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Looking At Illuminated Manuscripts: Exploring an Illuminated Manuscript Page
Students investigate illuminated manuscript pages from the Medieval period. In this illuminated manuscript lesson, students examine 13th century pages and compare them to modern printed works. They describe the details of an illuminated...
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The Bolero
Students discuss the structure of the musical film "The Bolero." In this film arts instructional activity, students watch "The Bolero" before participating in discussion questions and watching a second performance of the same...
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Using The Opera To Create A Puppet Show
Students become familiar with various types of puppets and then create their own puppets. They use the Verse Play of La Cenerentola and puppets to prepare and conduct a performance.
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Singing The Blues with Garage Band
Students demonstrate writing lyrics for a twelve-bar blues pattern by writing two verses of a blues song and then recording themselves singing over a stock blues pattern using Apple's Garage Band. Requires a networked keyboard lab.
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"No, You Can't Take Me!"
Students study imitation or pantomime. In this creative drama lesson, students pick an object to imitate and state the reasons why that object should not be taken out of the room pretending to be that object.
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Folded Paper Houses
Students create a folded paper house based on the free "Color, Cut, and Fold Village" offered by Bridge to Reading (link provided)
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Stained Glass Painting with Tempera Resist
Students discuss different styles of stained glass painting. They sketch a design, fill it in with tempera paint as a resist and pour India Ink in the unpainted areas. They wash off excess ink to reveal color. They assess their artwork.
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Soft Sculpture Self-portraits
Students create a soft sculpture bust of themselves using such as muslin. They color, stuff and sew the bust.
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Improvising Music
Young scholars watch "The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z" and improvise melodic and rhythmic embellishments for the song "O What A Beautiful Morning" or "Rubber Duckie."
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Hot Problem Solving
Young scholars follow the steps of the engineering design process to meet the challenge of getting their entire class from one location on the playground to the sidewalk without touching the ground between. The class develops a well...
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Toco Toucan - Oil Pastels
Students create a picture of a toucan from the continent of South America using a pencil, marker, and oil pastels. Students identify the continent of South America and discuss the Toco Toucan. They follow teacher directions to create...
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Self-Portrait Unit - Lesson #1
Fourth graders create self-portraits using artistic elements found in Hispanic culture and, specifically, the art of Frida Kahlo. The lesson can be adapted for any culture/country and requires an outside person with cultural knowledge.
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Fun Dance
Students perform a dance step in physical education class. They move to the beat of the music, counting eight beats to a set of movements. Students walk forward four counts and do two jumping jacks. They walk backwards four counts and do...
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Ecosystem Tumble
Students create visual representations of ecosystems. In this ecology instructional activity, students discuss the interdependence of plants and animals in various ecosystems. Students cut pictures from magazines and glue them on...
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Folk Music
Students explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life.
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Emily Carr Trees
Students examine the work of artist Emily Carr. In this watercolor lesson, students observe how to draw trees and to use crayon resistance. Students also create a watercolor tree.
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Chinese Kite
Students create their own Chinese kite. For this multicultural art lesson, students use butcher paper, newspapers, string, pipe cleaners and paint to create a Chinese kite. Students follow the given steps and attempt to fly their kite.
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Bottle Dolls/Figurative Sculpture
Students use water bottles with sand in them (to give stability) They add heads made of crumpled newspaper with masking tape. They paper mache the entire figure and make them into people or animals. Students add paint and accessories...
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ALL ABOUT ME
Students create a short PowerPoint about themselves. They brainstorm and record on board slide ideas for an "All About Me" PowerPoint. They use different backgrounds on each slide. Clip Art is also utilized.
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Mexican "Tona" Animal Masks
Students study the Mexican legend related to masks. They select an animal with traits they can identify with and recognize in themselves. Afterward, they create a mask that will retain some human features, but take on the life of the...
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Animal Tales Theatre
Students participate in a theatre production involving how to protect animals. Students create their own puppets which will be used in the production. Students read information provided to them and highlight the important information...
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Tibetan Monk Sand Paintings
Students complete an art project. In this sand paintings lesson, students learn about the history of mandalas and then create a sand painting of their own. Extensions include writing a story or poem about their sand painting, study of...
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Magazine Mosaics
Students create their own mosaic from magazine pieces and cut outs. In this art lesson, students discuss advertising inside of magazines and what ads are the most effective.