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Old Hobbits Are Hard to Break
Explore film adaptation of literature with this activity, which focuses on the world of film advertisements. Middle schoolers discuss various films (including The Lord of the Rings) and create advertisements for a pretend film based on a...
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Medieval Art
Sixth graders study Gothic architecture on the Internet and create a mug with a gargoyle figure on it.
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Crayon Etching- Medieval Bestiary
Sixth graders make connections between art and literature studying about Medieval imagery and beliefs.
Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc.
Feudalism Play
Using research notes on feudal roles in medieval Europe, learners work cooperatively to write a play about one day in the life of a boy or girl in the Middle Ages.
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The Red Studio Shows the Way
Students look at the painting The Red Studio Shows the Way, and critique the art piece. In this critiquing art lesson plan, students discuss how the painting expresses ideas and feelings and history.
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Italian Renaissance
Fifth graders explore the Italian Rensissance in this six lessons unit. The prominent citizens, the ideas, values, art, philosophy, and literature of the are seen as a rediscovery of Ancient Greek and Roman times.
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Back to the Classics
Students closely examine chamber music as it has changed from the Middle Ages to today. They work in small groups to research the composers, instruments and typical presentation in 5 time periods. They write biographies and share their...
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The Red Studio Turns 100!
Pupils observe the art of Henri Matisse and discuss the ideas and feelings his art brings about. For this Henri Matisse lesson plan, students look at many of his artistic paintings and discuss and write in a journal the point of view...
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Clay Gargoyles and Grotesques
Grotesques or gargoyles are wonderful subjects for stories or art projects. Here is a simple "how to" for creating a lesson about sculpting clay gargoyles. Tip: Have learners research gargoyles throughout history.
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Organizing Writing/Composing a First Draft
Does your language arts class have a hard time with writing transitions? Use this organizational writing lesson to create three effective transition sentences that middle schoolers will use in their research of renewable resources.
California Education Partners
Vincent Van Gogh
Living in someone's shadow would be difficult for anyone, including one of the most talented artists of the modern age. Middle schoolers read an excerpt from Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan...
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Thesis Structure
Use this lesson to reinforce the importance of a strong thesis statement. After viewing samples, middle schoolers identify the three parts to a thesis. Additionally, they create their own thesis including and labeling the three parts and...
Learning to Give
Closing Ceremonies
Promote volunteerism in your art or writing classes. In this service learning lesson, middle schoolers create promotional materials that include photographs and newspaper articles based on their personal service experiences in local...
Channel Islands Film
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Lesson Plan 3
Should researchers be able to excavate, examine, and remove Native American artifacts from historic sites? Should companies be permitted to build on sacred Native American land? After watching West of the West's documentary, The Lone...
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Musical Art
Students create pieces of Abstract art by listening to various genres of music and reacting to the music with a pencil on a piece of paper and their eyes closed. This activity is intended for a middle-level Art class and can be used as...
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Rosie's Roses Lesson Idea: Practice Hearing the R
Students focus on the sound of the letter /r/ after listening to Rosie's Roses by Pamela Duncan Edwards. In this letter /r/ lesson, students identify animals in the book that contain the /r/ sound. They sort /r/ words into groups by the...
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The Victorian Age: A People in Search of Themselves as Seen Through Their Architecture
Students develop an appreciation and understanding of the people, their attitudes, values and beliefs as reflected in their architecture. They use slides and or a walking tour showing the various styles of architecture, in New Haven,...
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Make Your Own Sketchbook
Students create and assemble a sketchbook from assorted materials. They use various media to create the cover design of the sketchbook, then create sketch ideas for the weekly sketches.
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The Art of Making Paper
Pupils discover the materials used to make paper in the late Middle Ages and coompare that to papermaking today. In groups, they analyze and compare the effectiveness, cost and value of the various materials available. They discuss the...
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Wet Chalk Drawing
Students create original works of art using chalk, tempera paints, and paper in this art activity for elementary and middle level classrooms. The instructional activity includes ideas for displaying or mounting finished works of chalk...
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Spring Indoors
Young scholars work cooperatively to create a spring-time bulletin board for classroom use in this excellent Art-based lesson. The lesson includes ideas and tips on how to create a successful board that looks as if it is a window to the...
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Maracas
Students create Maracas out of various supplies while learning about percussion instruments in this Art and Music lesson for the elementary and middle level classroom. Detailed directions for two different methods are given.
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Pop Bottle Flowers
Students make flowers from art materials. They use construction paper and paint to create a t-shirt with the flowers on it. They use a pop bottle to create the petals.
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Wild Moving Lizard Sculpture
Lizards are amazing! After a instructional activity on reptiles, take a look at this set of instructions. You'll be able to guide your class in making a paper lizard sculpture that moves. This idea also includes variations on the paper...