Expression, current events, and art can go hand-in-hand. After analyzing a multi-media piece entitled, Trade Canoe for Don Quixote, the class explores their own expressive process. They create collages that show a current event or issue...

Art can express acts of injustice and move society to action. Upper graders analyze contemporary art relating to specific moments in history. They discuss propaganda, anarchy, sociology, and violence as activism. After researching and...

Picture this. Class members follow in the footsteps of W. Eugene Smith, Dorothea Lange, James Nachtwey, and Lewis Hine by creating their own photo essay about a local event or issue.

Eighth graders consider cross-curricular connections between social studies, singing, and current events. They listen to the song, "I Can't Cry Hard Enough." view scenes from September 11, then create presentations using images, a...

Students study the process for outreach and distribution of films. They design outreach and distribution plans for films which they create.

Although not a complete lesson plan, this set of emotionally powerful texts could be used in a variety of lessons. From The New York Times' Learning Network site, the resource includes a poem, an excerpt from a New York Times article and...

Parades, ceremonies, and rituals are common to most traditional cultures. Kids analyze a carved piece entitled, Death Cart to understand the significance of these events. They then create floats, carts, and costumes for a class parade...

The photograph, Nellie and her Italian Soda is viewed and discussed by the class. They are instructed to use the photograph as inspiration to write a poem about non-events, or things that are beautiful in every day life. Pupils use...

Use this general instructional activity guide to inform your instruction surrounding a documentary. The instructional activity is made up of five activities. The activities are intentionally general because they are designed to adapted...

Kids explore the world of news media by creating a wiki page. They will create a wiki page on the Internet in order to comment on and question the stories that take place in the world. They will practice creative writing by summarizing...

Students research historical people and events in their community and crate audio files that are shared in the form of locative media. In this audio media lesson plan, students give presentations in front of the class.

Students identify the key participants in the Arab-Israeli conflict. They create a caricature that is both Israeli and Arab. One side should be labeled with the feelings, thoughts, emotions of the Arabs and the other side is from an...

Young learners explore gender roles in advertising by taking an ad campaign they have seen which is specifically directed to one gender, and redesigning the campaign to target the opposite gender. After leading a guided discussion about...

Students recall and list details of an important event in their lives. They create an aesthetically pleasing accordion-fold Memory Book. Students write and illustrate highlights of the chosen event. They are asked: What were the most...

Students explore and research about the traditional pony round-up on Assateague Island, Virginia. They read the classic book, "Misty of Chincoteague and then create a three-dimensional illustration of the pony-penning events.

Students examine the steps for outreach and the distribution of films. They develop a list of organizations to contact, view and discuss two short videos, and design a distribution plan for one of the videos, and their own film.

Connect art and history with a series of activities inspired by the work of contemporary artist, Kara Walker. After watching an Art 21 video about Walker and examining the images in a PowerPoint presentation, class members use...

Students explore the artistic value of propaganda. In this visual arts instructional activity, students analyze antique artistic pieces for their political agenda perpetuation. Students discuss propaganda techniques of the past to...

Second graders identify story elements in familiar stories from their lives. In this story elements lesson, 2nd graders act out familiar activities  by following directions. Students read a story and discuss the story elements....

Create food-safe bowls with your class, then organize a meal for the community using the class's bowls to serve. This lesson is based on the Empty Bowels Project, where school kids gain an understanding of global hunger through community...

What is an advocate? Help high schoolers understand the issues forcing refugees to leave their home country. After gaining some information on the subject, high schoolers create a dynamic presentation and persuasive essay encouraging...

Students create a classroom story quilt. For this literacy lesson, students recall events from a text and illustrate their favorite part of the story on a quilt piece. The quilt is sewn together to form a classroom quilt.

Students explore society by analyzing current events. In this homeless epidemic lesson, students discuss the problem of people who don't have housing and the adverse affects on everyday people. Students identify ways to reduce...

Kids consider revolution as a basis for creativity, art, and storytelling. After reading an excerpt from the book, Persepolis, learners choose one event from any world revolution to write about. They storyboard the event focusing on...