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Gesture and Chance

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the role of chance in creating Dada art and analyze the idea of gesture. In this art analysis lesson, students consider gesture in drawings and the role of chance in Dada art. Students complete image based discussion....
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They Put On Masks

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine Native American art. In this mask making lesson plan, 8th graders compare mask making traditions among different cultures. Students watch a demonstration of mask making and construct a mask of their own.
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Making Treaties and Weaving Wampum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are exposed to the cultural and artistic importance of wampum belts and the importance of the belts in American history as markers of relations between the Native Americans and European settlers.
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Music in West Africa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore power and the symbols of power in West African music. They discuss the music of West Africa and compare it to African American music of today. In addition, they investigate musical instruments of Africa, identify the...
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They Put on Masks

For Teachers K - 9th
Students discover Native American culture by creating masks.  In this customs lesson, students create their own masks in class from plaster and paint.  Students perform a skit in front of their school showcasing their mask...
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify many careers within the music industry such as producer, A&R representative and recording studio engineer. They connect achievements of noted artists with their roles in the music industry.
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Zora Hurston Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore American culture by reading classic literature in class. In this African-American history instructional activity, students read the story Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree while identifying the work and contributions...
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Returning to the South

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students reinforce their knowledge of the Great Migration by reading a narrative to investigate reasons why African-Americans chose to migrate from the South. Students then write editorials for a local newspaper that outlines the reasons...
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Fiber of Life

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the importance of plants to individuals and society through a multi-discipline set of activities. They observe and draw different leaf structures and then create a book about trees and photosynthesis. They explore ways...
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Rise of the Modern City

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners investigate the industrial developments of the twentieth century and the development of urban environments. In this industrial art lesson, students compare and contrast graphics and analyze industrial developments on...
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Political Cartoons as Part of the Election Process

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the impact of political cartoons on American elections. In this presidential elections lesson, students discuss the election process and then analyze political cartoons that were published during presidential elections....
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Sand Painting

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Pupils create sand art paintings based on those of the Navajo.
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A Bird's Eye View of the Caribbean: Art, Folklore, and Music

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the Caribbean in terms of its music, art, and folklore. As a class, they listen to a folktale and discuss the difference between telling a story and reading a story. In groups, they write their own folktale and share...
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Richard Misrach

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students analyze the Great Salt Lake as a resource for artistic work and other studies. In this art analysis lesson, students view maps that show the location of the Great Salt Lake including a satellite image. Students can also study...
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Words Have Meaning

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Learners interpret and analyze art for meaning and a Maya Angelou poem for meaning. In this art and literature analysis lesson, students analyze Alison Saar's "Lost and Found" and Maya Angelou's poem "Alone." Learners write creative...
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Art in Crafts

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the concept of craft and, by creating blueprints for various craft objects, explore the advantages and disadvantages of craft in our modern world.
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Haring's Heroes

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners collaborate to create a painting in the style of Keith Haring. In this subway art lesson, learners study the distinct style of artist Keith Haring and design a large scale canvas on styrofoam. They study the details of Haring's...
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Dilettante Artists

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate their personal heritage. They research and record iand organize nformation in journal notes. Students create folk art using a variety of techniques and media.
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WINTER-STORYTELLING

For Teachers K
The student evaluate illustrations in a book, identify a story or book as distinctly Native American, draw original illustrations for a story, create a flip book, listen attentively to stories from a known storyteller, act out a story,...
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The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders use literature journals and discussion groups to summarize and improve their reading comprehension. In this reading skills lesson, 2nd graders discuss animals they've loved and read the story The Girl Who Loved Wild...
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American Genre Painting in the Nineteenth Century: Teaching Artistic Interpretation as a Tool for Critically Viewing History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a variety of artwork to determine the history and lifestyle of people from New Haven, Connecticut. In groups, they develop their individual hypothesis about why the paintings were created and share them with their group...
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Native American Friendship Dance

For Teachers All
The performing arts offer artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context and aesthetic valuing. This dance helps students understand dance history and develops cultural awareness. Students are given the...
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Refrigerator to Renoir: Ten Great Art Lessons on the Net

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Every learner can be an artist with a series of activities designed to access their creativity. With reference links and instructional ideas, this art resource is sure to enrich your class and bring new ideas to even your most reluctant...
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Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the life and works of Langston Hughes. In groups, they research the characteristics of the Harlem Renaissance and how Hughes' poems relate to the era. They use the themes in his writings and relate it to the Great...