Students examine Canadian history through William Kurelek's artwork. In this art analysis lesson, students discuss the ideas expressed in the picture book A Prairie Boy's Winter and A Prairie Boy's Summer. Students view the film Kurelek,...

Learners look at bands of colors and estimate how many rings of color there are. While working in groups, they come up with a plan of how to accurately count the rings. They attempt to find a pattern in the colors, and decide whether...

Students study the life and times of Shakespeare. In this William Shakespeare lesson, students research the noted Web sites to discover details about Shakespeare's life and the times he lived in. Students also virtually visit the Globe...

Students take a trip to the local art museum. They discuss an artist's use of the elements of art in a work of art. Students are explained the difference between looking at a reproduction of work of art and looking at the original. ...

Students compare life masks and photos of Abraham Lincoln that were made before and at the end of the Civil War. In this "Faces of War" instructional activity, students analyze images of Lincoln in a historical context and create a...

Students examine the works of Claude Matisse. In this Matisse Art Lesson, students explore Beasts of the Sea to find recognizable shapes.  Students visit the National Gallery to view Matisse artworks.

Learners study the different portrayals of the artwork The David and answer short answer questions about it. In this The David lesson plan, students see different versions of the biblical figure, and read about its background. Then they...

Has life changed for American women in the last century, or are there common themes between the lives of 21st century women and the struggle of suffragettes from the 1910s? Explore the ways media reflects the position of women...

Students read paragraphs and examine images of the artist Romare Bearden. In this art analysis lesson, students read text about the life and art of Romare Bearden. Students study his medium of montages and then create their own example.

Students explore nature artists and participate in a nature walk. In this art/nature lesson, students discuss things artists use from nature then talk a walk to find some of the same things. Students look for different shapes...

Students analyze the black-figure painting style of ancient Greece and its influence on Neoclassical artists during the 18th century, as seen in drawing, painting and silhouettes, or shadow portraits. For this ancient art...

Students identify the art and style of artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. In this art analysis lesson, students read about the life and art of Turner. Students study his paintings of keel men, his art style, and impasto technique....

Students investigate water color paintings.  In this art history lesson, students discover Winslow Homer and his art work by reading an article.  Students solve a word search based on the article.

Students define allegory and discuss its use in visual arts. They identify and explain allegorical themes in a number of images.

Students design and build original mobiles and consider how the forces of gravity and convection air currents affect the finished piece. They explore how an understanding of balancing forces is important in both art and engineering design.

Learners explore the influence of African-American artists, writers, and musicians on American culture. After researching different figures in these areas, they create collages representing each person's life and legacy.

Students view the artwork of Martin Johnson Heade.  In this Heade artwork lesson plan, students answer questions about the sensory images in the artwork.  Students design a series of designs for a postage stamp in the style of...

What do brown bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park need to survive? Pupils explore the unique habitats, diet, and survival needs of this animal. They predict the consequences of removing any integral part of the bear's survival,...

High schoolers watch westerns and analyze them. They identify the plot, characters and the sounds in the film. They research icons of the American west and prepare a presentation. They share their presentation with the class.

Students explore the rain forest and where they are located. Students examine why the rain forests are important and what is happening to them. They investigate the water cycle and life cycle of a frog. Students build a rain forest in...

Learners listen to the story "The Great Kapok" then discuss characteristics of the rain forest. They make several different types of rain forest animals from paper plates (ex. sloth, tigers, monkeys etc) and design costumes for a...

Students use the internet and follow links to a bookmarked site. They view the National Gallery web site to become familiar with some of the contents of the Gallery. Students gather around the computer to find the bookmarked site. They...

Third graders are introduced to the art of Henri Matisse and M.C. Escher. They create original works in the styles of Matisse and Escher and consider how their innovations have affected modern art.

Learners are introduced to basic historic and geographic facts about Cambodia. They understand the spiritual component of Cambodia's art. They identify Cambodia on a map of the world. They construct a graphic representation of a film...