Curated OER
Self Portraits
Students examine Charles-Antoine Coypel’s Self-Portrait and discover what he shows in that piece of artwork. In this self portrait lesson plan, students will study a self portrait and discuss what they notice about it and what they...
Curated OER
Combating Corrosion
Study corrosion on bronze statues with a hands-on activity. As pupils place a penny in water with salt, they observe the changes in the penny throughout a period of a week. They then analyze the pre-conservation and the...
Curated OER
Messages in Art Work
Observe images and discuss what messages they convey. In this critical thinking lesson plan, students determine whether works of art are trying to persuade their audience. They also consider the media and how they communicate messages to...
Curated OER
Comparing Books to 13th Century Manuscripts
Learners compare modern-day books to manuscripts from the 13th century. In this comparative literature lesson, students observe various manuscripts and resources from given links. Websites and links are included along with extension...
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Dorothea Lange and the Relocation of Japanese Americans
Students consider the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this Japanese relocation lesson plan, students examine photographs by Dorothea Lange, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and a US government flyer from 1942. They...
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Telling Stories in Art: Witness to a Brawl
Middle schoolers examine how a piece of art tells a story. In this visual art lesson, students interpret a piece of art work by writing a newspaper article that tells the story of the moment in time that is depicted in a picture. They...
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Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature—Lesson 2
Learners choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors. After reflecting on their choice of objects and composition, students begin to write an artist's statement.
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Personal Portraits
Students create their own self-portrait or a portrait of someone they know well.
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Framing the Landscape
Students draw their own drawings after learning about composition of drawings and lines. In this drawing lesson plan, students learn about different lines they can use while drawing. Then they go outside and draw their own.
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A Dream of Classic Perfection
Learners look at how Greek classical art and philosophy influenced the French Revolution. In this French Revolution lesson, students use primary sources, Neoclassical art, to look at how they show what society was like during this time...
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New Forms From Old
Learners examine porcelain objects and see how their original use has been changed to create a new decorative object or an object with a new function. In this porcelain objects lesson plan, students observe the objects and then they will...
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Ceramics: A Vessel Into History
Students examine ceramic vessels from different time periods. In this ceramic vessel instructional activity, students work in small groups to look at images of ceramic vessels from a number of time periods. They identify the...
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Composition and Line
Learners examine the use of composition and line as they create original drawings. In this composition and line lesson, students recognize the art vocabulary associated with line and composition. Learners illustrate the shape...
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18th Century Microscope
Students examine a microscope from the 18th century. In this microscope lesson plan, students investigate how it works, what it was used for and how the tool has evolved through the years. Students also build knowledge on how compound...
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Referencing the Classical Past
Students explore the concept of myths conveyed through art. In this art history activity, students examine "Three Goddesses" and discuss the state of the world at the time that Nollekens created the sculptures as they analyze the...
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Imaginative Interpretations
Students explore how works of art can be inspired by stories by creating their own work of art inspired by a narrative text.
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Watching Wheatstacks
Students explore basic shapes in Monet's paintings Wheatstacks, Snow Effect and Morning. They study about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights.
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Medieval Natural Resources
Students identify and research natural resources used in art. In this Renaissance art materials lesson, students look at examples of illuminated manuscripts and learn what materials were used to create the books. Then, students are...
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Depicting Motherhood in Family Stories
Students explore triptychs. In this art history lesson, students define the terms "photograph" and "triptych". Students discuss changes that occur between mothers and daughters and create an original triptych using...
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Comic Theater
Students explore stock characters and pantomime. In this comic theater lesson, students examine an ancient Greek statuette depicting a comic actor and an ancient Roman lamp decorated with a comic mask. Students pantomime short scenes and...
J. Paul Getty Trust
Expressing Emotions through Art Lesson 2—Everybody Needs Somebody
Young scholars investigate drawings of couples. For this art history lesson plan, students examine the techniques artists use to convey emotions such as caring, love, and togetherness. Young scholars utilize these techniques to create...
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Looking at French Decorative Arts: Symbols in Marquetry
Students study symbols on a French cabinet. In this architectural design instructional activity, students examine the symbolism of the door panel on the "Cabinet on Stand." Students create their own unique design based on a symbol from...
Curated OER
Lange & Steinbeck: Pictures and Words
Students look carefully at and analyze a Dorothea Lange photograph and compare it with the migrant experience described in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath.
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Journey and Change: The Migrant and Immigrant Experience
Young scholars look carefully at two photographs by Dorothea Lange that relate to the universal theme of a journey. They identify parallels between Lange's photographs and two poems. They write about the theme of journey as it relates to...