Curated OER
Abstract Planes in Paper Sculpture
High schoolers create maquettes of abstract sculptures utilizing the elements of art; line, shape, value, color, space and texture and the principles of design; balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm and movement, pattern and unity. These...
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Heart Collage
Explore the visual arts by creating a construction paper art project. In this collage lesson plan, young artists research the Internet to examine styles of famous artists including Keith Haring. They create cut-outs of hearts using...
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Study of an Artist
Fourth graders research an artist, write a short report and do an oral presentation.
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Hispanic Artists
Students use the internet to research the life and works of various Spanish artists. In groups, they recognize the name of the artist and pick two works that are of interest to them. They create a brochure highlighting this artist's work...
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What Kind of Vessel Are You?
This is a strange question; but what kind of vessel would you be and why? After examining images of a large Inca jug, the class sets to writing a creative narrative that answers that very interesting question. They start by researching...
Polar Trec
Drawing Diatoms like Ernst Haeckel
Why do scientists rely on drawings rather than just photographs of their research studies? The lesson introduces drawings of microscopic organisms and the importance of accuracy. Young artists draw organisms and learn why focus and...
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: From a Distance
Challenge your class with an amazing set of ideas that really put the project back into project-based learning. It all starts with a whole class research task. Each learner will look up and take notes on multiple facets of things that...
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Environmental Impact
Students analyze a 20th century photograph of a Los Angeles landscape and examine the population expansion of L.A. They discuss the principles of design, complete a worksheet, and write a research paper on overpopulation in Los Angeles.
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Painters as Musicians-CD Cover Design
Students create CD cover art to project the image of the artist or what those artists might sing about.
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The Renaissance
Students study the work of Renaissance artists and investigate the value of their contributions. They investigate how beauty and thinking were stressed during this time period by participating in art and research activities.
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Pablo Picasso
Fifth graders research Pablo Picasso and apply what they know in a created piece of artwork. They create artwork out of geometric shapes such as triangles, rectangles and circles. They access the Internet to research Picasso and complete...
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The Legacy of Rome
Students choose an element of Roman society they feel has had the most impact on modern society. Students then trace how that particular element has evolved over time and how it has influenced the development of its present equivalent...
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Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian
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...
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Spanish Artists in Powerpoint
Young scholars select a Spanish author, architect, or painter to research. After composing a rough draft for teacher review, the give Powerpoint presentations to the class. Students answer questions from peers.
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Internet Art Research
Fourth graders choose two artists from a Yahooligans search of African-American artists, answer questions on an artist Biography Checksheet, and write an essay on the differences and siimilarities of the two styles.
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Cast of Characters Lesson Plan: Comparing Artists
Students choose an artist, examine a painting, read a statement of the artist and their biography. They research the artist using the World Wide Web, books, encyclopedias, art, prints or magazines. They write an essay using their notes.
Curated OER
Word Play
Learners examine the history of Chinese American artist Xu Bing. In this multicultural lesson, students collaborate in small groups to identify letters in the artist's work, and brainstorm how they would create their own images from...
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The War of the Words
“Who’s This Guy Dylan Who’s Borrowing Lines From Henry Timrod?” The basic question in this lesson from the New York Time’s Learning Network is whether artists and authors who use the words of others are stealing from that artist or...
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A Presidential Portrait: Andrew Jackson
Eighth graders examine the role of intended meaning in Ralph Earl's portrait of Andrew Jackson. They, in groups, research periods in Jackson's life and use gathered information to create their own portraits of Jackson.
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Music Theories
Explore the inception and evolution of hip-hop music as a springboard for writing music reviews and researching other genres of music. Learners will read and discuss the Times' article, From Underground Music to Fashion Statement to then...
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Using Primary Sources in the Classroom
Scholars study a historical photograph to make predictions of what happened right after the picture was taken. They research a variety of different topics and use primary sources to answer questions about common food, fashion trends, and...
US Holocaust Museum
Time Capsule in a Milk Can
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
Facing History and Ourselves
Identity and Belonging
High schoolers examine World War I war crimes. For this world history activity, students examine a painting by Ashile Gorky, a refugee from the Armenian genocide. High schoolers interpret the piece of art and discuss its historical...
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Artistic License
Students consider the venues in which they prefer to view art. They research art institutions' efforts to stimulate and fulfill the public's appetite for art, then compare them with similar efforts by commercial venues.