexican clay pot maker Juan Quezda, learners discuss this artistic process. Then, they discuss the special techniques used to make clay pots. And, finally, they make their...
Smithsonian Institution
Affirmation, Assimilation, and Acculturation: Middle School
Latin American culture is deeply embedded in American culture as a whole. From the Latin rock scene in San Francisco to the hip-hop world of New York, Latin American artists have influenced every genre of modern music. Learn about the...
Curated OER
A Close Look at Mexico
Students study the diverse population of Mexico and compare it to that of the United States. They sing traditional songs of Mexico including the national anthem and memorize simple Spanish vocabulary and express greetings, age, likes,...
Curated OER
Discovering Mexico through Murals
Students describe the Mexican culture and relate it to their own culture. They investigate the Mexican culture through internet research, textbooks, and class discussions. Students create a mural of their school culture. They interview...
Curated OER
Artifacts: Bringing the Past Back to Life -- the Mexican Case
Middle schoolers examine and discuss the meanings of the various symbols in Tenochtitlan. In groups, they complete a part of the model of the city and discuss the importance of finding artifacts. Individually, they choose an a...
Curated OER
Artistic Expression
Young scholars analyze Frida Kahlo's paintings to determine how she used them for self-expression. They create a personal piece of art to express sentiments on a particular subject.
Curated OER
Mini Coil Pots: Ceramics Lesson
Art is a wonderful way to teach historical or cultural concepts. Here, learners view a series of coil pots that have been created throughout history by a variety of civilizations. They then create and decorate a pot of their own that...
Curated OER
Relief Foil Sculpture
A little tin foil can go a long way. Middle schoolers create relief sculptures out of card board and foil. The step-by-step procedure and materials list are included. Note: This project can be done with children as young as seven.
Annenberg Foundation
Masculine Heroes
What were the driving forces behind American expansion in the nineteenth century, and what were its effects? Scholars watch a video, read biographies, engage in discussion, write journals and poetry, draw, and create a multimedia...
Curated OER
Jose Posada - Calaveras Drawings - Line
Students examine and discuss work of Mexican printmaker Jose Posada, and create drawings in the style of Posada that use current subject matter and symbols.
Curated OER
Claycrete Calaveras - Dia de los Muertos
Learners create skeletons to celebrate the Day of the Dead. In this visual arts instructional activity, students explore the importance of the Day of the Dead celebrations in the Mexican culture. They create skeletons and decorate them...
Curated OER
Latin American Art
Latin American art lessons can provide a way to explore different cultures, the lives of famous artists, and much more.
Curated OER
Remember Me Fondly
Students will learn how two cultures express ideas of remembrance and honor ancestors by investigating Mexico's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and America's Memorial Day, as well as the Vietnam Memorial. They will learn about...
Curated OER
Westward Expansion and the War with Mexico
Students evaluate primary sources to develop their own opinions about Westward Expansion. In this Manifest Destiny instructional activity, students examine and respond to questions about Gast's painting titled American Progress Students...
Curated OER
A Cultural Celebration
Students explore the Mexican ritual of Dia de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. They make sugar skulls using math measurement and artistic expression and become more aware of this Mexican holiday.
Curated OER
Border Icons
Students examine the artistic definition of "icon" and articulate its importance in the popular art of the border. They paint, draw, their favorite icon or design a new icon that represents an important aspect of border life.
Curated OER
Folk Art In Response to Folk Music
Young scholars respond to the song, "This Land is Your Land" in writing and create an original painting in the style of folk art. They identify the characteristics of folk art and identify how the works of folk artists reflect the...
Curated OER
A Pair, A Panel, A Presentation: Creating an Image for Your School
Students create a screen for the school. They work as a group to create a screen using various scenes from the school. Once they have finished their project, they explain why the artist chose to use the scenes from his time period.
Curated OER
Carmen Lomas Garza
Students are introduced to the life and works of Carmen Lomas Garza. In groups, they research the causes and effects of the Chicano movement and view examples of her self-portraits. They identify other artists who were well known for...
Curated OER
Should Art Be for Art's Sake?
Students examine how European-America aestheticians (philosophers of art) do not all agree about the value and definition of art. students examine how some cultures do not have a distinct word or definition for art.
Curated OER
Muralism, Muralists and Murals
Young scholars examine images of various murals, and conduct Internet research on murals, the muralist movement, and muralists. They discuss themes for a school mural, then create a mural for the school incorporating the themes listed by...
Curated OER
Studio Art Lessons Based on Latin American Arts
Study three of the basic principles of design: l) designs should create a rhythmic pattern made up of related shapes, 2) colors should be repeated so as to not force the eye to remain with a single part of the composition, and 3) a...
Curated OER
Metal Tooling with Colored Pencils
Take your art class back centuries to the art of metal tooling. This is an art technique also referred to as embossing, or repajado in Mexico and South America. This is a fun project to introduce a new technique and new materials. This...