Historical fiction can be a valuable asset when learning about the past. Integrate several novels written about the Civil War into your social studies unit, with groups of four working collaboratively to comprehend the novel from...

Students explore photographic works of art. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze selected photographs by Garcia, Ray, and Eggleston. Students take their own photographs in the style of these photographers.

Young scholars view images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art web site, and list the objects and figures in the image. They discuss the way their eyes move around the canvas and take note of where their eyes fall, follow and finish....

Students create CD covers from their music-inspired drawing sessions. They compare what they drew while listening to classical, punk and rap music. They scan their drawings into Adobe Photoshop and design their cover.

Students examine the motif of spinning and weaving in myths and folktales. They read various myths, complete a WebQuest, develop a mind map of story elements, and write an original "spider" story.

As part of their exploration of the American dream, class members examine primary source materials to compare immigrant experiences of those arriving early in our country's history to those arriving in the US after World War...

Students conduct research, using a variety of resources, about their favorite painter and painting. They critique the famous painters work and write a multimedia presentation that showcases his/her work. They paint an original work of...

Third graders visit Early Huguenot Street and identify architectural structural and design elements that were in use before 1720. They consider how architecture has evolved and complete Venn diagrams with their observations.

Students study the basic elements and concepts of the visual art's perceptual component - such as shape, line and color. They create tessellations that foster problem solving and reflective thinking.

Students view and discuss Renaissance art, including the work of Arcimboldo. They create their own self portraits through imagery and symbolism in the Arcimboldo style.

Students create a workshop on basic design to introduce the concept to elementary students. In this design workshop instructional activity, students view two videos that provide basic design concepts. After discussing the concepts as a...

Students investigate art elements such as color schemes and proportion by creating their own personal Mandala Circle on paper or canvas. This also allows students to investigate mathematical concepts such as tesselations or social...

Students explore the concept of community. In this community lesson, students explore the cultural flavor of their neighborhoods as they discuss the history of their neighborhoods and draw pictures of their family and a building in their...

Eighth graders will explore the rhythm and rhyme of poems to understand the basic elements of poetry.  In this poetry and literary lesson, 8th graders relate their love for rap music to poetry.  Students will discuss...

Students respond to image of a rangoli, identify viewing context for selected rangoli image and how this affects viewer's ability to understand the artwork, investigate cultural values and purposes of rangoli art, and design and make a...

Students analyze the painting Jan Brueghel and design their own book. In this art and book lesson, students discuss the elements of fantasy from the painting and create their own book. Students illustrate the book and create a painting...

Middle schoolers explore media and techniques to create works of art

Students create their own "talking sticks" that reflect personas they have invented in this Art lesson designed to introduce the Yoruba peoples from Nigeria. Emphasis is placed on personal reflection after completing the "sticks".

Learners examine the variety of elements for a written play and create a playbill. They read about and define literary elements on a worksheet, and participate in a dramatic reading. Each student then creates and publishes a playbill.

Students explore religious worship. In this marketing religion instructional activity, students examine their own religious beliefs and practices as they investigate religious outreach practices.

Pupils discuss how color construct meaning in art. They will demonstrate a technical knowledge and creative use of formal elements and principals of design. Students then discuss the way their selection of color contributed to their work.

Students explore the leaf as a design motif in art. They conduct Internet research on leaf and tree symbolism, view and discuss artwork, and create an original work of art featuring a leaf or leaf motif.

Pupils are introduced to assemblages and view a variety of examples. They critique selected artworks and discuss the benefits to the community by creating art out of junk. They create an assemblage where they choose objects that express...