Curated OER
Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Shape
Ask elementary students to explore shapes in everyday objects. They will discuss the elements of design and describe the shapes they see in visual images. Students will then design and "build" a new 3D shape. Finally they will show and...
University of Nottingham
Drawing to Scale: A Garden
See how design and geometry go hand in hand. The activity asks learners to use geometry to design a backyard garden given dimensions of each feature. Scholars work with ratios and scale to develop an accurate scale drawing that includes...
Illustrative Mathematics
What is a Trapezoid? (Part 2)
This collaborative activity investigates the meaning of a trapezoid and a parallelogram. It begins by presenting two different definitions of a trapezoid. Learners are to reason abstractly the difference between the two definitions and...
Technical Sketching
Introduction — Surfaces and Edges
How different can 3-D and 2-D really be? An engineering resource provides an explanation about the importance of two-dimensional technical drawings. Several samples show how to create multi-view drawings from pictorials and vice-versa....
Curated OER
How and Why to Look at Abstract Painting - Activity 1
Students create abstract art using acrylic paints and canvas in this lesson provided by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The lesson includes information on abstract art and video links.
Curated OER
Geometric Abstraction
Learners create an abstract work of art that is made by repeating geometric shapes and lines, write concise instructions to reproduce the work of art and reproduce someone else's artwork via written instructions.
Pyro Innovations
Get into Shape
Shapes are so fun! Little ones explore, identify, and create shapes using tangrams or pattern blocks. The activity is intended to stimulate critical thinking while engaging learners through play and shape identification. Each child will...
Curated OER
Abstract Animals
Students look at several photographs of animals. They compare and contrast their forms by visually breaking the images into simple geometric shapes. Students draw the simple geometric shapes that comprise the animal. They fill in the...
Curated OER
Human Abstraction
Students explore and compare abstraction of human forms in various ancient cultures and by creating self-portraits using geometric shapes. They identify which geometric shapes form the following features: face, nose, arms, torso, legs,...
Curated OER
The Gift Drawings of the Shakers
Students create their own "gift drawings" that are inspired by the dreams and visions of the Shakers. In this gift drawings lesson plan, students learn the history of the Shakers, make their own drawing, and practice elements of design...
Curated OER
Dancing Hands, Abstract Drawings
Students discover African musical rhythms by performing Ancestral Spirit Dances. In this musical lesson, students research Willis "Bing" Davis and the abstract work he created. Students listen to Yoruba drum music and experiment...
Curated OER
Matching Directions
Which shape is pointing the same way? There are five starting shapes here, all irregular. Learners examine a row of shapes following each and draw a circle around the one that is pointing the same way. Enforce directional vocabulary by...
Curated OER
Symmetry
These symmetrical shapes are only half-completed, so scholars finish them by drawing the other side of the line of symmetry. Because your class won't recognize these abstract shapes, they will get authentic practice with this objective....
Curated OER
Symmetry
Fold these shapes in half and you'll have perfectly equal sides. Kids explore symmetry by completing 16 abstract shapes which have been cut off at the line of symmetry. They draw the mirror image, using several examples as reference. An...
Curated OER
Matching Directions
These abstract shapes are pointing in different directions and young scholars determine which ones are oriented the same way. For each of five starting shapes they examine a set of four identical figures pointing in various directions,...
Curated OER
Abstract Flowers Inspired By Georgia O'Keeffe
Students create a drawing of a flower using Georgia O'Keeffe as their inspiration, then develop skills in drawing and composition. They explain the difference between realistic and abstract.
Curated OER
Mondrian Inspired Abstract Art
Students explore the art of Piet Mondrian. In this abstract art lesson, students look at paintings by the Dutch painter and then follow the provided steps to create their own abstract art inspired by his works.
Missoula Art Museum
Dance with Your Fingers, Draw with Your Toes
Pair dancing, music, and art into one elementary lesson. Using the work of Henri Matisse and Rudy Autio as inspiration, kids spend a few days listening to music that fits the moods of various pieces of art, then work on their own...
Curated OER
Abstract Figure Drawing
Students observe different objects and create their own abstract figures. They are encouraged to be creative while listening to music and viewing different pieces of abstract art.
Curated OER
Abstract Flowers Inspired By Georgia O'keeffe
Students create "abstract flowers" using the artwork of Georgia O'Keefe and knowledge of warm and cool colors in this Art instructional activity for grades K-12. The instructional activity includes a short recommended book list and a...
Curated OER
Drawing Emotions
Students examine how artists have expressed emotion thru use of line, color and shapes. They communicate a variety of emotions using line, shape and values to create form.
Curated OER
Japanese Abstract Wind Sock
Students use paper bags to create a Japanese wind sock with original abstract art.
Curated OER
Matching Directions
These shapes are pointing all over the place. Learners examine rows of crazy shapes to find the one pointing in the same direction as the first in the row. Keep in mind, these aren't the shapes your mathematicians are used to. Because...