Lesson Plan
MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Introduction to Color: The Foundation of Art and Design

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
What is the most favorite color in the world? The series of lessons all about color and the color wheel, asks kids to research color, create an eye-spy activity, watch videos, and examine the color choices made by artists in their...
Lesson Plan
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Color Wheels and Schemes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how to use the color wheel in selecting fabric colors for a quilt. They define and demonstrate monochromatic, complimentary, and analogous color schemes. Lesson plan and worksheets are attached in .pdf and .doc formats.
Activity
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Color in 3-D: A Nature Design Project

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view a film about Hans Hofman and consider his use of color and layering. They experiment with the concept of 'push and pull' by using warm and cool color schemes in a tracing of leaves and shapes. Students view their work using...
Lesson Plan
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Creative Color Wheel

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore graphic design by using color wheels to color images.  In this art analysis instructional activity, students utilize Adobe Photoshop to experiment with coloring old images and removing all color as well....
Lesson Plan
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Color Schemes - Interior Design

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students discover the effects of color.
Lesson Plan
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Mandala Art

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Sculpture in Relief

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create an abstract wall relief that incorporates the use of free form shapes, lines, movement, & color. They use oak tag, toilet paper holders and glue to create their sculptures.
Lesson Plan
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Color Selection for a Quilt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discuss the importance of using the proper color combinations in a quilt. In groups, they use the color wheel to design their section of the quilt for the class. To end the lesson, they are introduced to the various...
Lesson Plan
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Power of Color on Emotion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders utilize resources to select, analyze, and journal about a particular artist's expression of mood and feelings. They produce paintings that demonstrate the use of color mixing and schemes that show a variety of emotions.
Lesson Plan
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Illustrated Words - colored pencils

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use images and lettering style to communicate the meaning of a specific word chosen for the composition. They make rich, smooth, layered areas of color using colored pencils.
Lesson Plan
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Quilts: Patterns of Our Past Leading Us Into Our Future

For Teachers K - 6th
Pupils examine the history of quilt making. They explore the pattern, designs, and color schemes of the quilt. Students read stories about quilting. They create a story to further develop into a story quilt. Additional cross...
Lesson Plan
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Pixel Painting

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students study the artwork of Chuck Close to examine Photorealism. They create a pixel painting using a monochromatic color scheme.
Lesson Plan
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Monochromatic Photo Painting

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students use Photoshop to manipulate a digital photograph. They mix and paint a full range of values demonstrating care of materials and craftsmanship in painting. Color relationship is examined using copyright free images.
Lesson Plan
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Cut Up Painting

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students work on color planning and painting skills and reinforce principles of design. They alter a work of art to create a low relief assemblage.
Lesson Plan
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Collage to Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Practice expository and creative writing with your class. Pupils use magazines to find pictures, cut them out, and create a collage. This work of art is then used as a writing prompt. They describe the collage in either a creative or...
Lesson Plan
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How to Make a Mummy Mask

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
With some plaster casting materials and a quick lesson on the ancient burial traditions of Egypt, your class can create amazing mummy masks. Listed here are all the tools, precautions, and steps needed for each child to make an Egyptian...
Lesson Plan
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Keith Haring Painting Project

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students paint a picture based on the work of Keith Haring including Haring people. In this painting lesson plan, students also look and discuss the art of Keith Haring.
Lesson Plan
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Just Plain Buggy: Art and Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Budding artists explore the shapes and parts that make insects so fascinating to study, then use what they see to create original insect inspired designs. They use wax, dye, and fabric to create their designs.
Lesson Plan
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Ceramics - African African American Folk Art

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students gain appreciation and knowledge of art history, specifically the African American contributions to folk art made in the South Carolina region.
Lesson Plan
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Learning from the past: Ancient Mosaics

For Teachers 10th
Budding artists study the history and significance behind ancient mosaics and mosaic murals. They study multiple examples of ancient mosaics, sketch a design, and use clay tiles to create thoughtful mosaics of their own. 
Lesson Plan
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Painting - Architecture Study

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study architectural elements, then develop a strong composition from an interior photographs. They explore color planning by developing a painting with a variety of values.
Lesson Plan
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Andy Warhol Animals

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students view and identify the colors on the color wheel. After viewing a PowerPoint, they discuss the reasons why animals become endangered. They examine the life and works of Andy Warhol and review contour drawing. To end the...
Lesson Plan
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Cyber Museum Page

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders create webpages similar to that of a local artist and then help fourth graders create artistically balanced webpages with colorful backgrounds, appropriate fonts and interesting graphics using Netscape Composer.
Lesson Plan
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An Opening Time Line Project

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students create a time line of their life starting at birth and each year after that up to their current age. They write and illustrate one important thing for each year, and place their time lines on poster board.