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1,2,3 Art (First Day of School)
Students participate in a first day of school survey. In this art lesson, students answer three questions about art class, such as one thing they don't like about art class and their goals for art this coming year.
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My "Red" Room
Students utilize art analysis skills by examining the work of Henri Matisse. In this painting lesson, students examine L'Atelier Rouge by Henri Matisse and identify the objects in the room and colors used. Students create their own rough...
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Storybook Art
Students read the book Swimmy, by Leo Lionni. They study his method of illustrating and then create an underwater scene of their own using the same method.
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Mozart and Music
Fifth graders experience performing arts by participating in a music performance. In this music history lesson plan, 5th graders practice playing notes on an instrument in class and discuss the challenges associated with making music....
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Shaping Ideas: Symbolism in Sculpture
Students critique the symbolic structures created by other students. In this visual arts lesson, students display completed sculptures and drawings. Students analyze the symbolic elements in each others work, relate their art to Getty's...
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Cover the Music
Students explore U.S. history by listening to musical pieces in class. In this Civil War era lesson, students discuss the types of musical instruments that were available to soldiers during the war and the themes of their songs. Students...
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Elegant Art Nouveau
Students create an elegant drawing in the ornamental, decorative and luxurious style of Klimt. After viewing a Powerpoint presentation, students create several patterns on scratchboards.
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Still Life Painting: Arranging Nature
Learners display the two still-life paintings they created along with their artist’s statement, write a review of a peer’s work, and discuss all of the paintings in a group critique. For this still life art lesson, students view the...
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Rock Art Stencil Printing
Students will create a painting using symbols that were used by Native Americans or symbols they create based on what they have learned about symbols used in Native American rock paintings.
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Lyric Poetry Lesson
Students synthesize the "textbook" definition of lyric poetry and discuss various forms (love lyric, complaint lyric, loss lyric, satiric lyric). They discover the relationship of poetry to musical selections.
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Carnival of the Animals
Students listen to music to study the various sounds instruments make and feelings they incur. In this music analysis lesson, students listen to musical extracts from 'The Carnival of Animals' describe the music. Students learn about the...
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Visual Arts:Literature and World Civilization
Fourth graders examine the art of the Middle Ages or Medieval time period through the activities in this unit.
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Marketing to Teens: Marketing Tactics
Enlighten young consumers to advertising techniques aimed specifically at their generation. Have learners answer questions about how advertisements are geared for a younger audience, then have them practice selling to other teenagers....
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Investigating the Harlem Renaissance
The work of Langston Hughes opens the door to research into the origin and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how the literature of the period can be viewed as a commentary on race relations in America. In addition, groups are assigned...
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Diversity in Media: Looking Critically at What We See
This learning experience fosters awareness of representations we see, and don't see, in the media. Learners list TV programs, games, and films they enjoy, identify characters' ethnic, religious, (dis)ability, and sexual orientation...
National Endowment for the Humanities
A “New English” in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Common Core Exemplar
To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...
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Community Caring Match Ups
Learners discuss different types of community helpers. They create a large paper doll replica of the worker, including clothing and tools. Afterward, they connect with the community by describing their helpers to each other.
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My Shadow Pictures
Learners capture shadows for a shadow dance! They experiment with shadows created by people or items blocking light sources (sun, bright lamp) to draw their shadow pictures. Afterward, they cut out the shadows and arrange them on a large...
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Sparkling Seasonal Symbols
Young scholars recognize the sequence and pattern of seasonal changes in temperate climates. They associate familiar symbols with each season and use these symbols to create medallions that communicate their knowledge about the four...
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The Virtuoso Phenomenon
After reading the New York Times article "Virtuosos Becoming a Dime a Dozen," learners answer eight who, what, when, where, and why questions. They post their answers on the New York Times Education Blog. A fun way to get learners...
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Calendar Art
Students assemble and decorate a calendar. This is a lesson to be used at the beginning of each month to make a calendar for the month. Math concepts for this lesson consist of each student writing numbers on the calendar.
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Paper Quilling: A Colonial Art
Students discover the art of paper quilling and rolled paper. As a class, they identify patterns and forms found in nature. They create their own piece of quilled art and view their classmates creations as well.
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Patriotism Reflected in Art and Literature (part A)
Pupils explore pre-World War II Japanese art. In this patriotism lesson, students analyze Eternal Fuji and Red Sun by Yokoyama Taikan. Pupils discuss the techniques used to create the painting as well as the symbolism behind it. Students...
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Bronze: Scientific Inquiry through Chinese Art
Learners examine the use of bronze and porcelain in Chinese art and commerce through in-class activities, role play events, and small-group discussions in this exciting Social Studies/Arts lesson.