Lesson Plan
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The New York School: Action and Abstraction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the influences and similarities between the New York School poets and Abstract Expressionist artists. They analyze paintings and poems, and write original poetry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magic Words, Magic Brush: The Art of William Butler and Jack Yeats

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the influence of the landscape of Ireland on shaping the poetry of William Butler Yeats. They work in groups researching the growth of the Irish Nationalist Movement, Celtic origins, invasions, and the impact on the...
Lesson Plan
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Ballet and Classical Music

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore ballet. In this dance and music humanities lesson, 4th graders practice ballet positions and play a card game using French ballet vocabulary. Students count beats in rhythm patterns and listen to classical music...
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Curated OER

Setting the Story: Techniques for Creating a Realistic Setting

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
“It was a dark and stormy night.” Thus begins the 1830's novel Paul Clifford and, of course, all of Snoopy’s novels! Encourage young writers to craft settings for their stories that go beyond Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s often-mocked phrase...
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

Folktale Theatre

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Introduce your middle schoolers to a performance and movement activity that uses their favorite stories from fairytales and folklore. They practice basic acting skills, create dialogues with a partner, and then as guided practice,...
Lesson Plan
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Reviewing Good Playing Habits

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The string section of your school orchestra can get a proper form make-over by incorporating this lesson. They reestablish proper playing form, posture, and sound as they compose an essay on how to maintain good playing habits during...
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm, Math, Rhythm

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students play instruments in math class to learn the interconnectedness between math and music. In this math lesson, students subdivide a piece of music, clapping rhythms and charting rhythm patterns in the song. A guided discussion...
Lesson Plan
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Set a Poem to Music

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Fun awaits both you and your class as you embark on a musical activity. After discussing different rhythmic meters they choose a poem to set to music. The poem must rhyme and be set to a melody in the key of C Major. Because the activity...
Lesson Plan
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Shadows & Light, Science & Puppetry

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Lights, shadows, action, and inquiry await your artistic scientists. They explore the way light travels, absorbs, reflects, and transmits through shadow play. They create folktale-inspired shadow puppets, explore the science of light,...
Lesson Plan
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Playing with Puns

For Teachers 12th
"O pun" the door on this activity. Have your pupils compare the puns and word play in scenes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to those in Gary Blackwood’s The Shakespeare Stealer. Warm up and introductory activities, as well as...
Lesson Plan
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A Way with Words or Say What?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the language of Shakespeare. In this literature lesson plan, students examine words invented by Shakespeare as they interpret their meanings in drawings. Students pantomime the meanings and then write a short story...
Lesson Plan
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Characterization in Literature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover characterization techniques and methods. In this characterization lesson, students choose favorite fiction characters and discuss what makes a character come alive. Students then describe a family member or a friend and...
Lesson Plan
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Cheerful Hearts and Willing Feet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore characterization in Little Women. In this literature lesson plan, students participate in written analysis and research in order to explore Alcott's characterization in the novel.
Lesson Plan
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Graham's Appalachian Spring: A Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore choreographic narrative. In this choreography lesson, students explore the elements of Appalachian Spring as they develop a series of written responses to assignments that challenge them to investigate the structure of...
Lesson Plan
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Art of Illustration: N.C. Wyeth and Literacy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
High school artists observe and research the illustrations and techniques of N.C. Wyeth. They read (and reread) stories and illustrate the texts using methods inspired by Wyeth's practice. Includes detailed instructional plan and useful...
Lesson Plan
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Nureyev: After Petipa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Incorporating the arts into regular classroom practices isn't an easy task. Learners will research background information regarding Russian culture, history, and conflict then see how those things have applied to the rigors of Russian...
Lesson Plan
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Oklahoma! The Cultural Myth of America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore cultural myths in America by collecting images and characteristics of stereotypical Americans. They read a primary source document, discussing the views of the author in class. Next, they compare the terms used to...
Lesson Plan
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Photography and the National Park Service

For Teachers 9th - 12th
During the 1800s the United States was expanding westward; land was there for the taking.  Kids explore how some early photographers used their photography to influenced the US Congress to save areas like Mirror Lake. They...
Lesson Plan
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Pottery with Artist Kerry Moosman

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After watching a video of Native American artist Maria Martinez create art out of clay, learners will create burnished coil pots similar to those made by artist, Kerry Moosman. This lesson plan includes a supply list, web links,...
Lesson Plan
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Prometheus Bound: Rebel with a Cause

For Teachers 9th - 12th
If you are teaching Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, you can't afford to miss this source. An extensive list of ideas outlines numerous discussion topics, writing prompts, comprehension questions, oral presentations, and projects. Have class...
Lesson Plan
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Graphs of the Heart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Greek literature. In this Greek tragedies lesson plan, students explore the dance-dramas of Martha Graham. Students study the choreography that brings ancient Greek literature to life.
Lesson Plan
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James Wyeth: Capturing Dance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students draw portraits of a dancer. In this visual-arts lesson plan, students study the work of James Wyeth online. They then watch a dance performance and sketch 10 - 15 pieces depicting dancers. Five of these sketches will be selected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swing Your Partner!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...
Lesson Plan
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Children of War

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Take a closer look at the impact of war in this language arts and social studies lesson plan. Middle schoolers use primary sources to conduct research as they relate to the effects of war on children. They compare and contrast the...

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