Curated OER
Greek Pottery Designs
Get creative while exploring the art and history of the ancient Greeks. Learners create construction paper representations of Greek pottery, focusing on the differences between geometric and organic shapes. This project could enhance an...
Curated OER
Rotational Hex Designs
Learn about the Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, Rotational Hex Design. This image-rich presentation provides a comprehensive description of the origin and meaning behind these interesting totems. Instructions to create these symmetrical...
Curated OER
Design a Colonial Garden
Young scholars explore botany by completing an art design activity in class. In this gardening history lesson, students identify the plants and crops utilized in the Colonial era for both food and medicine. Young scholars utilize...
Curated OER
Aztec Art
After looking at some examples of Aztec art and design, learners create some of their own. They use the images in the slideshow as inspiration for the geometric patterns and textures they'll use in their art.
Curated OER
Middle Eastern Geometric Art
Students examine how Islamic artists represented their beliefs in logic and order through the geometric patterns in their art works. They analyze star patterns in Middle Eastern designs, and create geometric patterns using geometric shapes.
American Institute of Architects
Architecture: It's Elementary!—First Grade
Build an interest and appreciation for architecture in your young learners with this fun 10-lesson art unit. Engaging children in using their five senses, the class first observes the environment around them, paying...
Curated OER
Woodlands Ribbonwork
Learners make art based on the ribbon work of the Woodland Indians. Background information on the art form and procedure are laid out in an easy to follow step-by-step format.
Curated OER
Mandalas: Geometric Link between Medicine and Histor
Students explore Mandalas. They observe a PowerPoint presentation explaining the history of Mandalas and the Aztecs of Mexico. Students discover the connections between geometry, medicine, and ancient history. They describe the geometric...
Curated OER
Designing a Quilt Pattern
Students create and color a one-patch quilt design based upon a regular hexagon. They examine quilts and photos of quilt designs, read a handout, and complete their quilt design on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Social Studies: Adinkra Printing
First graders demonstrate a sense of artistic composition by creating shapes and symbols in the pattern of African Adinkra printing. They use glue to create a raised design and then print it on colored paper. Students use symbols from...
Curated OER
Indian Rangoli Patterns
Kids learn about the beautiful design work called Rangoli. Rangoli is a symbolic, geometric design drawn on the floor in Indian homes intended as a welcome to gods and guests alike. They'll learn about the tradition, view examples of the...
Curated OER
Geometry of Democracy
Students explore the architecture of New England by identifying geometric shapes. In this architectural lesson, students examine photographs of classic building architecture and use a transparency to trace geometric shapes they...
Curated OER
Ancient Aztecs
Is it a calendar? A religious symbol? A political statement? One thing for certain is that Aztec sun stone designs remain an important symbol in Mexican cultural art. Young artists craft their own Aztec Sun design incorporating ideas...
Curated OER
Family Quilts Keep Us Warm
Students explore different types of families and cultures. They create a paper quilt with geometric designs of similar colors to show unity and pictures of each of their families to show diversity.
Curated OER
Build the Snowman
In this math worksheet, pupils cut out 12 geometric shapes and put them together to create a picture of a snowman like the one shown on the page.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Students design objects in the Museum of Modern Art's collection of simple machines. In this simple machines activity, students explore the machine age in the MoMA's design collection. Students identify simple machines and the elements...
Curated OER
Math Quilts
Students examine geometric shapes. In this geometric shape lesson plan, students examine how geometric shapes flip, turn, and slide to create a pattern. Students analyze the role that quilts played in helping slaves escape to freedom. ...
Curated OER
Monument Museum
Students design monuments, taking into account what is known about geometric shapes and measuring. Students create a museum complete with monuments and descritions of the monuments. Students provide guides at each monument in order to...
Partnership for Educating Colorado Students
Mayan Mathematics and Architecture
Take young scholars on a trip through history with this unit on the mathematics and architecture of the Mayan civilization. Starting with a introduction to their base twenty number system and the symbols they used, this eight-lesson unit...
Curated OER
Bead Weaving on a Loom
Students investigate the process of weaving and how Native Americans wove beads on looms. They research Native American geometric patterns online, design a pattern on graph paper, and create a patterned beaded band.
American Museum of Natural History
Piecing It All Together
Archaeology digs are much like giant jigsaw puzzles. The artifacts found are often in pieces and scientists must reconstruct them. A hands-on activity lets young archaeologists experience this facet of the job as they create, smash, and...
Curated OER
Identifying, Mapping, and Personifying Countries Involved in WWII
Get artsy with this WWII group activity, starting with a whole-class assignment. Create a map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Pacific using geometric shapes cut from construction paper and placed on the floor. Consider splitting the...
Curated OER
Countries Involved in World War II
Students create their own floor map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Pacific. They locate, identify, and speak for one of the countries involved. In addition, they classify the country they represent as an Axis Power or as an Allied...
Curated OER
The Spirituality of Matter
Students examine Kahn's process of designing a ceremonial building that serves as a political and spiritual symbol. For this architecture analysis lesson, students investigate architectural structures in various contexts. Students...