Denver Art Museum
Lesson Plan: Symbols & Community
Sand mandalas are transitory art forms that are created by a group for the purpose of healing. Upper graders learn how Tibetan monks create these amazing works of art, and study symbolism and metaphor. Then pupils work together in a...
Curated OER
Grow a Musical Instrument
Music, culture, social studies, and plant growth all in one! Kids explore the various type of traditional African instruments that are made out of gourds. They then grow their own gourds and use them to create a wide variety of African...
Michael's Crafts
Classroom Community Bulletin Board Lesson Plan
Building a strong classroom community is a huge part of our job. This idea lets the kids help define the rules, ideas, and behaviors that they want in their classroom. They'll work together to design a bulletin board that exemplifies the...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Placemats: A Community Service Project
Young scholars complete a community service project to brighten the holidays. They work together at a food kitchen or shelter. They reflect on their experiences.
Curated OER
This Ain't No Tea Party!
Create food-safe bowls with your class, then organize a meal for the community using the class's bowls to serve. This lesson is based on the Empty Bowels Project, where school kids gain an understanding of global hunger through community...
Curated OER
Anasazi Basket Weaving
The Anasazi Indians of Mesa Verde are the focus of this art and social studies lesson. Working in pairs or groups of three, young scholars utilize computers and go online to search for websites about the Anasazi. Students will choose two...
American Art Clay Co., Inc.
Ceramic Tile Wall Murals
Science, social studies, language arts, and art classes work together with administrators to produce a permanent, ceramic tile wall mural to install at their school.
Curated OER
Our community-in sculpture form
Students design tiles that represent their community. They discuss ideas with another class through email. They then create the tiles, fire them, and attach them to a masonite board to create a community mural.
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Art in the Mail
The "mail art" phenomena was started back in the 20's with the Dada and Fluxus art movements and revitalized in the 60's. The principle of mail art, is free exchange and artistic expression. Learners study these facts and then create...
Curated OER
Outreach and Distribution Lesson Plan
Young scholars study the process for outreach and distribution of films. They design outreach and distribution plans for films which they create.
Curated OER
Opening Lesson: Community
Students participate in a community service project and present an art project. In this lesson on community service, students read Rainbow Fish and discuss its meaning for them as it relates to community. Students create an art project...
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Social Studies: Medieval and Contemporary Class Structures
Students discuss and compare contemporary class systems with those of the Middle Ages. They explore Websites on HyperStudio stack and review art and music of the Middle Ages. In groups, students design and draw castles reflecting manor...
Curated OER
Amish Quilters
Students research information about the Amish way of life and discuss how quilting is a necessity as well as a way for women to socialize within the Amish community. They create a diorama showing scenes related to quilting.
Curated OER
Haring Inspired Wall Murals
Learners complete a community service project for their school. For this community service lesson, students and volunteers help paint murals on the walls of the school. Learners learn about Keith Haring and paint their murals using his...
Curated OER
African Art and Community
Learners explore art in traditional African communities, discover how art is used to maintain important social relationships, and draw or write about objects that reflect their own communities.
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When I Was Young In Appalachia
Students comapre and contrast the lifestyles of the people of the Applachian region with their own community through in-class discussions, creative projects, hands-on activities, food preservation, homemade remedies, home construction,...
Curated OER
Bold & Bright in Harlem
Students research and explore the Harlem Renaissance and its rich history to create a bold, bright drawing illustrating everyday stories of people in their community. They research William H. Johnson, Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence.
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Faces in the Crowd Lesson Plan
Students examine the faces of other students in the classroom and the community. They determine the similarities and the differences in hair texture and color, skin tones, shapes of noses, and eyes. Using a glue mixture, they paint the...
Curated OER
Stand Up And Sing
Students examine pieces of sheet music and identify context, purpose, and perspective with regard to the political, social, and economic conditions existing at that time. They create a cover illustrating a topic of the Progressive Era.
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Art for the Common Good: Junkanoo!
Students explore characteristics of effective group work. In this multi-cultural social studies instructional activity, students work in teams to design and construct a headdress similar to what would be worn during the Bahamian festival...
Curated OER
Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum
Six different lessons comprise this unit on marine debris. Science, language arts, social studies, and art projects make this an ideal interdisciplinary unit. The result will be well-informed future citizens who can help make a...
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Hip Hop and Geography
Students study the various geographic regions of the U.S. and discuss how popular music is influenced by cultural/regional factors. Groups choose East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, or South in rap/hip hop music and create a PowerPoint or...
Curated OER
Autism - What Is It?
High schoolers investigate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, and compare expected child development with development that may indicate a diagnosis of these disorders. The final project for the activity is the creation of posters...
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The Presidents Song
Remember learning to spell “encyclopedia” by singing along with Jiminy Cricket? How about using a singing exercise to learn the names of the presidents? “The Presidents Song,” includes the names, in order, from Washington to Coolidge....