Leonardo da Vinci Lesson Plans

Have your class create their own art exhibit. Learners study the exchange of artwork between the Louvre in Paris and two American art museums, and create an introductory exhibit featuring European and American art from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Before embarking on this lesson, check the materials list to make sure you are prepared.

Students explore the six simple machines that are the basis for all mechanical devices. In this physics lesson, students choose one simple machine to research and then find a complex machine it is apart of. Students examine Leonardo da Vinci's inventions and point out how he incorporated simple machines in his designs.

Place value to the millions is the focus of this math lesson. Third and fourth graders investigate multiple ways to represent a number. They examine place value while studying factual information about Pablo Picasso. Resources are provided.

Research various types of bridge designs. Your class will be asked to consider what it would be like without bridges while learning about how they work. They will construct a model bridge based on given parameters. They then calculate cable circumferences, length and thickness. There are many activities with this plan including geometric shapes, trusses, and rubric for evaluation. This could easily be made into a unit.

Eighth graders study the history, philosophies and landscapes that influenced Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural works. They practice scale drawing and, in groups, create a scale building that reflects Wright's work.

Students assess what they know about historical medical practices, explore President Garfield's preventable death, and conduct research on current trends in medical technology. They create artistic, informative pieces to be displayed in a museum.

Young scholars view a video clip about special effects. They use geometry to determine how it changes one's perspective. They work together to construct their own room and comparing their room with other groups, noting the type of perspective used.

Students reflect on the different roles they have for themselves in a journal entry. After reading an article, they discover information on the life of Rembrandt. In groups, they examine the roles of Rembrandt in his self-portrait and choose three aspects of their identify to create their own self-portrait.

Students utilize higher level thinking skills by formulating new applications for simple machines in an original invention that solves a common problem. They brainstorm ideas for a new product using simple machines and communicate a finished project through an oral, written, and graphic presentation.

Students recognize what scientific sketching is and what makes a scientific drawing valuable.In this scientific sketching lesson, students understand the importance of drawing in science. Students draw simple and complex objects from home and record their aquarium trip observations in pictures.