Curated OER
Bridge Builders
Students research bridges from around the world looking for the Parisian architecture. They identify arch, suspension, cable and covered bridges. They draw half a bridge utilizing Crayola Erasable Markers. They construct their bridge...
Curated OER
"Self-Portrait with a Cartoon"
Here is a really fun way to integrate self-portraits, cartooning, and basic computer skills. The class learns to use Photoshop to manipulate a hand-drawn, cartoon, or photographic image of themselves onto a separate background. They...
Curated OER
"Tape Murals"
This is a really neat idea! To practice line variation and hatching, young artists create masking tape murals. They brainstorm a list of hot high school topics, then they get into small groups and begin sketching. Once they have their...
National Gallery of Canada
My Own Blanket
Invite your young artists to design blankets that express their own identities. Learners examine various pieces of art before brainstorming a few things that represent their identities. They use these ideas, in addition to symmetry and...
Chandler Unified School District
Art Masterpiece: Leonardo’s Inventions—Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is the focus of a hands-on activity that encourages scholars to become inventors. Pupils brainstorm and sketch their idea, compose a detailed depiction using a mirror writing technique, and antique the paper for a...
Curated OER
Careers in Scientific and Technical Visualization
Students research a career path in scientific and technical visualization. They prepare a Career Web Page about the career path they chose. The web pages be compiled into an electronic resource for future students.
Curated OER
My Antonia: K-W-H-L Strategy
Use the well-known KWHL chart as a tool for building up to a research project and oral presentation related to Willa Cather's My Antonia. Starting with a class brainstorm, pupils research and gradually narrow down topics relating to...
Perkins School for the Blind
Safety Crash Testing
Everyone knows that cars have safety features, but wouldn't it be fun to design your own? Learners with visual impairments build a ramp and then attempt to use the material provided to design a safety system to protect a raw egg from a...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Caution: Thin Ice!
Sixth graders listen to a story titled "Thin Ice!" then partake in a whole-class discussion asking and answering questions about what was read. Scholars brainstorm risky behaviors in preparation for a game of RISKO—a game similar to...
ReadWriteThink
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words: From Image to Detailed Narrative
A picture's worth a thousand words—and even more inspiration! A visual activity uses photographs to inspire writers. The process teaches aspects of narrative writing, such as point of view and characterization.
Curated OER
How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch
Students perform a play based on a legend. In this performing arts instructional activity, students read the legend Kangaroo Gets a Pouch and brainstorm ways to turn the story into a play. Students prepare for a short play, including...
Curated OER
Protective Design
Over 3 or 4 class periods your young designers will create a wearable garment that provides some sort of protection from a danger in everyday life. In this fashion design lesson, young scholars investigate fear in our society and...
Curated OER
Parts of Art
Young scholars define and use new vocabulary associated with the elements of art. As a class, they brainstorm different ways in which we communicate with one another. In groups, they view different pieces of art from the Native American...
Curated OER
Coast-to-Coast Book Design-Part 3: Brainstorming the Book
Students examine the process of designing a book and identify the steps necessary to publish a book. In small groups they analyze ABC books, and discuss the similarities and differences between the books. Students then brainstorm ideas...
Curated OER
TV Star
Here's a fun lesson which will pique your pupils' imaginations. A brainstorm session about things that kids are good at takes place. A large cardboard box is made to look like a TV set, and each child gets to perform a special skill...
Curated OER
Pass the Painting
After reading a story or informational text describing an animal, your class gets creative and collaborative with paint. In groups, they brainstorm all the parts of an animal, they then take turns painting those parts. One child starts...
Curated OER
Bird of Peace
Students discuss the saying "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem". They brainstorm and create a list universal symbols for peace. They create a paper mache Bird of Peace using recycled paper, balloons and glue.
Curated OER
Fields of Daffodils
Students discuss the characteristics of a community. They discuss their local neighborhood, and brainstorm ways to help others in their community. Using recycled file folders and paint, students create their own daffodils. They discuss...
Overcoming Obstacles
Developing a Positive Attitude
The third instructional activity in the Goal Setting series looks at the impact of a positive attitude on achieving one's goals. Participants create and then share visuals that represent positive attitudes. They then brainstorm ways to...
National Gallery of Canada
Morphosis
Experience anthropomorphism and metamorphosis in action with flipbooks! Instead of giving human characteristics to animals, though, pupils will show a transformation from human to animal or vise versa through their drawings. The...
Annenberg Foundation
A Nation Divided
Can a presidential election cause a civil war? Learners research the events surrounding the presidential election of 1860 in a lesson that explores America's history. Using maps, videos, and primary sources, they uncover, brainstorm, and...
DocsTeach
Patent Analysis: Wright Brothers' Flying Machine
Ideas take flight in an exciting activity exploring the Wright Brothers. Scholars view the Wright Brothers' patent for their flying machine and makes educated guesses as to the purpose of the document. Scholars discuss the purpose of...
Overcoming Obstacles
Having a Positive Attitude
Through discussion and reflection, scholars discover what it means to have a positive attitude, that an individual can choose to stay positive, and discuss the benefits of a positive attitude. Learners listen to negative scenarios to...
Curated OER
Television: Comedy Vs. Drama
Students investigate the world of Television by contrasting specific programs. In this visual storytelling lesson, students compare and contrast the differences between comedy and drama by making a Venn Diagram. Students utilize the...