University of Minnesota
Mirroring Emotions
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our...
Curated OER
Feathers
First graders examine the character values of kindness, responsibility, and decisions making by playing circle games, listening to a read aloud of the story "Feathers," and discussing the story. They discuss the facial expressions of can...
Curated OER
Learning About Emotions
Students participate in a series of activities about identifying different feelings and emotions. In these oral language and discussion lessons, students use pictures and photographs to get them involved in oral storytelling activities....
Curated OER
DEVELOPING A MONOLOGUE OR JOURNAL ENTRY BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DUST BOWL
Students infer the emotions of various individuals portrayed in the photographs and depict these feelings in a monologue or journal entry. Students explore the verisimilitude of art to reality, sharing ideas and observations in class...
Curated OER
Faces of Emotion
Fifth graders investigate human emotion by analyzing photographs they have taken. In this human face lesson, 5th graders collaborate in pairs to take pictures of another student while they are expressing different emotions....
Curated OER
Be An Incredible Songwriter
Students write songs about something incredible they have experienced or know about. They consider topics of events, dreams, ideas, feelings, or animals. They accompany themselves with small musical instruments while performing the songs...
Curated OER
It's A Blue, Blue Monday
Pupils create images that convey how the weather makes them feel. As a class, students discuss the way weather can effect their mood. After reading several passages describing the weather, pupils use vivid descriptions and adjectives...
Curated OER
Seeing Both Sides of an Issue
Students examine global issues from different perspectives. In this communication skills lesson, students participate in a classroom activity that requires them to take stances on issues and then consider the support of other...
Curated OER
A Forum on Racism
Twelfth graders compare and contrast the work of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. In this racism instructional activity, 12th graders read The Autobiography of Malcolm X and discuss how Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr....
Curated OER
The Human Animal
Students explore non-verbal communication. For this animal communication lesson, students study body language and other forms of non-verbal communication. Students write a summary of their findings to discuss with the class. This lesson...
Curated OER
Canine Companions
Students interpret canine verbal and non-verbal communication. In this dog communication instructional activity, students discuss dog communication through bark and body language. Students study the 'reading canine body postures'...
Curated OER
Mood and Tone
Students describe their current mood in several complete sentences. They compare their moods with moods set by authors through the tone of their writing. Students read a teacher prepared handout about mood/tone of writing. They write...
Curated OER
Writing About Art: Comparing Portraits
Students write a composition comparing and contrasting two portraits. In this comparing and contrasting lesson, students will observe two portraits and compare them through their writing. They then will write a letter to the artists...
Curated OER
Historical Witness: Social Messaging
Students create political cartoons that feature satire. For this political cartoon lesson, students examine examples of satire and caricature prior to creating their own political cartoons that feature the French Revolution or Industrial...
Curated OER
Journal Response to Art
Fourth graders observe various photographs by Dorothea Lange and write reflections in a journal. In this photography lesson plan, 4th graders interpret photographs and do a variety of writing responses to the photographs they observe.
Curated OER
What Do Portraits Communicate?
Students make connections between their personal experiences and portraits. define a portrait and identify different kinds of portraits in artworks and their own lives. They look closely at a portrait using visual analysis to describe...
Curated OER
How Grouchy are YOU!!!!!
Students read "The Grouchy Ladybug" by Eric Carle. With this selection, they encounter how to read with different voices. Students keep a reading journal in this class as well.
Curated OER
Friendship Masks
Students investigate the concept of friendship and how it is developed and based upon some different emotions. They examine samples of masks that display emotional responses. Then students have class discussion about emotions and the...
Curated OER
Writing About Photographs: Responding to the Art of Dorothea Lange
Students view and discuss photographs by Dorothea Lange. They describe what they see, pose questions about the images, reflect on their personal responses, and create diaries written in the voices of individuals depicted in the images.