Curated OER
Art to Zoo: Celebration
Students research and develop a report on birthday rituals around the world. In this research lesson plan, students compare birthday rituals from other cultures to their own. Images and resources are included.
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From Remus to Rap: A History in Theory and Practice of the African-American Storytelling Tradition
Students examine the specific form and function of tall tales and toasts.
They discover the importance of performance in the telling of a story and the importance of rhythm in the telling of toasts. They create stories of their own, in...
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Painting Without a Brush
Young scholars demonstrate how to finger paint. In this finger painting lesson, students use various painting tools and their fingers to create a unique art piece.
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John Singleton Copley's art
Pupils illustrate a story after researching John Singleton Copley's paintings. In this John Singleton Copley lesson plan, students read the background of some of his paintings and then illustrate their own story and create a flip book...
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Native American Music and Dance Activity
Learners demonstrate keeping steady beat through practice exercises and stepping to the beat using instruments such as conga drums, tambourines and rhythm sticks.
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Introduction to American Literature
Students discuss the topic of freedom and what the National Anthem means to them and to our country. They create a new and original verse for the National Anthem.
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Culture in Art
Learners explore how cultural aspects of their lives are depicted in society. They view a video on Frida Kahlo and identify the cultural elements that she referenced in her work.
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Abraham Lincoln and the Arts
Students engage in a study of history and how the figure of Abraham Lincoln has evolved into a national cultural icon. They discuss the importance of his life and how he influenced the political landscape of America in the past and present.
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Thiebaud Cake Math: Intermediate
Students explore the life and art of American artist Wayne Thiebaud. They learn and practice math concepts by carefully examining the painting Cakes. They create a bold cake painting, either online or with classroom art materials.
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Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
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Spontaneous Britishstrokes
Students are introduced to Chinese painting and they examine how Daoist phiolosophy influenced artistic style. They discuss how art and artistic technique as a reflection of Daoist culture. Students discuss how art is a reflection of...
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Natural Wonders of China And Japan
Young scholars identify some of the attributes of China and Japan and compare and contrast the way Chinese, Japanese, and American artists represent nature in art. The lesson is for upper-elementary classrooms.
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Parallel Studies in American/Afro-American Literature, Part II -- Black and White Images in Alienation
Students begin the lesson with a review of the elements of poetry. Individually, they read a variety of poems and literature one white and one black author focusing on decay, sterility and alienation. They identify these images within...
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Discovering Fall
Young scholars explore the American landscape during fall. After viewing paintings of fall, learners imagine themselves there and what it would be like. They then build an understanding of the painter's use of detail and color...
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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.
Random House
Focus On: Censorship & Banned Books
Billy Collins' "Rain" introduces the Random House 104-page magazine for educators that focuses on censorship and banned books. The resource is packed with teaching guides, articles by noted authors, and links to...
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Reporting A Story: A School Newspaper Activity
Students collaborate to document cultural groups within the school or community. They create a newspaper chronicling different groups within the school.
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Rockin' Chalk
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of rocks and minerals. In this petroglyphs lesson, 4th graders become familiar with artwork on rocks. Students create original artworks using rock art.
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Celebration!
Use a five-lesson unit to investigate how different cultures use art for common purposes, such as the marking of special events, celebrations, and the validation of human experience.
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To Tell the Truth
Students explore art history. They play a game inspired by the old game show "To Tell The Truth".
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Thiebaud Cake Math: Elementary
Learners explore the American artist Wayne Thiebaud. They practice addition, subtraction, fractions, money problems, and classification problems by carefully examining his painting entitled Cakes. They create a bold cake painting.
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Alexander Calder Cookies
Students create an original piece of edible art. In this edible art lesson, students decorate a sugar cookie in the style of Alexander Calder. Students view Calder's paintings and then create an original piece of art.
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Metal Tooling with Colored Pencils
Take your art class back centuries to the art of metal tooling. This is an art technique also referred to as embossing, or repajado in Mexico and South America. This is a fun project to introduce a new technique and new materials. This...
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Treaty Trail: Historical Perspectives Point of View
Learners research the point of view of key figures present at the Walla Walla Treaty council. Students analyze primary and secondary sources to determine how various groups of people involved in the treaty council viewed the events as...