Curated OER
Landscape Confection: Pre-visit Activity
Upper graders explore the concepts of landscape art, man, nature and their inter-relationship. This is a critical thinking and analysis activity intended to prepare the class for an up coming trip to a local art museum. They analyze,...
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Life and Art of Pablo Picasso
Art history projects can be a lot of fun. Budding art historians research the life, art, and times of Pablo Picasso, visit the local art museum, and create a multimedia presentation showcasing his art and personal history. Handouts,...
Curated OER
The Museum Idea
Students evaluate and record the various types of museum careers. In this The Museum Idea lesson, students create a bicentennial time capsule, design a Museum of me, and make a classroom mini museum. In addition students visit a local...
Curated OER
"History of My Family"
Young scholars explore world geography by participating in a family history project. In this U.S.S.R. instructional activity, students read assigned text regarding the Stalinist era of Russia and the intolerance that thrived there. Young...
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Turning the Century
High schoolers examine the Gilded Age. For this Gilded Age lesson, students create a museum of their own showing what life was like in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. High schoolers investigate immigration, settlement and...
Curated OER
The Museum Idea
Students discover the nature and uses of museums by completing several creative projects. Students also analyze abstract art with teacher guidance.
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Modern Greece Fights For Ancient History
Students study the history of Ancient Greece and its society through Internet research. They investigate information about the Parthenon and its marble structures.
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ISM: Bertha Stenge Quilt Collection Activity: Design a Local Quilting Pattern
Students research quilt designs by Bertha Stenge. They make a list of things that they could stylize as a design motif. They create a quilt design based on local history and landmarks and sew it onto a pre-made quilt block or quilt.
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My Museum
In this creative scenario activity, students pretend they are in charge of a local museum. Students view four objects from Viking times and justify which two they plan on putting on display.
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Recreating Chinese Bronze Vessels
Learners are shown how to make Chinese Bronze Vessels using coil or slab-built clay ceramic techniques. They are given an overview of the history of Chinese Bronze Vessels and given examples. Students are shown photographs, and they take...
J. Paul Getty Trust
Picturing a Story: Photo Essay about a Community, Event or Issue
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.
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Exploring Photographs, Lesson 2—A Closer Look: Analysis in the Museum
Students explore photographic works of art. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze selected photographs by Garcia, Ray, and Eggleston. Students take their own photographs in the style of these photographers.
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Native Design Coil Vase: Ceramics Lesson
After a quick study of Native American art, symbolism, and pattern design children make a ceramic vase. They read about the use, production, and design of Native American vases or pots, then use clay to create one of their own. Tip:...
Curated OER
Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture instructional activity, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in...
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California
Learners read writings by Ralph Waldo Emerson to analyze transcendentalism and analyze photographic essays depicting environmental issues. In this art and history lesson, students read excerpts of Nature by Emerson to identify...
Curated OER
Mysteries of Egypt
Students investigate the Egyptian civilization. In this cultural lesson, students watch the film Mysteries of Egypt and create a replica of an ancient Egyptian artifact.
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Heirlooms
Students design a quilt square to reflect their special memory. In this family heirlooms lesson, students read The Patchwork Quilt and discuss the importance of family involvement in creating a family heirloom. Students write and publish...
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Pottery-making Methods
Students become experimental archaeologists using three methods of pottery making before the invention of the pottery wheel.
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Impressionism
Students explore and discuss Impressionism and artists, like Monet and Renoir, who defined the Impressionism Art Movement, choose an artist to research, and create web sites based on their research.
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Masks
Students examine traditional masks from Southwest Indian groups and create their own mask based on Internet research. They share their mask with the members of their class.
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California Native American Basket Weaving
Fourth graders consider the role that baskets play in the traditional lives of Native Americans in California. Students investigate types of baskets and their various uses and then weave their own baskets.
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Rock On And Carve Off
Sixth graders work in groups of four to create one subtractive relief bust out of clay. Team results are shared and discussed to analyze the degree of planning and skillful manipulation of materials necessary to complete a limestone bust.
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To Tell The Truth
Students create a faux ivory napkin ring using art supplies and knowledge gained from in-class discussions and teacher supplied information in this art lesson easily adaptable to a Social Studies or Language Arts classroom.
Curated OER
Peking Opera Mask
Students design and create their own masks using the symbolism evident in Peking opera masks.