Curated OER
The Medici Popes
Students explore Italian politics and warfare of the Renaissance. They explain the origins and effects of the Protestant Reformation and contrast Renaissance and Medieval attitudes.
National Endowment for the Arts
Teacher's Guide: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A 10-lesson unit takes high schoolers through a novel study of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. To start, students learn about Fitzgerald's background and gain historical context that prepares them for a reading of the book. The...
Curated OER
Sidewalk Chalk Painting
Students study the history of sidewalk chalk art. They then brainstorm ideas of possible sidewalk art and draw ideas on paper. They then transfer their ideas onto the sidewalk using chalk.
Curated OER
Art and Anatomy: The Vitruvian Teen
Twelfth graders create an artistic version of a Vetruvian teen. In this anatomy lesson, 12th graders design an experiment to test the theory of the ideally proportioned man. They present their findings in class.
Curated OER
Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian
Students examine the life and works of Langston Hughes. In groups, they research the characteristics of the Harlem Renaissance and how Hughes' poems relate to the era. They use the themes in his writings and relate it to the Great...
Curated OER
Medieval Natural Resources
Students discuss and view examples of the illuminated manuscripts that were created during medieval times and into the Renaissance. In small groups, they research the resources that were used to create the manuscripts and classify them...
Curated OER
Getting Perspective In The Renaissance
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the art of photography. They conduct research using the Internet and other resources. The students use the lesson plan to create context for using analytical language for class discussion.
Curated OER
Art, Art, Everywhere
Middle schoolers create a PowerPoint presentation documenting the art of a chosen artist. After a brief presentation by the instructor, students use the internet to research and document the works and life of their chosen artist. They...
Curated OER
D¿rer Watercolor - Patterns and Texture
Students create watercolor paintings using their knowledge of elements of design, value, and texture, discuss concept of art reflecting time and place, review art-related vocabulary, and reflect on their work.
Curated OER
Using the Patterns and Symbols of Mali Mud Cloth to Convey Identity
Students participate in relating the role of the arts in defining identity. They examine the community in West African society and how members of that community define their role. They view how artifacts, music and performance can...
Curated OER
Art Styles - Portrait Triptych
Students select one photos and creates portraits of the photo in three different styles. After making the portraits, they describe the differences between them. They place their finished product on a triptych for viewing and practice...
Curated OER
Power of Symbols in West African Art
High schoolers examine and analyze symbols used in the Asante community of Ghana and look at the history of power struggles in West Africa. They discover how to express meaning and power as they create their own symbols and short...
Curated OER
Modern Dance and the Harlem Renaissance
High schoolers create an artistic rendering based on what they have learned from the film and the activity.
Curated OER
Michelangelo: Artist and Man
Students are introduced to Michelangelo in this A&E influenced lesson plan.
Curated OER
Digital Fashion Show
Students research the dress of the 40's/50's in Harlem and create a multimedia presentation of at least 15 slides. They present a Fashion Show for the class.
Curated OER
The Latest Style
Students create a contemporary collage of a Northern Renaissance theme/story in an exciting group project. Through in-class examples and student work, the art of the Northern Renaissance is studied and analyzed.
Portland Public Schools
Teaching Tone to Teenagers
Tone is a tough topic to teach to teenagers. But never, fear, help is here in the form of a unit plan that takes advantage of their interest in music to set the stage for a series of activities that lead them to understand how setting,...
Curated OER
"To Be" (Idle) or "Not to Be" (Idle)
Students define and analyze the role of idleness in 14th -century Japan and Renaissance England and examine the distinct relationship between idleness and gender in both cultures.
Curated OER
Seeing the Invisible: Angels and Demons
Students search for angels and demons within the paintings in the Getty's medieval and Renaissance galleries. They examine the ways that artists made these invisible creatures visible.
Curated OER
Thomas Jefferson: Philosopher of Freedom
Learners view a documentary on Thomas Jefferson. Statesman, scientist, architect, president-he was America's dashing Renaissance man. After viewing, students discuss what they saw then write their own version of a biography of Thomas...
Curated OER
Greek Vase Painting Project
Students create authentic Greek paintings on clay tiles using knowledge learned about Greek art and painting techniques. This lesson is highly adaptable and can be accomplished in less than a week if focus is altered and less time is...
Curated OER
Cubism - David Hockney
Identify Cubist works (namely the works of Picasso and the Cubist-inspired works of David Hockney), then express or create a work showing a time frame.
Curated OER
Power and the Communication of Values in West African Art of the Past and Present
Ninth graders examine art from West Africa from the past and present. In groups, they compare their community to the one depicted in the artwork and note the similiarities. To end the lesson, they discuss the concept of power and how...
Curated OER
Warm Glass Renaissance
High schoolers explore an ancient artistic technique know as glass fusing or slumping. Using random arrangements of items, students decorate glass sheets. Next, high schoolers follow instructions for fusing the glass and placing it in a...