Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eckstine, Stayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners explore the history of swing music. In this music history activity, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Learners define swing, develop a timeline of events in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hoe Down: An Integrated Unit on Social, Folk & Square Dancing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders experience the movements required to perform social, folk and square dancing. They describe each dance movement. Students discuss the elements found in folk art, folk music, and fold dance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories Behind Pacific Northwest First Nations' Images

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate Canadian culture by examining mascots of the 2010 Olympics.  In this Canadian history lesson, students read a Vancouver Olympics guide to identify three Canadian mascots and their importance to the First Nations...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Worksheet for Analysis of a Political Cartoon

For Students 9th - 12th
In this primary source analysis learning exercise, high schoolers respond to 25 short answer questions that require them to analyze the political cartoon titled "America When Feminized."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eyes From the Past

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners view examples of classical Victorian artwork. Using a painting, they discuss their own opinions about what they believe the artwork is trying to tell them. In groups, they compare and contrast the artwork of Robert Harris and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students identify the plant parts and bee structures that are involved in pollination. They simulate pollination in a group activity and process the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decorating Objects....And Re-Decorating

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students decorate cups or bowls with thematic designs that represent Chinese culture. In this decorating lesson plan, students will decorate their cups or bowls and then “sell” these works of art to partners role-playing as French...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Essential to Autumn: Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Pattern, Rhythm, Emphasis, Movement, Balance, and Unity

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the environment by learning about nature. For this art lesson, students go on a walk and find objects to help in creating a picture, or collage representing whatever season is being discussed. Students write similes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Obama Hope Poster

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider constitutional rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide regarding the property rights regarding the Obama "Hope" poster. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantasy Allegory of Air

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students analyze the painting Jan Brueghel and design their own book. In this art and book lesson plan, students discuss the elements of fantasy from the painting and create their own book. Students illustrate the book and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dream Streets

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders conduct research on the internet to discover the principles of drawing using one and two point perspectives. After examining street scenes by Edward Hopper and postcards of Main Street USA in Disney, they write about and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drawing Into the Imagination

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a non linear story with multiple possibilities and endings. In this non linear story lesson plan, 6th graders research non linear stories, create their own, and illustrate it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Papel Picado ( Mexican Cut Paper)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders describe the characteristics of a piece of "papel picado", or Mexican cut paper, which is seen in the Dia de los Muertos festival. They predict what medium was used in the papel picado art. They explain how the scene in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Tessellations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the history of tessellations; then use art and geometry to create an original tessellation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

If These Walls Could Talk

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students investigate the influence of the Enlightenment on American society and government. For this Enlightenment lesson, students work cooperatively in groups to define the principles of the Enlightenment, American...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Mexico: One Land, Many Cultures

For Teachers 1st
Students research and study the country of Mexico and complete a project about it. In this Mexico lesson plan, students research Mexico's geography, traditions, art, songs, stories, and legends that are native to Mexico.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Governance

For Teachers K
Students explore government by researching Native American history. For this First Nations culture lesson, students define the Aboriginal action of speaking in a circle as a group. Students discuss their likes and dislikes with the class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How To Read A Movie

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders respond to films they have seen using literary, dramatic, and cinematic terms. They reevaluate their role as a moviegoer. Students analyze their favorite film in order to discover what good films have in common.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arctic Mask Design

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students assess the connection between animals and Arctic people. They design and create masks that reflect this relationship. They hold an art show to display their masks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mirror, Mirror

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine portraits done by Robert Harris and discuss the technique he used to create them. With a partner, they paint a picture of each other using the techniques of Harris. They also make a drawing of themselves from a recent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming Authors

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create the illustrations for their contrbutions for the class book. The students create a tough sketch on a plain piece of paper. Once the students have a plan they begin illustrating their page, using any materials...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art History and Technique

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct research, using a variety of resources, about their favorite painter and painting. They critique the famous painters work and write a multimedia presentation that showcases his/her work. They paint an original work...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decorating Objects... and Re-decorating

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create decorative objects and discuss their importance in form and function. In this art history lesson plan, students discuss Chinese porcelain objects with mounts later added by the Chinese. Young scholars recreate an...
Handout
Art Cyclopedia

Artcyclopedia: Artistic Styles: Neoclassicism

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides great visuals but little information on paintings of the Neo-Classical style. Links to many artists are provided.