National Gallery of Art
Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
Scholars get to know famous Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, as an artist as well as a person. After reading personal letters and analyzing paintings, participants paint two self-portraits that represent their personality. Then, write a...
Smithsonian Institution
Mary Henry: Journal/Diary Writing
A great way to connect social studies with language arts, a resource on Mary Henry's historical diary reinforces the concepts of primary and secondary sources. It comes with an easy-to-understand lesson plan, as well as the reference...
Curated OER
Bush Fires
Students consider the effectiveness of backburning operations. In this current events lesson, students analyze a photograph of firemen fighting bush fires in efforts to determine what was taking place when the photograph was taken....
Curated OER
Cricket in Pakistan
Young scholars investigate sports and recreation in other countries. In this current events lesson, students analyze a photograph of of people playing the game of cricket in efforts to determine what was taking place when the photograph...
Curated OER
Native Americans
Students determine how Native Americans were stripped of their cultures. In this Native American history lesson, students analyze several photographs of Native Americans and respond to questions about the photographs. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Photojournalism: A Record of War
Students explore who has photographed war and why. They examine Mathew Brady's process for photgraphing the Civil War. Students investigate how photographic equipment has changed and improved through time. They analyze primary source war...
Curated OER
Floods
Students examine the devastation floods may cause. For this current events lesson, students analyze a photograph of a flood scene to determine what was taking place when the photograph was taken. Students respond to the provided...
Curated OER
Sport and Security
Students examine world sports. In this current events lesson, students analyze a photograph of a sport scene to determine what was taking place when the photograph was taken. Students respond to the provided discussion questions about...
Curated OER
Documenting Texas Women’s History through Photographs
Young scholars explore women’s history. In this women’s studies lesson, students will examine seven photographs that depict prominent female figures from Texas’s history. Young scholars will engage in a discussion of the photographs as a...
Curated OER
Sea Changes: A New England Industry
Learners conduct research in order to use primary and secondary sources. They interpret and analyze information from textbooks and nonfiction books for young adults, as well as reference materials, audio and media presentations, oral...
Curated OER
Water: A Source of Life and Culture
Students explore water as a feature of culture. In this visual arts lesson, students consider the necessity of water in every culture. Students select water symbols and use their artistic skills to create water symbol silhouettes.
Curated OER
Analyzing Short Biographies to Discover Characteristics of Biographical Writing
Students read short biographies on Abraham Lincoln from various artists. Using the texts, they identify the subject of the biography and discuss whether or not illustrations contribute to a biography. They research specific information...
Curated OER
US Steel Gary Works: A Photographic Study
Young scholars formulate historical questions about the circumstances surrounding a photograph about the Gary Steel Works factories. They differentiate between historical facts and interpretation. They create a newspaper article about...
Curated OER
ANTICIPATORY SET
Students are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs and speeches) and write a definition of American Democracy. They are shown a photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. by Ben Fernandez, students are asked what is happening in the...
Curated OER
Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances
Discuss the history of slavery by analyzing historic photography depicting slavery. Learners write fictional stories based on these photographs. This is a creative and motivating way to launch a discussion of these topics.
Curated OER
The Railroads and Settlement of the Great Plains
Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Dance Critic
What do writing and dance have in common? They both have a six-trait rubric for assessment. Just like a good story, a good dance must have a hook, beginning, middle, end, logical sequence, and a climax. Learners use a...
Creative Content Australia
Persuasive Language
Language has power. Use the materials in a language arts teaching guide to equip learners with the knowledge of the persuasive techniques, both verbal and visual, that can be used to influence thinking.
Curated OER
Solving Mysteries Using Paper Chromotagraphy
Learners solve the mystery of the kidnapped teacher by analyzing a ransom note using paper chromatography. They carefully prepare ink samples from the note to known ink samples to determine the kidnapper.
Curated OER
A Picture Changes 1000 Minds
Students choose a Times photograph and write a brief essay explaining what they think is happening in the photograph and how it makes them feel. They select and analyze photographs depicting events in the Balkans and create a news photo...
Academy of American Poets
The Immigrant Experience
The Buttonhook by Mary Jo Salter is the focus of a unit that explores the immigration experience to Ellis Island. First, scholars bring in an artifact that represents their heritage. A group-exercise allows them to share and discuss...
National Geographic
The Monsoon
Few things are as fascinating as the challenge of climbing Mount Everest. This lesson investigates how monsoon weather impacts climbers. To begin, you are instructed to show various video clips. The only one directly provided, however,...
Curated OER
Analyzing a Picture
Students examine various photographs and identify three conclusions from them. Using the pictures, they write their own story based on their observations. They share their stories with the class and discuss how some of their...
Curated OER
A Comparison of Native Americans in Photography
Students use technology to gain historical information to analyze photography. They interpret the significance of a photograph during a specific time period. Also, students interpret visual information to gain an overview of various...