Curated OER
Pasta Bridges
Students design a bridge using pasta. They explore the elements of architecture involved in bridge building. They practice problem solving in a hands-on cooperative group effort.
Curated OER
Tempera Batik
Students utilize elements and principles of design and develop strong composition. They explore colors, contrast and simplification of forms. They sketch in pencil, then trace in chalk before applying their paint.
Curated OER
Fractured Fairy Tales
Learners use familiar characters, plots, and settings from traditional fairy tales to create "fractured" versions, while experimenting with satire, irony and parody. A fractured fairy tale is designed to be humorous by changing the story...
Curated OER
Integrating Japanese Folk Tales into the Classroom Using Japanese Kamishibai
Students study Japanese folk tales focusing on the traditional values and key elements. They compare the Japanese values with their own. They discuss Japanese art before designing a set of kamishibai on which they write a summary of a...
Curated OER
Putting Writing Skills To Work
Tenth graders reinforce their knowledge of the format and elements of business letters by writing a request letter. A review of effective letter writing is provided prior to an independent assignment. This helps with scaffolding the...
Curated OER
Text as Texture Collage
Students explore the concepts of rhythm, movement, contrast and texture. They practice using new vocabulary and work on creating a college after designing the arrangement. They self-evaluate their collage and critique their classmates...
Curated OER
A Tour in Sustainability
Young scholars explore two LEED certified green buildings. They examine what is the LEED certification process and what constitutes a green building. They tour via the internet two LEED certified green buildings, while comparing and...
Curated OER
Our Global Community
First graders experience literature which shows how communities live around the world. In this global community instructional activity, 1st graders read books such as Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox and create a work of art based on their...
Curated OER
Constructivism (Line and shape)
Students use the element of line to create a composition, then apply a printmaking technique to create a composition.
Curated OER
Architecture Through the Ages
Students study the art of architecture in four well-known structures around the world. In this world architecture lesson, students read books about architects and study architectural structures in the world. Students draw a dream city on...
Curated OER
Creating a Story Quilt
Young scholars create a quilt to represent an important event in their life. In this visual arts activity, students research Faith Finggold and her quilts. Young scholars use art supplies to create their own quilt and share the symbolic...
Curated OER
Rhythm and Movement
Third graders identify the rhythms and movements found in different works of art. In this visual arts lesson, 3rd graders view samples of art work and use hand gestures to demonstrate the movement of the image. Students pick one art...
Curated OER
Who Do You Want For Your Friend?
Second graders create a t-chart about the healthy and unhealthy characteristics in relationships. They discuss elements they should look for in a friend. They are read books to identify these elements.
Curated OER
Shadow Puppetry in South India
Students read a variety of literature from India, including folktales and fables. They then select a scene or story to script, work together to design and craft shadow puppets of characters and scenery, narrate a story, manipulate the...
Curated OER
Recreating Chinese Bronze Vessels
Students are shown how to make Chinese Bronze Vessels using coil or slab-built clay ceramic techniques. They are given an overview of the history of Chinese Bronze Vessels and given examples. Students are shown photographs, and they take...
Curated OER
Lord of the Flies
Ninth graders compare events in the story "Lord of the Flies" to real life events in our world. They create a manual and text describing the elements of survival. They create a poster of a conch shell that includes the scientific name, a...
Curated OER
Interpreting Music Data Rubric
In this interpreting music data rubric worksheet, students use this rubric as an assessment tool. It is designed to evaluate the students' music presentation.
National First Ladies' Library
Mark Twain's America
Students read Huckleberry Finn, analyze text for historical contexts, and write book report emphasizing historical elements, type report comparing and contrasting events in book to events of today, create Powerpoint presentation...
Curated OER
Shapes Show It
Students use art to express emotion. In this visual arts lesson, students explore the use of various colors and shapes in an effort to express emotions displayed in the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Students use the computer...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Using Collage to Honor Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
Students discover the honor bestowed by the Nobel Peace Prize. In this visual arts collage instructional activity, students research Nobel Peace Prize recipients and create collages to using the prescribed technique.
Curated OER
New Forms from Old
Students look at historic porcelain objects. In this visual arts lesson, students examine how the use of historic objects has changed over time. Students design their own object from paper cups, bowls, plates, and more.
Curated OER
Power Figure Songye, Zaire
Students create power figures. In this visual arts lesson, students design and build their own sculptures that replicate those made by the Songye in Zaire, Africa.
Curated OER
Digital Self Portraits
Students use digital cameras and computers to create their own self-portrait. After taking their picture, they download the image and use brush and shape tools, colors and the elements of design to create a distorted portrait of...
Curated OER
Acting Like a Bunch of Animals: Fables and Human
The video "The Tales of Aesop" traces for viewers the history of fables and identifies their characteristics. The class then goes to the web site "The Fisherman and the Little Fish" where they examine the classic and a modern version of...