Curated OER
Louisiana Regional Foodways
Students strengthen their research techniques in locating, selecting, and synthesizing information from a variety of texts, media, references and internet resources to study regional food way traditions in Louisiana. They assess the...
Curated OER
Claycrete Calaveras - Dia de los Muertos
Students create skeletons to celebrate the Day of the Dead. In this visual arts lesson, students explore the importance of the Day of the Dead celebrations in the Mexican culture. They create skeletons and decorate them with paint,...
Curated OER
Art Lesson: My Symbol
Students explore and brainstorm the concept of symbols in real world applications and create a poem describing themselves. They design and paint a symbol that represents him/herself utilizing the technique of simplification to express...
Smithsonian Institution
Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine”
Scholars go on a musical journey to discover the origin, importance, and evolution of the song, "This Little Light of Mine". Class members boost their voice talents and clap to the beat while learning the lyrics in both English and Zulu....
Curated OER
Granary Door Dogon, Mali
Students explore a creation myth. In this visual arts lesson plan, students discuss the Dogon creation myth and the design and make refrigerator magnets in the style of Dogan granary doors. The design of the magnets should include linear...
Curated OER
Origami Ducks: Geometry, Listening, and Following Directions
Make origami ducks with your class to reinforce geometry concepts and vocabulary; develop fine motor and visual translation skills; and enrich study of Japanese culture, the pond habitat, or migration. Create a whole group "worksheet"...
Curated OER
Papier-mache Bowl
Bowls are useful and can be quite beautiful. The steps needed to create bowls out of papier-mache are outlined in this step-by-step art lesson plan. Tip: Discuss the origin of papier-mache, various cultures that have used it, and how it...
Curated OER
Pop Art Ice Cream Painting
Students develop skills in painting and create a painting of an ice cream cone using Pop Art as in inspiration.
Curated OER
Emotion in Art & Poetry
Fourth graders are introduced to famous works of art and begin to discuss the artist's work. Use art to explain and reflect their own emotions. The write about feelings in a work of art and make connections between art and other...
Curated OER
How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
Students explore U.S. history by reading a Native American tale in class. In this cultural storytelling lesson, students read the story How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun and discuss the characters and themes of the Native American...
Curated OER
The Amazing Maud Lewis
Students investigate cultural art from Canada by reading about Maud Lewis. In this Canadian history instructional activity, students identify the work of Lewis by visiting her magazine website. Students identify other heroes...
Curated OER
Native American Flutes - Activity 1
Students discuss Native American culture and musical techniques after viewing a video of Charles Littleleaf, a member of the Warm Springs tribe and a creator of Native American wood flutes.
Curated OER
Using Songs in the Foreign Language Classroom
Students focus on their required lessons in Spanish by integrating music and songs as they complete their assignments. They assess the vocabulary, grammar patterns and culture associated with music and various different songs. Each...
Curated OER
Out of the Box
Pupils think creatively. In this out of the box lesson, students explore the Frederic C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum, examining the work of architect Daniel Libeskind and his team. Pupils discover structural...
Curated OER
Buffalo-Hide Parfleche
Students research historic and contemporary information about the cultures of Native American Plains Indians such as Sioux or Blackfoot. They investigate patterns used on parfleches or rawhide. They choose a pattern to duplicate. They...
Curated OER
Crackled Batik Book Covers
Students measure a cover for a book and design a beautiful and practical book cover. They follow the directions to design a book cover, coloring one side of the paper with Crayola products using traditional batik patterns from various...
Curated OER
Art Museum Visit
Students engage in a lesson designed to be used before visiting The Orange County Museum of Art in California. They are exposed to works of art from a featured artist and recreate some of his work in the classroom. Students also conduct...
Curated OER
Colorful Paper Masks
Students create individual masks using poster paper, string or elastic, and basic art supplies in this wonderful Art lesson for any level. Emphasis is placed on the discussion of cultural and personal uses of masks and personal creativity.
Curated OER
Art -- The Secret to Freedom
Fourth graders create a coded message in a quilt. In this art instructional activity students demonstrate the communication used by the Underground Railroad. Students work in a group to make a quilt with a code in it.
Curated OER
Northwest Coast Indians: Spring and Summer Salmon
Here is a fabulous lesson about the cultures of the Northwest Indians. Through an exploration of a story about the Salmon People, learners study the practice of harvesting salmon and the cultural importance of salmon to the Northwest...
Curated OER
1,000 Cranes Lesson Plan
Students improve their motor skills through cafeful folding, a discipline necessary in the practice of origami. They develop multicultural awareness by exploring Japanese history. Students improve their ability to follow directions...
Curated OER
Textured Pottery using Self-Hardening Clay and Multicultural Design
Students create textured pottery. In this multicultural arts lesson plan, students follow step-by-step directions to create textured pottery with a multicultural design out of self-hardening clay.
Curated OER
Javanese Wayang Kulit Lesson Plan
Fourth graders study the history and culture associated with Javanese Shadow Puppets and the perspective that is used during performances. They design original shadow puppets and give a shadow puppet performance using their creations.
Curated OER
Pop Tart or Pop Art?
Students explore pop art. They research the history of pop art and identify artist (s) responsible for this movement. Students produce a print using images from our culture. Additional cross curriculum activities are included.