National Endowment for the Humanities
“House by the Railroad”: A Painting and a Poem for the Common Core
Introduce your class to ekphrastic poetry with an exercise that asks them to examine Edward Hooper's painting House by the Railroad and Edward Hirsch's poem "Edward Hopper and the House By the Railroad." After a close reading of the two...
Brooklyn Museum
Youth and Beauty: Art of the American Twenties
While the lesson is lacking in procedure, it does provide a wealth of information on artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi. Information on his life, art, and inspirations can provide you with insights into creating learning activities that convey the...
Curated OER
Writing Through Art
Examine the works of visual and performing artists with upper graders. Using the works, they identify the comparisons among the techniques used. They will also review the six traits of effective writing and keep a writing journal...
Curated OER
Two-Point Perspective
Seventh graders will learn to create the illusion of depth on a two dimensional surface using the technique of perspective.Analyze famous works of art and photographs of local architecture and identify how each is using perspective....
Curated OER
The HopperVille Express
Students read and examine slides and lithographs of selected Hopper creations. They participate in teacher led discussions of these works of art and participate first hand as a commercial artist. They go out into their community,...
Curated OER
Visual Art: Romare Bearden
Learners examine the art of Romare Bearden, focusing on a stained-glass window designed for a New York City elevated railway station. they visit the site and discuss the art after viewing it from various perspectives. Based on their...
Curated OER
Dream Streets
Sixth graders conduct research on the internet to discover the principles of drawing using one and two point perspectives. After examining street scenes by Edward Hopper and postcards of Main Street USA in Disney, they write about and...
Curated OER
Look Before You Think: How To Appreciate a Painting
Students develop an elementary understanding of the history of art. They study the basic elements of a painting including perspective, composition, color, light and symbolism. They look at each selected painting and analyze it, moving...
Curated OER
Write a Short Story
Students compare two paintings, depicting urban life in America in the 1940's, answering a series of questions, then create a short story about the paintings' characters. They compare 'Nighthawks' and 'Nightlife.'