Art Institute of Chicago
Color Combinations
Explore color through an examination of pointillism and light. Class members view Georges Seraut's famous painting on a computer, zooming in and out to see the details and effects of the technique. They then cover how light and color are...
Curated OER
Sponge Painting Flowers
Explore the shapes and colors of spring with a flower themed painting project. Included here are a list of materials and the instructions needed to execute an art instructional activity on sponge painting flowers. Tip: Use in conjunction...
Curated OER
Primary and Secondary Colors Mixing Activity
Students explore color recognition through mixing the primary and secondary colors together. They color in an online rainbow using primary and secondary colors, identify the colors on a color mixing poster, then mix the colors using...
Curated OER
Flipping Butterflies: Triadic Colors and Symmetry
Second graders create symmetrical butterfly wings. In this symmetry lesson, 2nd graders observe butterfly wings and create their own. They make both sides symmetrical and mix primary colors to make secondary colors.
Curated OER
Crepe or Tissue Paper Blots
What happens when you drip vinegar onto tissue paper? The colors bleed, leaving an interesting and organic design. Get your class observing and creating with this quick-and-easy art project. Tip: This can also be done using coffee...
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....
Dick Blick Art Materials
Insoluble Paintings
Insolubility and density? Yup, it's art class, of course. To create insoluble paintings that continually move and change, kids mix water-based paint with mineral oil and seal the mixture in laminating pouches.
Curated OER
Under Water Scene
Middle schoolers explore foreground and background colors. In this visual art lesson, students create an underwater collage from varying colors and textures of paper showcasing the color transition between background and foreground colors.
Curated OER
Now You See Me, Now You Don't
Bioluminescence fascinates most upper elementary scientists. Display images of different glowing deep-sea organisms and discuss their environment. Young biologists then experiment with images and different colors of filtered light. In...
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
Properties of Water with a Splash of Color
Students explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science lesson plan, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Students create a water...
Curated OER
Sedimentary Structures- An Adventure in Painting and Collage
Students identify and interpret concepts about how the Earth was formed and convey some of these ideas in a painting.
Students experiment with different types of paints and paint applicators to achieve a variety of visual textures....
Curated OER
Bioluminescence 2009: Living Light on the Deep Sea Floor Expedition - Now You See Me, Now You Don't
Students examine bioluminescence and camouflage of deep sea creatures. In this deep sea creatures lesson, students investigate the visible and near-visible light spectrum. They work in small groups to complete a light, color, and...
Curated OER
Sea Urchins - Diadema Antillarum
Students investigate oceanography by painting sea life. In this crustacean lesson, students identify sea urchins in our ocean environments and describe the functionality of their spherical-shaped bodies. Students design their own sea...