Curated OER
Pen Pal Letters to Soldiers Overseas
Students write letters to soldiers overseas with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. They learn three facts about the geography of the area where the pen pal is located and about the pen pal.
Curated OER
Teaching the Holocaust through Literature
Centered on the short story "The Tenth Man" by Polish Holocaust survivor Ida Fink, here is a solid one-day resource to support study of World War II or Nazi history, short stories, or to complement any ELA unit on The Diary of Anne Frank...
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Remember Me Fondly
Students will learn how two cultures express ideas of remembrance and honor ancestors by investigating Mexico's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and America's Memorial Day, as well as the Vietnam Memorial. They will learn about...
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Abigail Adams: Integrating Social Studies and Language Arts
Third graders increase reading strategies while learning about Abigail Adams and her role in history. In this Abigail Adams lesson, 3rd graders read about the American Revolution and Abigail Adams using all the balanced literacy...
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Maya Lin - Artist, Architect, Environmentalist
Sixth graders explore the life of Maya Lin and analyze the impact of her architectural philosophy on her work. They trace the history of the Vietnam Memorial from its conception by Maya Lin, to the present day. A time line is created of...
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The Unfinished Lincoln Memorial
Students develop a list of images of President Abraham Lincoln: for example, self-taught youth, great debater, advocate of abolition of slavery and assassinated hero. They must determine if these images of Lincoln stand up under scrutiny.
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Offerings At the Wall: the Vietnam War Memorial
Learners research Vietnam War, complete audio interview of a Vietnam War veteran or a family member/acquaintance of someone who was a casualty of the war, and write an essay of what was learned through researching the war and conducting...
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The Role of Monuments And Memorials
Students investigate the use of monuments and memorials in various cultures in this three day Language Arts or Social Studies lesson. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussions, research, and individual creative projects.
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Saint-Gaudens, the Shaw Memorial, Art Historians, and the Critics
Students read documentary evidence and commentary regarding Saint-Gauden's sculpture Shaw Memorial. They read statements and letters, and answer analysis questions.
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Degenerate Art
Students examine the characteristics of expressionist and comtemporary art. They view a video clip and use the internet to see examples of each. They analyze the role of propoganda and symbols in art as well.
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Clowning Around: Drawing
Kids create a clown out of shapes. They work to show emotions while practicing their drawing skills. Pupils use circles, triangles, squares, oil pastels, and their imagination to draw, color, and decorate a sad or happy clown. Tip: Have...
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Pop Up Card
Students design and create pop-up greeting cards for a special occasion in this art lesson for Kindergarten through 8th grade classrooms. The lesson includes resource links for pop-up "arm" ideas and can be accomplished in one day.
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Van Gogh's Sunflowers
Students create replicas of Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers using construction paper, tissue paper, glue, and scissors in this art lesson for the elementary classroom. The flowers can then be displayed in the room as a class bulletin board.
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Wiggly Spiders
Students create "wiggly spiders" using black paint, construction paper, yarn, and their hands in this fun, messy, art lesson for the early elementary classroom. An ideal lesson for the Halloween holiday or for a lesson/unit on spiders.
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Hand And Foot Print Reindeer
Students create reindeer out of paper cut-outs of their own hands and feet in this fun and quick Art activity for the early-elementary classroom. The lesson may be accomplished as an individual or small group (partner) project.
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Stand Up Bunny
Young scholars create "stand-up bunnies" for classroom display in this early-elementary Art lesson ideal for the spring months. A bunny template and design ideas are included to aid in the teaching process of this fun and quick lesson.
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Face Study: Draw the Other Half
Build fine motor, spatial, and drawing skills by having the class complete the other half of a portrait. They choose an image of a face from a magazine, then attempt to draw the other half of the face as accurately as they can. Two book...
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Mixing Colors with Corn Syrup and Food Coloring
Anyone who has worked with small children know that color identification and color mixing can be fun! This simple idea has a lot of potential. It suggests to mix food coloring with corn syrup to provide an opportunity for color mixing...
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Puzzle Trees
Elementary artists use a collage and multi-media technique to create textured trees. They study the fall trees, discussing texture and what bare trees look like. They then use a variety of materials to create a textural piece.
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Florida Blue Crab
Explore the extraordinary creatures of the ocean! Learners create Florida Blue Crabs (imitation of course) using blue paint and their hand prints. This is a cute supplementary project perfect for an ocean-themed unit or preschool...
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Leaf People
Kids create leaf people out of sticks, glue, and leaves. They use their imagination to construct leaf people and then glue them onto construction paper. Tip: Extend this craft by incorporating writing. Have learners write a short story...
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Paper Plate Sunflowers
A great way to recall the parts of a flower is to make one. Little learners create sunflowers out of paint and paper plates. They also discuss and label the various parts of their flowers.
Smithsonian Institution
Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating and Remembering
Help scholars understand the history, geography, traditions, and art of Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Find background information for your reference as well as a detailed cross-curricular lesson plan. Learners compare...
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Cow Parade
High schoolers create individual works of art using cow cut-outs as their canvas in this hilarious lesson ideal for the High School Art or Art History classroom. The lesson includes resource links and can be adapted for any animal or...