Upper graders analyze the work, Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase by Maria van Oosterwyck. They consider the value of her paintings and how they are still relevent and sought after, 350 years after they were created. The blending of...

The wood sculpture Nkisi Nkondi is said to have been used to aid in conflict resolution. Learners pretend they are journalists reporting on a conflict in which the figure was used to resolve an issue. A creative and interesting use of...

Fifth grade reader/writers create an alternate ending to an episode in Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach in which our protagonist "loses" the chance to magically solve all his problems. Prompts students not only to write creatively...

Think about a moment, frozen in time. Now take a critical look at the painting, Better, Homes, Better Gardens. This painting works to provide learners the opportunity to analyze art, critique artist's choices, and write a story inspired...

Students explore creativity and imagination. In this instructional activity about art, students experiment with different tools used for creating prints. Students use ears of corn with kernels and without kernels, tempera paint, paper...

Art acts as inspiration for a conversation about human impact on the environment and creative writing. The class examines three pieces, looking for evidence of human impact on the landscape. They then write a first-person narrative, from...

Readers of all ages can work together in groups to create original poetry on the theme of "Imagine," inspired by John Lennon's classic song. They also create a mural to illustrate their poetry. A beautiful instructional activity,...

If you were a fairy and had your very own magic wand, what would it look like? Little learners get to create a magic wand and holder of their very own, using paint, ribbon, and wood. Magic wands can be used when making story predictions,...

Students create unique hats. In this early childhood lesson plan, students engage in a group celebration to foster social skills, creativity, and fine- and gross-motor development as they put on a funny fashion show with the hats they...

After reading a story or informational text describing an animal, your class gets creative and collaborative with paint. In groups, they brainstorm all the parts of an animal, they then take turns painting those parts. One child starts...

What do your students see when they look outside the window? This project lets their imagination go wild, and lets you see what kind of daydreaming they do best. They each draw, paint, and color an image of what they imagine as they are...

While architects and engineers don't often build with plastic straws and foam board, the same principles still apply. Challenging both the creativity and critical thinking of students, this engaging design project is perfect...

Monet is a great artist to study and impressionism is a wonderful art style to practice. Learners read about Monet then attempt to use impressionist painting techniques. Book and image links are included. 

Students build and construct unique wood sculptures in order to develop creative-thinking, problem-solving, and fine-motor skills. In this construction lesson, students receive a variety of wooden shapes and use glue or other fasteners...

A fun way to grow a class of creative thinkers, is to add creative projects to your weekly line up. Kids pretend they are small insects or spiders crawling up the side of a huge building. They use vivid imagery, rich detail, and their...

The classroom becomes a safe and inclusive place for your ELLs as they create documents about their lives. Learners create, read, and present story books based on their own personal experiences. They use digital cameras to take...

Kids create a free-form art piece using paper, water-based paints, markers, and imagination. They allow the paints to randomly bleed, mix, and move on the paper, then they look for forms in the organic images. They black-line the shapes...

Students imagine they are animals in the Palace Facade painting. In this Palace Facade lesson plan, students observe and discuss the geometric and organic shapes in the painting shown to them.

Get creative and use a tissue paper collage to make wonderful window hangings for the classroom. You'll find the materials list, objectives, and instructions needed to complete this fun activity. This project encourages eye-hand...

Students dramatize the wonderful world of nature, without making a sound. For this early childhood creative thinking lesson, students dramatize different aspects of nature to develop creative thinking, reading, memory, and motor skills.

Sixth graders view human head paintings by Picasso. Using the paintings, they identify the facial proportions by a frontal and profile view. With a partner, they create a portrait of them after observing and measuring their face. They...

Students social skills blossom as they work together on this mural-making activity. In this early childhood visual arts lesson, students develop creative-thinking, fine-motor, language, and social skills as they work together to plan,...

Young scholars read a story by Dr. Seuss and create characters from the story. In this lesson about reading a story, students will read I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories. Young scholars make a tiger tail with a felt strip,...

Learners explore the unique population of Alaska. In this Native people of Alaska lesson, students discover the three groups of people who live in Alaska. Learners describe the similiarities and differences between the three groups....