Curated OER
Horse of a Different Color: An Introduction to Color in the Visual Arts
High schoolers examine how artists use color to create a sense of depth in a two-dimensional space. They view and analyze prints, complete worksheets, and write a paragraph on how color is used to draw the viewer's eye to a central figure.
Curated OER
T.V. Smarts
Students research visual messages by completing a media quiz. In this television programming lesson, students identify the many programs and commercials which use sexual imagery to sell their program or product. Students discuss methods...
Curated OER
Through Many Lenses: How are Countries Depicted By the Media
Learners read various sources about a country to understand viewpoints about that country. In this country lesson, students recognize that different sources portray different organizations differently. Learners compare how...
Curated OER
Money Math: Lessons for Life
Students develop a budget for a college student using all of the influences that the student would have. In this budgeting lesson plan, students use real life examples to create a budget spreadsheet. Students read and study...
Curated OER
Arkansas History Lesson Plant One: Play-Do Soto
Fifth graders complete a variety of projects to learn about Arkansas history. In this Arkansas lesson plan, 5th graders go on a field trip to a state park, explore an Arkansas map, put play-dough on the trail of De Soto, color regions of...
Curated OER
Planning a Railroad Online Lesson
Students design a train route using a topographical map. In this historical and spatial thinking lesson plan, students must plan a route through the Sierra Nevada mountains that a train could physically travel. Links to printable student...
Curated OER
Informed Drawing Through Observation
Students practice observation techniques to improve their drawing skills. In this drawing technique lesson, students assess drawing as an art media and discuss realism. Students view examples of animal drawings and practice drawing using...
Curated OER
Lesson 9: Visual Meiosis
Students create a fictional organism. In this biology lesson, students predict the traits of resulting offspring. They complete activity worksheet and discuss answers in class.
Curated OER
Responding Syllables: Reading and Music
Shell Silverstein’s “Sick” provides an opportunity for kids to demonstrate their understanding of syllables and phonemes. The class creates a list of descriptive words used in the poem that have more than one syllable, and brainstorm how...
Curated OER
Sequential Still Life
Sixth graders engage in a visual arts lesson featuring still life sketching and watercolor painting created by individual students.
Curated OER
VH1 AIDS: A Pop Culture History Lesson 1
Students observe and discuss the relationships between music, media, and popular culture.
Curated OER
Greek Mythology: Cultures and Art
Students examine literary arts. In this Greek mythology lessons, students read Greek myths and select characters from the myths to study. Students create watercolor illustrations of the characters, write short stories about the...
Curated OER
Style Myself Batisse
Third graders explore the artwork of Henri Matisse. For this Matisse lesson, 3rd graders recognize the characteristics of Henri Matisse. Students create a pastel collage self portrait in the style of Henri Matisse.
Curated OER
Discovering National Parks
Students work to preserve American National Parks. In this environmental activism lesson, students research the history of the national parks and determine why they were created. Students then focus on protecting the land, using it for...
PBS
Broadcast News
Just because a story is on the news doesn't mean it's being presented fairly. Analyze news broadcasts with a lesson focused on evaluating television journalism. At home, kids watch a news show and note the stories presented, including...
Facebook
Who Do You Want to Be?
Can posting art or music online lead to the career of your dreams? Inquisitive individuals consider their social media presence with a lesson from a series focusing on identity exploration and digital citizenship. Pairs put their heads...
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.
University of California
The Civil War: Effects of the Civil War
Imagine being on the front line of the Civil War —from the front porch of your own house. Scholars use visual evidence from primary and secondary sources to analyze the impact of the Civil War on all Americans. They examine the research...
Judicial Branch of California
Defining Civic Duty and Participation
A lesson, geared toward older elementary scholars, combines art with social studies to explain the purpose of civic duty and how to encourage others in the community to participate. Academics create advertising campaigns to promote civic...
NPR
Can You Beat Cognitive Bias?
In a time of fake news, media manipulation, and Internet trolls, a resource equips learners with the tools they need to recognize and combat resources that are designed to appeal to our cognitive biases. Introduce learners to five...
Museum of Tolerance
Quilt Activity
After completing the first five lessons from the series, scholars assemble their quilt pieces to create a family history quilt. They then rate their experience of learning about their families by conducting interviews, creating family...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Are Global CO2 Levels Changing?
According to the Mauna Loa observatory, carbon dioxide levels increased by 3 ppm in our atmosphere between 2015–2016. Individuals analyze carbon dioxide data from around the world and then share this with a home group in lesson...
Scholastic
Persuasive Communication (Grades 9–12)
Before your students reached your morning class to learn about persuasive writing, they probably saw dozens of examples of persuasive communication in the form of advertisements. A short, introductory lesson plan inspires class members...
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, students investigate fear in our society and brainstorm...