A class discussion begins a two-part lesson about gratitude and the environment. In part one, learners watch a video then share their feelings about its most memorable moment. Delving deep into the meaning of gratitude, scholars create...

Students look at a flower garden from a butterfly's perspective. They study how artists portray flowers and gardens and exaggerate their scale and boldly colored floral shapes. Each student creates a watercolor pencil rendering of a...

Fifth graders learn the basics of drawing forms in two-point perspective. They can then transform their drawings into a fantasy building.

"Neuroscientists consider Cajal as important to their discipline as Einstein is to physics." The first of four lessons has scholars view Santiago Ramon y Cajal's drawings of neurons. They reflect and respond to the art through writing...

Eighth graders imagine they are getting ready to "take off." They may imagine themselves in any type of aircraft or spaceship. They may then sketch themselves as passengers anticipating this moment.

Linear perspective, estuaries, and water ways converge in a science-inspired art project. The class uses what they've learned about eco-systems, estuaries, and the food chain to create scale models of a local marsh. While the lesson...

Help young readers find, identify, and use their voices with a set of empowering activities based on Peter H. Reynolds' trilogy of books. Sky Color, Ish, and The Dot focus on recognizing moods and treating each other...

High schoolers investigate the perceptions of wolves in fairy tales, cartoons, and stories in this eight week series of lessons. They research wolf behaviors using books, articles, and videos in order to write a position paper. They...

Twelfth graders explore the changing concept of "prairie" through written and artistic works. They write their own poem or essay describing the prairie after discussing how differently people perceive the prairie.

Young scholars watch an episode depicting the human vs. polar bear conflict in Churchill, Canada. They conduct online research and analyze the information. They interpret the facts and use storytelling techniques and role playing to...

Twelfth graders create an artistic version of a Vetruvian teen. In this anatomy lesson, 12th graders design an experiment to test the theory of the ideally proportioned man. They present their findings in class.

Ninth graders explore the historical perspective of nature and the environment.  In this American History lesson, 9th graders examine materials in a variety of formats to understand the contexts of America's concern for the...

Can art play tricks on your eyes, and can a still painting really appear to vibrate? The second lesson in a four-part series discusses the way our beautiful brains translate visual images. It highlights the style of optical art and...

Students create an imaginary bird. In this anatomy lesson plan, students analyze how artists represent birds historically, then determine the anatomical aspects that suit a bird to its habitat. Using this information, students create an...

Students examine the artwork of John Baldessari that was inspired by a 16th century drawing of a beetle. They analyze a drawing of a beetle, discuss the insect's characteristics, and write a story from the perspective of a bug. Also,...

Students will recognize objects in nature that are similar in shape to the letters of the alphabet. In this digital camera lesson, students will find objects in nature that look like letters of the alphabet. They will create a poster of...

Learners identify some of the attributes of China and Japan and compare and contrast the way Chinese, Japanese, and American artists represent nature in art. The lesson is for upper-elementary classrooms.

Students determine whether ancient Egyptian drawing was proportional and in perspective by comparing ancient Egyptian drawings, a mummy's x-ray, and contemporary photographs of people.

Students follow directions to draw a map of an island. They complete the island map adding their own details using symbols and a legend.

High schoolers examine the painting, Spring on the Missouri. They role-play and discuss floods and flood control from the views of an environmental lobbyist and a farmer.

Middle schoolers discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external...

Students describe the relationship between animals and humans. In this biology instructional activity, students research about the history of horses in America. They present a mock news broadcast about their research.

Students recognize preventitive measures that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with exposure to solar radiation. They explain why solar radiation can be harmful. They utilize beads that turn color when exposed to UV rays. Good...

Young scholars consider the connection between the past and future landscape of Quail Island. In this visual arts lesson, students observe existing artwork, art vocabulary, and connections to the role of social sciences when painting...