Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Dimension Dances
Use dance to help learners conceptualize line segments, rays, lines, and planes. They choreograph dances that show dimensional space. Dancers start by pondering space, point, and lines as the teacher draws them in the air. Each movement...
Illustrative Mathematics
A Midpoint Miracle
Young geometers develop one of the fundamental properties of quadrilaterals (connecting side midpoints gives a parallelogram) in this short but thought-provoking exercise. Using a combination of hands-on techniques and abstract algebraic...
Curated OER
Lesson: Mary Heilmann: To Be Someone
Kids consider the pure abstraction and minimalism found in Mary Heilmann's work. They analyze several of her pieces through critical discussion and then think about her use of a song title as the title of her exhibit. Learners then use a...
Curated OER
Symmetry
Is this the line of symmetry? Scholars analyze 12 images to determine whether or not the dotted line in each reflects symmetry. There are three examples for them to reference before they start, so consider reviewing these together before...
Curated OER
Abstract to Real: The Human Form in Art
High schoolers analyze and evaluate the effects of abstraction and realism on depictions of the human form in ancient and modern-day cultures.
Curated OER
Rhythm and Art: Elements of Art
Students discover the three elements of art. In this visual arts instructional activity, students examine line, shape, and color of works by Torres-Garcia and Picasso. Students then identify the elements of art in works by other artists.
Curated OER
Why is this lesson constructivist?
Students formulate a definition of tessellations by comparing and contrasting different patterns and shapes of real objects. They discuss the relatioship between shapes and patterns as well as their function in the real world. Students...
Shodor Education Foundation
Visual Patterns in Tessellations
Geometers explore the concept of tessellations. They use a tessellation applet to manipulate shapes and design their own tessellation using the applet.
Curated OER
Fall Plowing: Drawing to Scale
Young scholars explore coordinates and scale drawings. In this drawing to scale lesson, students discuss symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, geometric, shapes and estimation of size. Young scholars recreate a portion of a drawing using...
Curated OER
Art From Map-Abstract composition using map and primary colors
The learners use a map to create a Mondrian-like artwork. They put to use his severe simplicity in line as well as in color (of course, no green, which was a color he reportedly hated). Shapes created were more organic rather than...
Curated OER
Sculpture Shapes
Students reconstruct an ancient Greek sculpture using various geometric forms and explore different geometric forms. They create an abstract human form out of geometric shapes and create other representations out of the same shapes.
Virginia Department of Education
Solve for the Unknown
How can shapes help solve literal equations? Scholars first learn to replace variables with shapes to aid in solving literal equations. A worksheet of practice problems helps hone the skill.
Curated OER
Red and Blue
Young elementary learners listen to the story Red & Blue and participate in a collaborative project where they paint a picture using abstract shapes. Then they interpret classmates' abstract shapes and write or tell a story about...
Curated OER
Geometric Solids
First graders identify various shapes in everyday objects. in pairs, 1st graders go on a shape field trip to locate various objects of different shapes. They photograph the objects and later use the prints to write sentences describing...
Curated OER
Picasso Faces
Fifth graders discuss the artwork of Abstract artist Pablo Picasso. They create a collage of Abstract and/or Cubistic Faces emulating Picasso's style. Students are allowed to let their imagination run wild with the many possibilities.
Curated OER
Doodle Animals
Fifth graders explore the abstract form of drawing of Paul Klee. They create a drawing of an animal using contour line in the same style.
Curated OER
Geometric Construction
Seventh graders investigate some concepts associated with geometric shapes. They study the bisector segment and the perpendicular line to a given line. Students conduct analysis with the goal of deepening observation and deduction...
Curated OER
Abstract Doodle Art
Students study abstract art. In this art lesson, students draw abstract shapes onto paper until the paper is filled, fill in each shape by coloring each shape with a different color, and mount the paper.
Curated OER
Tall Tales: Read, Write, Draw and Sing
Students get to know the characters and events that shaped American folktales through writing, drawing and singing activities. Handouts and worksheets are included.
Dick Blick Art Materials
“Decalcomania” Glue Paint Symmetry Prints
Who knew you could paint with glue? After first adding liquid water color paints to bottles of white Elmer's glue and applying them to paper, young scholars of all ages are then challenged to use their imagination and creativity to draw...
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Color Moods
Can art be a mode of communication? You bet it can! Learners explore how colors are used to convey mood in art. First, the class listens to three very unique musical selections that convey three different moods. Then, they compare and...
Curated OER
Free Printables: Handwriting 2
In this drawing worksheet, students copy a number of shapes and then practice drawing the shape in the box provided at the bottom of the worksheet.
Sargent Art
Picasso and Beyond!
After reviewing the life and art of Pablo Picasso, learners set out to create abstract, cubist, relief portraits. They'll draw, color, paint, and cut out portraits just like the ones Picasso created. The instructional activity is...
Cornell University
Constructing and Visualizing Topographic Profiles
Militaries throughout history have used topography information to plan strategies, yet many pupils today don't understand it. Scholars use Legos and a contour gauge to understand how to construct and visualize topographic profiles. This...