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Wet Chalk Drawing
Learners create original works of art using chalk, tempera paints, and paper in this art activity for elementary and middle level classrooms. The activity includes ideas for displaying or mounting finished works of chalk art in the...
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Spring Indoors
Young scholars work cooperatively to create a spring-time bulletin board for classroom use in this excellent Art-based lesson. The lesson includes ideas and tips on how to create a successful board that looks as if it is a window to the...
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Maracas
Students create Maracas out of various supplies while learning about percussion instruments in this Art and Music lesson for the elementary and middle level classroom. Detailed directions for two different methods are given.
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Pop Bottle Flowers
Students make flowers from art materials. They use construction paper and paint to create a t-shirt with the flowers on it. They use a pop bottle to create the petals.
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Wild Moving Lizard Sculpture
Lizards are amazing! After a instructional activity on reptiles, take a look at this set of instructions. You'll be able to guide your class in making a paper lizard sculpture that moves. This idea also includes variations on the paper...
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What's So Bad or Good About Conflict?
Learners of all ages discuss how conflict can be negative and positive. First, they create a class bulletin board about conflict, and provide their thoughts and connotations surrounding the word. In a class discussion, they ask questions...
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Getting the Word Out
Discuss and generate blogs in this technology lesson. Middle and high schoolers explore examples of blogs and create their own blogs. Use this lesson throughout the year to reinforce concepts from your language arts class (or any class)....
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The Memory Invention
Young writers edit their writing to make sure it shows good meaning and clarity. In this writing instructional activity, students are given a variety of "What If?" scenarios to choose from as writing prompts. A class discussion ensues,...
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Courage: Hero Traits
What does it mean to be a hero? Who qualifies as a hero? In groups, middle and high schoolers brainstorm a list of heroes and create a list of characteristics that a person must possess in order to be a hero. Extend this instructional...
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Spain and France Influence in Europe and in the New World
Learners examine the conditions in France and Spain during the Middle Ages and the Discovery of America. In groups, they compare and contrast the political situations in both countries and what effect they had on the New World. To end...
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Greeting Card to A Character
High schoolers create a greeting card from one character to another after finishing a novel. Individually, they use their imagination to write the paragraph using the text to support their ideas. They share their greeting card with the...
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Renaissance Realities
Students analyze passages by Niccolo Machiavelli and Francis Bacon as an analysis of Renaissance ideas in contemporary situations. For this Renaissance writings lesson, students read excerpts from Machiavelli's The Prince and multiple...
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GUITARS AS SCULPTURE
Students discuss guitars, pointing out different parts of the guitar, compare/contrast guitars from different times, imagine they are designers hired to build a new age guitar, create many preliminary sketches, choose one, and begin...
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How To Argue Without Cheating
For this debate worksheet, students read and learn about the fine points of debate and persuasion. The vocabulary presented and the ideas are quite advanced; premise, conclusion, syllogism, ad homineum, and other difficult terms.
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Evolutions of Pottery
Learners study the history and importance of clay and pottery. They observe a video dealing the kiln. Students explore ideas for improving construction of pottery. They demonstrate a variety of construction methods and identify the...
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The Renaissance: How did it change the world?
Eighth graders identify the conditions in Medieval Europe that contributed to the beginning of the Renaissance. They find characteristics of the Renaissance in its art, economy, discoveries, and ideas. They examine the ideas of Humanism...
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Mixed Breed Animals Art
Students create an animal in the tradition of medieval animal combinations. They choose components from various animals and design a new animal from those parts. Students draw their animal with careful attention to surrounding...
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SEQUENCING A STORY WITH PICTURES: TEXT AND TALK
Third graders create a graphic organizer. They draw illustrations that show the beginning, middle and end of a trip they took to visit a friend or a relative. They write age-appropriate text to accompany each drawing. They tell...
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Bestiarity and Gargoyles
Students complete an art project. In this gargoyles lesson, students learn about gargoyles and other medieval architecture features and discuss their purposes. Students create their own monsters using an etching technique. This lesson...
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Symbolism: Finding the Hidden Meaning In Chinese Art
Young scholars study and interpret Chinese art to find its symbolism, or the "hidden meanings" in this middle level lesson well suited for the Language Arts or Art classroom. An enrichment activity is included that allows each student to...
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Coming to America
Through this set of three lessons about Ellis Island, class members will learn about why immigrants came to the United States, find out about the difficulties that went along with coming to America, become familiar with the immigration...
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Smiling Flowers Bulletin Board
Learners create paper plate flowers using basic art supplies, digital pictures of themselves, and "stems and leaves" in this Art-based lesson plan that incorporates digital technology. The lesson plan is ideal for use during the spring...
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Adjective, Adjective, Noun
Students create artistic renditions of two random adjectives and one noun in this game-like Art instructional activity for the elementary and middle school classroom. The cross-curricular instructional activity includes a vocabulary...
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Make Your Own Sketchbook
Students create individualized art "sketchbooks" by decorating pieces of cardboard and fastening blank sketch paper inside in this middle-level Art project. The lesson includes ideas for choosing weekly sketchbook "assignments" for the...