Curated OER
Ceramics: A Vessel Into History
Students evaluate the work of their peers using the criteria for value and meaning they developed. In this ceramics lesson plan, students evaluate their peers’ vessels in their journals by responding to the...
Curated OER
National Gallery of Art: Prinz Friedrich von Homburg: Ein Schauspeil, 3x
Students explore the work of Frank Stella. In this art appreciation activity, students look at images of the sculpture Prinz Friedrich von Homburg: Ein Schauspeil, 3x and discuss it as a work of art. This activity includes two simple...
Curated OER
Art and Power
Students study the complex relationships between art, artists, and the political establishment in the 19th and 20th centuries. For this art and history lesson, students study various photos, paintings, and sculptures and learn about the...
Curated OER
Linking Lines to Landscape
Students evaluate art to enhance their core knowledge of fiction, American folk heroes, and the water cycle. In this art lesson, students complete a unit of activities to use art to study various topics of literature, history, and...
Curated OER
The Black Prince at Crecy
Students analyze how artists have applied color relationships (value, intensity, tints, and shades, cool and warm colors) to create descriptive and expressive effects in artworks. They judge an artwork based on whether its organization...
Curated OER
Studies of the Eastern Worlds: Population Graphing
Seventh graders participate in several learning/research stations in which they view artwork from various countries of the Eastern world and collect information on the populations of the Eastern countries. They then use this information...
Curated OER
In The Eye Of The Beholder
Students, in groups, research Rembrandt's life and works. They find critiques of his work, as well. Each group reports their findings back to the rest of the class. Finally, they create abstract drawings and write interpretations about...
Curated OER
A Museum as Time Capsule
Young scholars focus on museum artwork and artifacts as resources to study history and geography.
Curated OER
How To Read A Portrait
Students examine a system of critical analysis for describing, interpreting, and evaluating portraits which focuses their attention and yields information about the artwork.
Curated OER
Visual Arts
Third graders participate in three visual arts lessons in this unit. They analyze the patterns of quilts, study the life and work of Rosa Bonheur and Edward Hicks.
Curated OER
Art Appreciation
Students explain that everyone has their own opinion about what they think is good art. They study images, then put a heart behind the one they like the best, the least and the one they think their mom or dad would like.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Art Critiques Made Easy
A tipsheet giving ideas on how to encourage young scholars to think and speak critically about visual arts, music, dance, and even literature.
Arizona State University
Arts Work: Visual Arts Criticism
If you're looking for a complete list of art critique questions, this is the site for you! You'll find ideas for description, analysis, elements, technique, judgement, and audience.
National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool: Portrait Detectives
In engaging mini-essays, art historians at the National Museums Liverpool dissect the art of the portrait. Through close examination of six paintings, students learn to interpret the sitter's mood and status and to read clues that convey...
Other
Art Teacher on the Net: Questions to Ask Yourself as You Look at Your Art Work
Dozens of questions that help art appreciators of all ages look at art effectively. Questions follow the basic art criticism outline to describe, analyze and interpret. Can be used for any art piece!
Other
Common Threads Unraveling the World of Textiles
Through the examination of two textiles from opposite sides of the world you will go in-depth to reveal how fiber arts can tell us more about people in other cultures.
Other
Louvre Museum: Mona Lisa: Portrait of Lisa Gherardini
Learn about the various actions that have been taken to preserve the "Mona Lisa," one of Leonardo's most famous portrait paintings. Explore compositional details, unfinished portions of the painting, and other interesting tidbits about...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: George Washington: Portrait for Kids
Many components of a portrait of George Washington have been removed. You need to uncover them with the red spyglass. As you find each piece you will learn how it plays an important roll in the value of the painting and why the artist...
University of Manchester
Children's University of Manchester: Talking Textiles: How Do Textiles Talk?
Interactive series of graphics, with samples of the Bayeux Tapestry and an adire cloth from Nigeria Explains how to look closely at the imagery, color, and patterns of textiles to undercover their hidden meanings and symbolic content.
Other
Basic Strategies in Reading Photographs
Strengthen your art vocabulary. This site will define for you many of the terms used to describe photography. Use them in critique and impress everyone with all that you have to say.
Other
National Gallery: Take One Picture
Take One Picture equips primary classroom teachers to use artwork as cross-curricular learning resources. The program has an archive of pictures and reports on how the pictures were used in classes to broaden understanding in multiple...
National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art: Johannes Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance"
A complete analysis of this famous Baroque painting. The artist's technique, composition, and intentions are fully broken down for you. Really helps you to understand the painting and appreciate it more. Includes an artist biography and...
Museum Network (UK)
The Museum Network Uk: Talking Objects
What do the objects around you tell people about you? This resource takes a look at the question and offers some common themes and pieces of artwork. Teacher resources are available.
Other
Poway Unified School District: How to Analyze Art
This tutorial will lead you through the steps on how to view and understand art. Great for all ages.