Curated OER
Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations
Students compare and contrast the rhythms of marches and jazz. They watch an excerpt about Buddy Bolden from the PBS Ken Burns Jazz documentary, compare/contrast march and jazz rhythms, complete a worksheet, and notate and perform jazz...
Curated OER
Gesture Drawing
Students investigate the use of proportion using gesture drawing as the subject matter. They create a painting using the elements of art and principles of design.
Curated OER
Self Portrait using watch parts and tin - Mixed media
Students create whimsical self portraits using watch parts and tin - recycling. They demonstrate safety in using tools. They use a variety of materials to create a work of art , and demonstrate understanding of the elements and...
Curated OER
Classical Music Connection-Popular Music - Connecting Pachelbel, Beethoven, and Mussorgsky to Disco and Rap
Young scholars examine classical music and the "Art Rock" of 1967. They review classical themes in their original genre and discuss/analyze how pop musicians incorporate theses themes into a variety of pop music genres.
Curated OER
Claycrete Calaveras - Dia de los Muertos
Students create skeletons to celebrate the Day of the Dead. In this visual arts lesson, students explore the importance of the Day of the Dead celebrations in the Mexican culture. They create skeletons and decorate them with paint,...
Curated OER
Do Be Square
Second graders perform a square dance using proper movements keeping the beat and the rhythm of the song. They explore basic square dance steps as well as a complete dance. Give a bit of background on square dancing.
Curated OER
Learning By Looking: Pueblo Indian Ceremonial Dances
Students investigate the uses of ceremonial dance in the Pueblo Indian culture by viewing videos of native dances. They listen to folk tales that explain the dances and compare the traditions of the Pueblo culture to their own culture....
Curated OER
Attic Red-Figure Kylix
Students analyze floral and geometric design. In this art design activity, students create a circular design art using floral, geometric, or anatomical designs. Students critique their designs as a group and read the background...
Curated OER
Learn Under the Old Masters
Students take a closer look at portraits. In this art appreciation instructional activity, students may visit the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria Art Gallery, or the Scottish National Portrait Gallery online or in-person to...
Curated OER
Flip Books
Students examine the art work of Keith Haring. In this art instructional activity, students observe the visual quality of movement in artwork. Students draw a flip book showing movement and time.
Curated OER
Twister Moves
Young scholars play the game Twister Moves with their classmates. It's a nonelectric dance machine that they move on after being given certain directions. The moves are taken to the background of a variety of 50 tracks on a CD.
Curated OER
Graphs of the Heart
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.
Lied Center of Kansas
The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare
Both The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare are great additions to an elementary language arts lesson plan. Young readers focus on the literary elements of each story, including characters and plot development, and...
Let's Drum!
Let's Drum!
Here's a group of exercises designed to introduce a group or class to the rhythm, as well as the basic sounds of a drum, bass and tone. Individuals investigate different types of drums and form drum circles to practice traditional...
Education Closet
West Side Shifts
Combine math, language arts, music, and dance with an activity focused on "America" from West Side Story. After listening to the song, learners compare the film to Romeo and Juliet, analyze the song's meter, design choreography, plan...
Poetry Out Loud
The Tabloid Ballad
What do the theme song from Gilligan's Island, the nursery rhyme "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat," and the poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" all have in common? Why, they're ballads of course! Challenge your young balladeers to compose their...
Curated OER
Similes with Energy
Fifth graders write or dance a simile to show the relationship between two unlike nouns. For this simile and grammar lesson, 5th graders explore dance movements and identify smooth and sharp energy examples. Students...
Curated OER
Aztec Dance
Seventh graders study Aztec dance to learn about their culture and civilization. In this Aztec study lesson, 7th graders watch a video of Aztec dancers and describe the dance on an index card. Students visit a website to learn the...
Curated OER
Island Breezes: Exploring Hula Dance
Students explore Hawaii and the art of hula dance. In this art lesson, students research the art of hula dance and Hawaii. Students create their own unique hula dance.
Curated OER
Telling a Story Through Dance
Students explore how to tell a story through dance. In this dance instructional activity, students watch Swan Lake and choose a story of their own to show through dance.
Curated OER
Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
Curated OER
We Can Dance
Fourth graders research the different kinds of dances Texans participate in. They try to dance the dances they have researched.
Curated OER
Moccasins are Made for Dancing
Students perform a traditional Native American dance. In this cultural dance lesson, students research two Native American dances. Students discuss the relationship between the dances and Native American culture. ...
Curated OER
Dancing Hands, Abstract Drawings
Students discover African musical rhythms by performing Ancestral Spirit Dances. In this musical lesson, students research Willis "Bing" Davis and the abstract work he created. Students listen to Yoruba drum music and...