Curated OER
Short Stories Through Multimedia Presentations
Ninth graders summarize and paraphrase a short story read in class. They identify the six story elements of character, setting, plot, conflict, solution, and tone/mood. Students create a PowePoint presentation that illustrates the...
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Ideal Living
Students examine two artists Vasily Kandinsky and Marcel Breuer. In this artist analysis lesson, students explore the principles of Bauhaus and consider the elements of chair design. Students identify the technique of lithography and may...
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Collaborative Collage - A Lesson in Creative Chaos
Pupils examine the works of abstract and collage artists. They explore alternate methods of paint application that reinforce the elements of rhythm and movement and create collages based on these principles.
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The Humanitarian Side of Architecture
Learners explore the role that architects play in rebuilding communities after natural disasters. They investigate the aftermath of the 1906 California earthquake and fires, and current day efforts to rebuild communities after natural...
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LETTER FROM ALEXANDER REID
Students examine Vincent Van Gogh's use of art elements and design principles, connect Van Gogh's style with his personality, and examine how the artist's perception of the sitter can influence the portrait.
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Talk The Talk
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".
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Moby Dick Puppetry
Such an ambitious instructional activity! Third graders with special needs listen to an audio recording of the novel, Moby Dick. They stop often to discuss each of the main characters and analyze their actions in the story. They then...
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Book Trailers/Sneak Peeks
Looking for a motivating and creative technology lesson? Then this lesson is for you! After viewing a movie trailer, middle-schoolers follow that design to create a video preview of a book's story elements. They also create a storyboard...
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Scary Short Story Writing Lesson
There's nothing like the prospect of writing a scary story to get your middle schoolers' writing juices flowing! In the lesson presented here, pupils listen to scary short stories read to them by the teacher. Then, a discussion ensues...
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Ancient Gold Working
Students create a sculpture inspired by the masks, pendants, or human and animal forms found in ancient Indian art of the Americas. They focus on the techniques of metalworking, especially repousse.
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Crazy Quilt Texture Board
Artists explore textures they can create when working with acrylic modeling paste. In this simple-to-implement art lesson, learners divide a rigid surface into six squares, and use a variety of tools to create different textures within...
Asian Art Museum
Create Your Own Samurai Daily Life Identity
Your class can create their own Samurai identity with craft paper and a little imagination. Learners will discuss what life was like for a Samurai warrior, and then they will make representations of what they would look like as a...
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Artist Research
Students research an artist of their choice on the internet. They are provided with questions (worksheets included with the lesson) as a guide for their research. Students choose an artwork by their artist to critique.
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Behind Closed Doors
Students explore different types of doors from an artistic point of view. In this creative thinking lesson, students look at different types of architectural doors and doorways and analyze them. They create a project of a door as a...
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African Folktales
Students examine the art of storytelling. In groups, they write their own African folktales, design costumes, props and scenery, and videotape folktale presented in dramatic form.
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Marketing to Teens: Parody Ads
High schoolers deconstruct advertising messages by analyzing parody ads and exploring the purpose of satire. Then they create their own parodies based on real ads discussed in class. A creative activity to extend any study of media,...
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Emotion Masks
Students analyze and discuss masks of different cultures as an art form to evoke emotion. This lesson culminates in the creation of individual mask designs and self-directed assessment (included).
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Memoir
After reading and analyzing two narrative memoirs, middle schoolers engage in a variety of activities, including writing an essay, developing a story map, and creating character charts. They then compare and contrast story maps, and...
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Looking At Illuminated Manuscripts: Exploring an Illuminated Manuscript Page
Students investigate illuminated manuscript pages from the Medieval period. In this illuminated manuscript lesson, students examine 13th century pages and compare them to modern printed works. They describe the details of an illuminated...
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After Impressionism from Van Gogh to Matisse (1886 - 1906)
Young scholars plan a museum visit to study Impressionist paintings and its artists. In this Impressionism lesson, students examine the colors and perception of space in Impressionist artwork. Young scholars recognize the...
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Act It Out!
An effective way to demonstrate understanding is by synthesizing one's own work. Use a creative lesson designed for a unit on Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for small groups to show what they know about the play,...
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Ceramic Tile Wall Murals
Students create multi-color lithographic posters, reinterpreting the technique of a famous artist or artistic style. They discuss art history, aesthetics, criticism, and personal expression. Students focus on the elements of design and...
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Texture
Students investigate how texture affects fashion as an element of design. They define texture, and find examples from magazines. They also complete a handout that serves as a note taking guide.
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Traditional Japanese Garden Design
Students create a miniature Japanese garden that incorporates the elements of traditional Japanese aesthetics. They study the simplicity, asymmetrical design and incorporate traditional structures.