Smithsonian Institution
Latino Expression
How much of your daily life is influenced by Latin American music? Take a listen—the answer may surprise you! High schoolers keep a journal to note any instances they see Latino culture represented, including the media, their school, and...
Curated OER
"De Colores"
First graders learn color words in Spanish through the use of a song. In this Spanish music activity, 1st graders sing the song "De Colores" to help them learn their color words in Spanish.
Curated OER
What does it mean to be American?
Students create a mural depicting what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students pull out magazine ads that depict what it means to be an American, then they make a mural out of it, and finally they present...
Curated OER
Creating a Poster of a Famous Person
Students research a famous person from a target culture and design, plan and create a poster about this person. They also make an oral presentation to explain their poster to the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Unit of Study Mural
Students make a mural after reading about the art of Diego Rivera. In this mural lesson plan, students read a book about Diego Rivera, discuss him and his artwork, and make their own class mural.
Curated OER
Human Abstraction
Students explore and compare abstraction of human forms in various ancient cultures and by creating self-portraits using geometric shapes. They identify which geometric shapes form the following features: face, nose, arms, torso, legs,...
Curated OER
The Life and Work of Jackson Pollock
By discussing Jackson Pollock's painting techniques, students can engage in an exploration of what makes art, art.
Curated OER
Revolutions Around the World
Revolutions are an interesting and informative way to study world history.
Curated OER
Warrior of the Church: St. James on Horseback
Students discuss the life and significance of Saint James. They identify details and features of New Spanish sculpture that make it unique.
Curated OER
Art for Protest or Persuasion
Students examine Chicana/o and earlier prints made for protest and persuasion. They compare characteristics of different processes and distinguish multiple original prints from mass-produced reproductions of artworks.
Curated OER
Scenes of Reverence: The Virgin of Guadalupe
Students learn the history of Christianity in New Spain. They learn the story and significance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. They compare and contrast images of the Virgin and religious art to European counterparts.
Curated OER
Reflections in the Mirror A Visual Journal and Mural Inspired by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Pupils examine and analyze works of art by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. They create journals that follow the form and content of Kahlo's diary, and murals in the spirit of Rivera.
Curated OER
Action/Reaction: Art and Politics
Students examine three images that were responses to social and political turmoil World War I and II. In this political art activity, students analyze and discuss the example art. Students create a word poem, a collage, and their own...
Curated OER
National Gallery of Art: Jackson Pollock
Students paint a picture in the style of Jackson Pollock. In this painting lesson, students learn about Jackson Pollock and the method that he used to create his famous pieces of art. Students use objects other than paintbrushes to...
Curated OER
Textured Pottery using Self-Hardening Clay and Multicultural Design
Young scholars 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.
Curated OER
Visual Arts Lesson: Virgin of Guadalupe
Sixth graders paint symbols of their culture after examining painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Curated OER
The Chicano Movement in California - Culture, Causes, and Community
Young scholars explore the culture and community of the Chicano movement in California using prints that emerged from the Chicano movement. The historical, binational, and bicultural components are examined in this three lessons unit.
Curated OER
Creating a Self Portrait painting With Decorative Frame
Sixth graders view a large image of a painting and discuss the history and its role in past and current culture in Mexico. Student list the symbols portrayed in the work and explain their significance. Students use elements of art to...
Curated OER
La Marcha Dance
Fourth graders are presented with a wedding song and dance of another culture. They also make a connection between the beat of a song with various dance movements.
Curated OER
Culture in Art
Students explore how cultural aspects of their lives are depicted in society. They view a video on Frida Kahlo and identify the cultural elements that she referenced in her work.
Curated OER
ARTIFACT to ART to GLYPHS
Young scholars study the development of early Latin American civilizations in unit one. The second part of the unit is based on early image-making attempts from the Cro-Magnon to the Peruvian Incas. Students create their own weavings...
Curated OER
Who am I? Bookmaking
Learners explore the process of bookmaking that has its origins from many different international cultures. The multicultural symbolism represented by the medium is utilized by students to expres their identity.
Curated OER
BEAN and SEED MOSAIC
To gain the students' attention pose the following question: How many of you know what Cinco de Mayo is and who it is important to? After some discussions on the students' responses explain to them exactly what Cinco de Mayo is and its...
Curated OER
Art of Mexico - Painting
Young scholars create a personal painting of thanks, explain importance of devotional art in Mexico, and critically view art work from another culture. Next, students evaluate self and peer work.