Curated OER
Orchid in Blind Contour Format
Students create blind contour drawings. They compare methods of drawing including blind contour and contour approaches. Students follow a blind contour method to produce a drawing of a flower and then complete the piece with a watercolor...
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There's a Monster in My Classroom
Students work in groups making drawing of monsters and then given written instructions to students in another class about how to draw the same monster. After the drawings are complete, they share with other students using an iSight...
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Clearly Classified
Young scholars review the classification system for living organisms and apply it the classification of insects and flowers in the still life by Ambrosius Bosschaert. They create a chart classifying the animals and plants in the painting...
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Color in Paintings
Students examine the color in paintings. In this visual arts lesson, students explore the 1821 painting by Jacques-Louis David and identify the colors in the art piece. Students write an original fairy tale and create an illustration...
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A Bug's Journey
Students research the art of John Baldessari. In this art history lesson plan, students examine Baldessari's drawing of a beetle and discuss the characteristics of these bugs. They write a story from a bug's perspective and create their...
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Shattered Images Value Study
Students create cubist drawings using grids and enlargement.
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Children's Book Creations
Students create a children's book version of the Japanese folk story "Momotaro Boy of the Peach" and present the story to elementary students. For this children's book lesson, students design their book to explain Japanese culture to...
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Animals in Motion
Students draw and sculpt animals in motion. In this artistic drawing lesson, students are introduced to art depicting arrested motion, then observe and sketch animals in motion and use the drawing as they create a balanced sculpture.
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Giants of the Past
Students create a paper sculpture based on ancient Greek statues. In this visual arts activity, students read the book, The Mysterious Giant of Barletta and use cardstock to create their own statue. Students write a narrative story told...
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Men, Women, and Careers
Teach young learners that they can have any job they want, no matter their gender! An elementary lesson emphasizes that while some jobs may be more closely associated with men or with women, people of either gender can complete...
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Flat Shapes in Three Dimensions
Students examine the 20th-century sculpture "Gandydancer's Dream" by Mark di Suvero. For this visual arts lesson, students examine the sculpture and then use flat shapes and wire to create their own sculpture. The students are...
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The Built Environment-An Integrating Theme
Students observe, record, and present knowledge of their local built environment while conducting a walking tour of their community. They develop written and photo journals, drawings, time lines, graphs, and charts to engage in...
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Sea Turtles Underwater
Students discuss different types of sea turtles. They talk a about the characteristics of sea turtle anatomy. Students pretend to look over the edge of a boat in the ocean. They pretend to see a sea turtle. Students create their artwork...
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Images of Children in Dorthea Lange's Photographs
Learners research the photographs of Dorthea Lange. In this visual art lesson, students look at photographs of children taken by Lange and answer several questions. They write or tell stories to explain what they think is occurring in...
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Tansai Sumi Painting
First graders study Japanese art and apply the technique of Tansai Sumi (lightly colored) to create individual works of art. Painting, design, lines, and drawing techniques are covered in this 1st grade lesson plan.
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Objects of Adornment
Students examine the portrait of two historical princesses. In this art history instructional activity, students define the term "adornment" and discuss the characteristics of each painting. Students compare and contrast the objects worn...
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Take a Breath, Steal Some Time
Students explore the art of haiku's by listening to, modeling and creating them. For this haiku poetry lesson, students choose an object to focus their haiku on. After hearing a brief history of the haiku; students...
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Self-Portrait Unit - Lesson #1
Fourth graders create self-portraits using artistic elements found in Hispanic culture and, specifically, the art of Frida Kahlo. The lesson can be adapted for any culture/country and requires an outside person with cultural knowledge.
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Bone Transformations
Young scholars create a picture from the shape of a bone. In this life science and art lesson, students discuss their bones and their purposes, then use a picture of a bone as a starting point for an artistic transformation. Lesson can...
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Combating Corrosion
Students perform an experiment to show the chemical reactions that occur when metal corrodes. They apply the results of the experiment to the conservation efforts of art curators trying to restore an ancient Greek bronze. This...
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Mary Cassatt's "The Sisters"
Students compare and contrast two of Mary Cassatt's paintings, write a short essay on "The Sisters" and draw a picture of themselves with a brother, sister or close friend.
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Animation Flip Books
Students investigate examples of animation made from a flipbook technique in order to learn how to create their own flipbook and to learn how this process looks like an animated cartoon. In this animation lesson plan, students will...
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Spelling Word Flashcards
First graders draw pictures of spelling words. For this spelling lesson, 1st graders create flashcards by drawing a picture of each of the spelling words on one side and writing the actual word on the other side.
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Sound Search (Elementary, Reading/Writing)
Students learn initial sound recognition by walking through the school and its grounds looking for items that begin with the same sound as their first name.