Primary
University of Michigan

Symbolism in Visual Images

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief essay on visual symbolism in literature and art. Provides examples and nice images. Shows that visual images can have the same type of symbolism as literary works.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African Art: Inscribing Meaning: Writing and Graphic Systems

For Students 9th - 10th
These works of art reveal symbols and graphic systems that help to communicate values and ideas of the African people.
Graphic
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Panel With a Griffin

For Students 9th - 10th
A work of Byzantine craftmanship (ca. 1250-1300) that takes the griffin--a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion--as its subject. The traditional role of griffins as protectors of the dead was...
Handout
PBS

Art21: Louise Bourgeois

For Students 9th - 10th
A great site by PBS that features a biography on the artist and links to art work, videos clips and interviews. On this page there are also links to lesson plans and other artist pages. In all, a very informative site.
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Art Appreciation: Unit 1: Orientation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In this first unit of a course on Art Appreciation, students are instructed in how the entire course is organized, what to expect, what course symbols mean, rubrics used in assessment, and what plagiarism is. The next section explains...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: What Prehistoric Cave Paintings Reveal About Early Human Life

For Students 9th - 10th
Some of the oldest known art may hint at the beginning of language development, while later examples portray narratives with human and animal figures. What does the oldest known art in the world tell us about the people who created it?...
Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Art

National Gallery of Art: Danger! Shark!

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners will learn the story of young Brook Watson who lost his leg to a shark attack. By re-enacting the stances and feelings of his rescuers, they will come up with a list of adjectives to create a class definition of a hero/heroine....
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Draw a Math Story From the Concrete to the Symbolic

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
Contains plans for four cross-curricular lessons that ask students to write simple addition and subtraction stories after reading a number of models. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF...
Handout
PBS

Art21: Barbara Kruger

For Students 9th - 10th
Much of Kruger's art questions the viewer about feminism, consumerism, and desire. Her trademark black text on a red background has been seen around the world and can still be recognized today.
Website
J. Paul Getty Trust

J. Paul Getty Museum: In Focus: The Tree

For Students 9th - 10th
Celebrate a universal symbol of life, the tree, represented by different forms of visual art at this virtual exhibition.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Literature: Personification

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explains what personification is and gives examples. Includes links to related articles on symbolism, elements of rhetoric, fables, figure of speech, and allegory.
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Australia

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the culture of Australia. Gives basic information on topics such as geography, ethnic makeup, languages, symbolism, economy, food, customs, social stratification, family life, education, religion, politics, etc....
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Argentina

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the culture of Argentina. Gives basic information on topics such as geography, ethnic makeup, languages, symbolism, economy, food, customs, social stratification, family life, education, religion, politics, etc....
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Austria

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the culture of Austria. Gives basic information on topics such as geography, ethnic makeup, languages, symbolism, economy, food, customs, social stratification, family life, education, religion, politics, etc....
Article
Other

Buddhist Artifacts the Support of Spiritual Realization

For Students 9th - 10th
A site by Tulku Thondup explaining the significance of Buddhist art in Tibet. This is an excerpt from a talk given at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1990. The basis is how the Buddhist devotees in Tibet use religious objects as tools...
Graphic
The National Gallery (UK)

National Gallery, London: Ite: 'Madame De Pompadour at Her Tambour Frame'

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
See an example of how one teacher used the painting of Madame de Pompadour in her classroom to develop a lesson for a personal still life.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: The Story of India: Lakshmi

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS explores one of the world's oldest religions, Hinduism, with a highlight of the goddess Lakshmi. Describes how she is depicted in art, the symbolism behind her four arms, and other important symbols that she is most often associated...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: The Story of India: Saraswati

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS explores one of the world's oldest religions, Hinduism, with a highlight of the goddess Saraswati. Identifies her importance and role in the Hindu lifestyle and where she is most often worshiped. Describes how she is depicted in art,...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Scroll Paintings (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students apply knowledge about Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and work collaboratively with classmates creating scroll paintings in this instructional activity. The Book of the Dead is referred to in teaching students about Ancient Egypt...

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