Curated OER
Ellis Wilson: An Elementary School Art Lesson
Students study the life of Ellis Wilson. They examine the use of simple shapes when drawing human figures. They examine how to incorporate pattern into a background setting.
Curated OER
Monkey Puzzle
Third graders analyze the life and work of Keith Haring. In this art criticism instructional activity, 3rd graders view images of his artwork, produce an anthology of his life's work and discuss his achievements. Students will recreate...
Curated OER
Exploring Photographs
Learners explore the basic tools for analyzing images using description, reflection, and formal analysis. In this photography analysis lesson, students analyze a photograph as a class and then in small groups. Learners write...
Curated OER
Tread Lightly: Visualizing Footprints
The student reflects on concepts of ecological footprints and climate changes. In this Art lesson, learners will produce a visual representation showing understanding of how ecology and climate affects the world.
Curated OER
Thirty-Second Look
Students articulate why more than 30 seconds is required to examine a work of art, in order to gain an understanding of it. They give reasons why discussing a work of art increases their understanding of it.
Curated OER
Statement of Principles
Learners create their own work of art that serves as a social commentary. In this art statement lesson, students research how art conveyed moral and ethical ideals during the Neoclassical period and create a drawing that addresses a...
Curated OER
Newsworthy Images
Students examine images from newspapers, the photo cropping process, and create their own photos to tell a story. In this photography analysis lesson, students analyze a photograph using the elements of art and analyze their own...
Curated OER
Still Life Painting: Arranging Nature
Students choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors and write an artist’s statement. In this still life art lesson, students identify and analyze the characteristics of a still-life...
Curated OER
Looking at Portraits: Portraits in Line
Students use Van Gogh's Portrait of Joseph Roulin as inspiration for their own portraits for their friends. In this portrait analysis lesson plan, students explore portrait art and analyze Vincent Van Gogh's use of line in his art....
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Environment As Art
Students create an idea for environmental artwork for installation somewhere on school property.
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The New York School: Action and Abstraction
Learners examine the influences and similarities between the New York School poets and Abstract Expressionist artists. They analyze paintings and poems, and write original poetry.
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Printmaking
Analyze the process of printmaking and explore how prints reflect an artist's view of society. After viewing and analyzing the prints of Elizabeth Catlett, class members create an inner tube and a linoleum block print. They then research...
Polk Bros Foundation
American Presidents
Emanuel Leutze's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. Alexander Gardner's photograph of Abraham Lincoln. What do these works of art tell us about the character of these American Presidents? After examining the techniques the...
Federal Reserve Bank
Glo Goes Shopping
Making decisions can be very difficult. Show your class one way to evaluate choices with this instructional activity, which is inspired by the book Glo Goes Shopping. Learners practicing using a decision-making grid with the content of...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Are You Balanced?
Balance scales create a strong visual of how an individual prioritizes one's self alongside their commitments to the community, school, and home. Scholars complete a graphic organizer then discuss their findings with their peers. A...
Curated OER
Picture a Character
How would Jean-Etiénne Liotard paint the characters from "The Little Mermaid?" What would the main character from "The Little Match Girl" look like from Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes' point of view? After examining various paintings...
Curated OER
An Approach to Chemistry via the Analysis of Art Objects: The Scientific Method, Laboratory Safety, Light and Color Theory
Students create a painting that clearly exemplifies the use of primary pigments to make secondary pigments. They demonstrate the distinction between value and saturation. They explain the affect of adjacent colors on each other and...
Curated OER
Combating Corrosion
Study corrosion on bronze statues with a hands-on lesson. As pupils place a penny in water with salt, they observe the changes in the penny throughout a period of a week. They then analyze the pre-conservation and the...
Curated OER
Dali & Desnos: Surrealism in Poetry and Art
Young scholars research the surrealism movement and its primary artists. Language is also analyzed, and students will create their own original poem utilizing surrealistic techniques.
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Me, Myself, and I
Young scholars visually express their personalities using writing and PhotoShop. They manipulate imagery to illustrate their written description of themselves. Students display their creations.
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Native American Clay Pots
Learners explore world culture by conducting an art project in class. In this Native American culture lesson, students identify the types of materials American Indians utilized in their artistic endeavors, specifically clay. Learners...
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A GREAT SPORT
Students explore how diverse groups and individuals have contributed to the cultural development of Canada, and then produce two-dimensional works of art.
Curated OER
Indian Basket Weaving
Students explore Indian Basket designs, experiment with weaving materials and create their own baskets in this 5-day Arrt lesson for the early-elementary classroom. The lesson includes scoring guides and illustrated directions for students.
Curated OER
Lighting The Way - Activity 1
Students discover the "rule of thirds" technique used in photography through the investigation of magazine and newspaper pictures and an in-class discussion. The work of photojournalist Jeff Bizzel is emphasized.