Curated OER
Haring's Heroes
Students collaborate to create a painting in the style of Keith Haring. In this subway art instructional activity, learners study the distinct style of artist Keith Haring and design a large scale canvas on styrofoam. They study the...
Curated OER
Spin Art
The best part about spin art is that is demonstrates the concept of centrifugal force. Explore the magical spin of gravity as you make colorful art. This lesson idea is short, very simple, and requires a spin art machine.
Curated OER
"3-D" Painting
Students experiment with color using tints and shades of at least 2 hues and create a 3-D painting/mobile.
Curated OER
Painting Made Easy
Students are introduced to painting. They choose a simple project, such as fish or butterfly. Students practice drawing this object until they can draw the picture large enough to fill a 12"x18" paper. They make relief outlines of the...
Curated OER
Painting on Foil
Pupils choose a torn out coloring page and place it on top of the foil. They hold the page in place and retrace the drawing with a pencil pressing down hard enough to etch the drawing into the foil.
Curated OER
Labyrinths
Whether studying metaphors or Greek mythology, this labyrinth project is a fantastic lesson plan to add to your unit. It includes two versions of the labyrinth; making it with yarn or stone. If your materials are limited, you can even...
Curated OER
The Human Body
Explore the human body through hands-on activities. Young learners will trace their bodies and place cut out body organs in the proper place, print patterns using cut fruit, sing songs about good nutrition, and use their five senses...
Curated OER
Landscape Painting
Third graders paint a landscape that demonstrates the illusion of space. In this visual arts instructional activity, 3rd graders paint a creek with reflections as the focus and include images showing foreground, middle ground, and...
Curated OER
Role of Masks in African Cultures
Students explore ancient tradition and craft of mask making, examine role or function of masks in African culture, create instruments, and participate in class projects.
Curated OER
A Fair Trade
Students examine a piece of art to find objects and symbols used by the artist. For this visual art lesson, students look at Jaun Quick-to-See Smith's, "Trade Canoe for Don Quixote." They look for symbols and items that show the artists...
Curated OER
Clay Cartouche
A cartouche is an ancient Egyptian artifact containing the name of an important person or god. Included here are the instructions for creating cartouches out of clay. The class will use hieroglyphics and metallic paint to make these...
Curated OER
Soft Sculpture Birds
Art can mimic life, and animals are always interesting subjects. Learners create large soft sculptures (stuffed) birds using paper, paint, and other basic collage materials. They view images of birds, and discuss bird traits and shapes....
Curated OER
Haring In Motion Magnets
Young scholars research visual arts by creating an art project for their homes. For this art analysis lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the Internet and examining images. Young scholars utilize tempera...
Curated OER
Aquarium Crayon Resist
Students create a crayon resist drawing as a literature response. In this literature response and art lesson, students listen to the book, Rainbow Fish, noting all of the colorful fish. They use wax crayons to draw a picture of a fish...
August House
Anansi Goes To Lunch - First Grade
Greed is the theme of this collection of multidisciplinary activities. As a class, read The West African folktale, Anansi Goes to Lunch by Bobby Norfolk, and take part in a grand discussion about it's plot and theme. Reinforce the theme...
Quia
Charlotte’s Web Lesson Plan
Make your classroom into a place of kindness and compassion with E.B White's Charlotte's Web. The first four pages of the lesson plan guide you through several steps and projects, including discussions on Charlotte and Wilbur's...
Curated OER
Make A Pinata
Students work cooperatively to create pinatas using balloons, old newspapers, flour, water, tempera paints, string, scissors, and candy in this excellent lesson plan for the Elementary classroom. This can be ties into a unit of study on...
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Bling Bling Metallic Mosaics
Using different types of paper and paint, young artists will create a beautiful mosaic. This is a great variation from the traditional tile and grout mosaics. Use this beautiful art project to discuss different art mediums,...
Curated OER
Clay Sand Castles
You can start off this sand castle art project by previewing the included architectural vocabulary. Learners explore images, the web, and books that show both sand castles and architectural design. They then get creative and make their...
Curated OER
Papier-Mache Masks
Read about, and then make culturally inspired masks. Learners watch the video, "Masks and Face Coverings," then design and make a mask with cultural significance out of papier mache. Tip: Have small groups research, write about, and make...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series: Removing the Mask
Describe, analyze, compare and contrast poets from the Harlem Renaissance. Critical thinkers analyze the imagery, characterization, tone, symbolism, and historical context of Jacob Lawrence, Helene Johnson, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. A...
Curated OER
Falling Leaves
Students create a painting of falling leaves. In this art lesson, students collect fallen leaves and paint over them using tempera or water color paint to make an outline. Students continue painting the leaves until their paper is...
Curated OER
Monet Water Lilies
Fourth graders recognize works of art from various cultures and identify the artist and culture. They view the artistic style and write a response to questions about the style. Students create a still life painting using the techniques...
Curated OER
Color Theory Unit: Tint & Shade Strips
Students create three tint and three shade strips which depict a gradual gradation from color to white and from color to black.