Curated OER
Mini Masks: Ceramics
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class.
Curated OER
Pop Culture and Art
Learn about American pop culture, art, and the social voice that art can convey. The class discusses the life and art of Barton Benes, views his piece Reliquarium, then discusses what they see and feel when they view his work. Make sure...
Curated OER
Careers and Self-Portraits
Students explore careers they may have in their future. They create a paper collage self-portrait of themselves as adults dressed for work. They write an autobiography describing the education and training required for their chosen career.
Curated OER
Music and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
The music of the Harlem Renaissance can provide a way for students to learn about musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
Curated OER
Many Ways of Seeing
Investigate themes and issues in art such as the concept of originality, interpretation of visual language, symbolism, and examination of the categories of fine art and folk art.
Curated OER
Emotion Masks
High schoolers analyze and discuss masks of different cultures as an art form to evoke emotion. This instructional activity culminates in the creation of individual mask designs and self-directed assessment (included).
Curated OER
Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances
Students develop an understanding of art and history. In this activity about sculpture and creating a mood, students will gain an understanding of a moment in history by observing art. Students observe busts, and paintings from the...
Curated OER
Storytelling With Artists
Students retell a legend orally, illustrating it with the art style of the source culture.
Curated OER
Honey Bee Language Arts And Literature
Students see how nature and honey bees are presented in literature. They find and read poetry that include references to bees. Have them write their own poetry or Haiku.
Curated OER
Mali
Seventh graders begin the lesson by reading primary sources about the country of Mali. Using maps drawn in the past, they discuss what they can gather about the country from the map and how it has changed over time. They use a graphic...
Curated OER
Assembling A Story
Students observe, discuss, and interpret Radcliffe Bailey's work "By the River" by creating a personal narrative of the 18th or 19th century. Internet access is required and related links are offered for teaching aides.
Curated OER
Joaquin Torres Garcia Art
Students analyze the art of Joaquin Torres Garcia in 'Composition.' In this art analysis lesson, students read about the artist's work and the artist. Students answer discussion and follow-up questions.
Curated OER
Making Akan Gold Weights and Understanding their Proverbial Meanings
Learners examine a variety of gold weights used by the Asante in West Africa. In groups, they discuss the purpose of the gold weights and practice saying proverbs associated with different pieces of art. To end the lesson, they...
Curated OER
Art Curators
Students use the Internet to select various works of art around a theme. They create a PowerPoint exhibit of these works and create the written documentation to accompany their presentation. They critique the class exhibits.
Curated OER
The Old South In Children's Books
Students discuss what is meant by the "Old South". In groups, they read stories about the Old South and discover this was not how the area actually was in that time period. They use a database to examine the covers of books and...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African Art: Artful Animals
African artists commonly base their work on animals observed in their natural habitats. Artful Animals lets you view African art that takes animals as its subject and inspiration. Learn about animals as symbols in African art, the beauty...
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis Institute of Arts: African Myths in Art
This site offers three African myth symbols and artwork, along with the stories and background information that go with them, plus discussion questions and answers.
Smithsonian Institution
Nm Af A: Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments
Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: African American Masters
An interesting site that contains paintings, sculptures, and photographs by African American artists. Each piece has a short paragraph below it describing the artwork, and the message the artist was trying to convey.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: Reconstruction and Its Aftermath
Part of a virtual exhibit by the Library of Congress, this site details the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the newly freed slaves. It contains photographs of artwork and a map from the period.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Women in Africa: Tradition and Change
In this lesson plan, students will consider Women in Africa: Tradition and Change. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab. Students first examine a selection of traditional African artworks that...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Painting the Migration
Paintings by Jacob Lawrence titled, "The Migration of the Negro", a series of sixty paintings, illustrates the migration of African Americans to the North in the twentieth century. A link to this artwork can be found within this summary.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Artists, Making of African American Identity: V. 1
The artwork of four nineteenth-century free blacks expressed in portraits, landscapes, sculpture, and photography. Links to works from Joshua Johnson, Robert Scott Duncanson, Edmonia Lewis, and Augustus Washington are provided.
Other
Detroit Institute of Arts: Homepage
The Detroit Institute of Arts is the fifth-largest fine arts museum in the United States, with over 60,000 works. Individual artworks may be viewed in "Collections". Areas include Asian art, African, Oceanic, and New World art, ancient...