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Lesson Plan
Kinder Art

Kinderart: Dripping Paint Action Painting

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will look at the work of Jackson Pollock as they learn about Abstract Expressionism and Action Painting. They have the opportunity to make their own dripping paint "action" painting.
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Handout
BBC

Bbc: Simon Schama's Power of Art: Rothko

For Students 9th - 10th
From the BBC's documentary series on art "Simon Schama's Power of Art", this is the web-page synopsis version of the program on the American abstract-expressionist painter, Mark Rothko.
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Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Web Museum: Jackson Pollock

For Students 9th - 10th
A biographical sketch of Jackson Pollock, along with examples of his work, links to related terms, and analysis of selected action paintings.
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Unit Plan
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Web Museum: Abstract Expressionism

For Students 9th - 10th
This online museum page provides an overview of the artistic form of Abstract Expressionism.
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Lesson Plan
Marilyn J. Brackney

Imagination Factory: Painting Without a Brush

For Teachers 9th - 10th
At this site imitate Jackson Pollock and create an abstract painting without the use of a paintbrush. Included are ideas and suggestions for creative painting tools, instructions for making a your creation, and helpful "Tips and Tricks."
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Graphic
Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Max Bill: Tripartite Unity

For Students 9th - 10th
Image and description of the sculpture Tripartite Unity by Swiss artist Max Bill.
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Website
Goshen College

Bird Ritual

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This opening art exercise, although intended to increase art fluency, would be a great motivation for a lesson on Brancusi's "Bird in Space."
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Robert Rauschenberg: Reinventing Art

For Students 9th - 10th
Studying the life and work of Robert Rauschenberg, we see a reflection of American culture. Click his name to a full biography and timeline.
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Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Franz Kline

For Students 3rd - 8th
A succinct biographical sketch that explores the life and contributions of abstract expressionist and Pennsylvania native, Franz Kline.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Pop Art

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers information on this art genre and the artists of the pop art artistic movement. Includes hyperlinks to the different artists.
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Handout
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: King Gimp Revisited

For Students 9th - 10th
Site from NPR includes an interview, video clips and links about expressionist artist, Dan Keplinger. This artist has overcome his disability to create fine art that expresses himself.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Online News Hour: Jackson Pollock

For Students 9th - 10th
A NewsHour interview with Kirk Varnedoe, curator of painting at the Museum of Modern Art, on the life, work, and influence of Jackson Pollock. The interview revolves around Pollock's breakthrough drip paintings and is interspersed with...
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Interactive
Other

Jackson Pollack Splatter Paint Application

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Create your own Jackson Pollock drip painting without the mess at this site from artist and video game designer Miltos Manetas. Click and drag to transform a blank screen into an action painting of your own creation.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Abc: Abstraction

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Alma Woodsey Thomas is the focus of this lesson plan that introduces students to abstract art. Students will come to understand how the art elements can be used to express emotion and communicate ideas without including objects in the...
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Activity
Other

My Data = My Mondrian

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a minute and fill out the short questionaire about yourself. The computer converts your data into a personalized painting-- Mondrian style. Everyone will want to try this again and again!
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: What Is Abstract Expressionism?

For Students 9th - 10th
If you visit a museum with a collection of modern and contemporary art, you're likely to see works that sometimes elicit the response, "My cat could make that, so how is it art?" But is it true? Could anyone create one of Jackson...
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Interactive
Quia

Quia: Art Movements Abstract Expressionism

For Students 9th - 10th
A scavenger hunt that could be used as a review for students. Site provides ten questions on abstract expressionism.
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Graphic
New York Times

New York Times: The One and Only Jackson Pollock

For Students 9th - 10th
An informative slideshow about the life, work, and significance of Jackson Pollock narrated by art critic Michael Kimmelman of the "New York Times." Great insight coupled with great images.
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Handout
Martin Lawrence Galleries

Martin Lawrence Galleries: Sam Francis

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the masters of abstract expressionism. His works are highly related to color field painting and the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock. Here there is a biography and a collection of works from a variety of media.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Voices Against Conformity

For Students 5th - 8th
The decade of the 1950s was kown for conformity. There was an undercurrent of rebellion, especially among younger Americans. Read about the Beat Generation, alternative literature, rebellion in art, and treatment of those who were not...
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Website
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

Guggenheim: Vasily Kandinsky

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography from the Guggenheim of Vasily Kandinsky (1866-1944 CE).
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Website
Other

Clyfford Still Museum: Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
This page shows a few examples of works from the collection of the Clyffrod Still Museum and talks about the collection in general. Still was an important American abstract-expressionist painter who produced thousands of large format...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Rosalind Bengelsdorf

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Rosalind Bengelsdorf is described here along with information on her contributions to art through abstract expressionism and her association with Arshile Gorky.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Charmion Von Wiegand

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Charmion Von Wiegand is described here along with information on her contributions to art through abstract art.