Smithsonian Institution
Spirits Across the Ocean: Yoruban and Dahomean Cultures in the Caribbean Brought by the Slave Trade
Much of Latin American music owes its origins to the slave trade. Peoples from the Yoruban and Dahomean cultures brought with them the distinctive rhythms, time signatures, and eighth note patterns that now characterize Caribbean music....
Curated OER
Color in Paintings
Students examine the color in paintings. In this visual arts instructional activity, students explore the 1821 painting by Jacques-Louis David and identify the colors in the art piece. Students write an original fairy tale and create an...
Curated OER
Abstract Art: Line, Shape And Color
Learners create abstract works of art using techniques learned from the artwork of Piet Mondrian, construction paper, pre-cut shapes, and glue in this early-elementary Art lesson. A great lesson to introduce the concept of Abstract art.
Curated OER
Teaching with Poster Art: World War I Posters
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this World War I instructional activity, students examine World War I posters. Students investigate the use of propaganda strategies in the posters and discuss the...
Curated OER
Complementary Superheroes
Students discover the color wheel. In this color lesson, students find the primary colors, secondary colors, and contrasting colors. They look through the designs of super hero logos and create their own using what they know about color.
Curated OER
The Dream Catcher
Students create a dream catcher. In this visual arts instructional activity, students read the book Dream Catcher and create a dream catcher by using a willow branch, leather string, feathers, and beads.
Art Institute of Chicago
Color Combinations
Explore color through an examination of pointillism and light. Class members view Georges Seraut's famous painting on a computer, zooming in and out to see the details and effects of the technique. They then cover how light and color are...
Curated OER
Puzzle Piece Frames
Every class has a puzzle or two with missing pieces, don't trash them, use them for art. Great for framing a picture or self-portrait, this frame idea really comes together. Learners use old puzzle pieces to decorate a picture frame....
Curated OER
Part of a Masterpiece, by John W. Healy
Students step into paintings. In this visual arts instructional activity, students imagine themselves walking through a famous piece of art. Students research the artwork and then use computer programs or artistic methods to literally...
Curated OER
European Tour: History and Tradition: Sistine Chapel
Young scholars explore the Sistine Chapel. In this visual arts lesson, students take a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. Young scholars examine the scenes depicted on the chapel's ceiling and share their impressions of the artistic...
Curated OER
Under Water Scene
Students explore foreground and background colors. In this visual art lesson, students create an underwater collage from varying colors and textures of paper showcasing the color transition between background and foreground colors.
Curated OER
Out and About: Sculpture
Students take a closer look at sculpture. In this visual arts lesson, students may visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the New Art Center Sculpture Park, the Fruitmarket Gallery, or Tate Britain online or in-person to discover details...
Curated OER
Hats Off to Color
Students investigate primary and secondary colors. In this art lesson plan, students mix primary paint colors to develop secondary colors. Students identify each color they created.
Curated OER
Past, Present and Future Through the Eyes of Long Jakes
Even the littlest learners can become art historians if they have the right training. For the lesson, your preschoolers discuss the piece Long Jakes as they point out all the details they notice. They discuss what mountains and mountain...
Curated OER
The Finer Things in Life
Momoyama and Edo are periods in Japanese history that can be defined culturally and artistically. Learners explore and discuss how the samurai used sword guards and grip enhancers. Pupils read the story "The Inch-High Samurai," examine...
Memorial Art Gallery
Art Alive! - Beach at Blue Point
And then what happened? Class members engage in a series of activities that model for them how to read the story in a painting. Participants respond to questions that ask them to closely examine the elements in William Glackens' "Beach...
Memorial Art Gallery
Art Alive! - Towing a Boat, Honfleur
Color, light and shadow, the placement and size of objects. These are some of the tools artists used to tell their stories. Model for learners how to read a painting by closely examining these features. The richly detailed packet...
Curated OER
Pop Art Ice Cream Painting
Students develop skills in painting and create a painting of an ice cream cone using Pop Art as in inspiration.
Denver Art Museum
Putting Images into Words
Engage your class in art analysis of Indian Look-Alike by Melanie Yazzie. Using this work of art as inspiration, writers compose a poem or short story. After a peer review session, the teacher conveys information about the work of art as...
Curated OER
What to Wear: Career Day! Suit of Armor From Japan
Learners understand that some jobs require workers to wear special clothes or a special suit. In this art appreciation lesson, students observe the Suit of Armor and discuss how a samurai is requires to wear armor to work. Learners pick...
Curated OER
Color Mixing
First graders practice identifying primary and secondary colors by mixing paint. In this colors lesson, 1st graders utilize primary colored paint to mix and experiment with in order to create secondary colors. Students paint a rainbow...
Curated OER
3D Paper-Edge Figure Sculptures
Young scholars discover visual arts by creating sculptures in class. In this personal expression lesson plan, students research the Internet and examine different examples of modern sculptures and 3 dimensional art. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Painting a Neighborhood
Pupils explore the concept of neighborhoods and identify primary and secondary colors. In this colors and community instructional activity, students read the book Harold and the Purple Crayon and then discuss the concept of a...
Curated OER
Positive/Negative Bugs
Bugs can be creepy - and fun! Kids create a positive and negative design by repeatedly drawing a simple insect overlaid with a geometric shape. The outcome is really neat and will help build spacial reasoning, visual acuteness, and...