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Writing to See
Students write descriptively and creatively after looking carefully at a work of art.
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The Museum Idea
Young scholars discover the nature and uses of museums by completing several creative projects. Students also analyze abstract art with teacher guidance.
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Facing Obstacles with Creativity and Humor
Middle schoolers explore how to overcome obstacles. In this perseverance lesson, students discuss effective strategies that could be used when faced with an obstacle. Middle schoolers discuss why having a plan, teamwork and perseverance...
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Words Have Meaning
Young scholars interpret and analyze art for meaning and a Maya Angelou poem for meaning. In this art and literature analysis lesson, students analyze Alison Saar's "Lost and Found" and Maya Angelou's poem "Alone." Young scholars write...
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A Picture's Worth 500-700 Words
Students interpret and analyze a work of art and write a narrative for the piece of art. In this narrative art lesson plan, students analyze a work of art and then write a short story 500-700 words long to narrate the art.
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Spiritual Space
Students explore Italian Renaissance artwork. In this visual arts lesson plan, students examine "Madonna, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Saint Paul'" by Bernardo Daddi. Students investigate the use of space, scale, and proportion in the work...
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Looking at Illuminated Manuscripts: An Illuminated Day Planner
Students examine a book of hours to compare it with a modern day planner. In this illuminated manuscripts lesson, students analyze a book of hours example from the 16th century. Students create their own modern day illuminated calendar.
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Escher-Esque Tessellations
Middle and high schoolers participate in a seven-part lesson creating Escher-Esque tessellations. They demonstrate their knowledge of geometric transformations after viewing a PowerPoint presentation, conducting Internet research, and...
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A Lens into the Past
Explore the history of immigration through photographs. Scholars will view and discuss photographs depicting the culture and lifestyle of late 19th and early 20th century immigrants. They take pictures of current examples of culture in...
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Ocean Careers Exploration
Learners will work together in groups to gather information about careers in oceanography. They discover the need to have a diverse group of people on a team and then share their information with the class. Web links and materials are...
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Writing Mythological Narratives
Students compose a creative writing piece based on a painting of a mythological scene. In this creative writing lesson, students write about the scene in the painting and tie in their original stories into tales from the life...
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Adapting a Musical
Students transform literature into musical productions. In this integrated arts lesson, students discuss how musicals are written and produced. Students then select literature they are familiar with to adapt into musical productions.
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Oceans: A Sensory Haiku
Students create an ocean haiku. In this haiku lesson, students use their five senses to write a haiku. Students watch videos about the ocean, make a sensory portrait, and create a class haiku.
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Creating Comic Strips
Young scholars recognize the elements needed to create a comic strip. In this comic strip instructional activity, student understand that comic strips need words and pictures. Students find differences and similarities in comic strips....
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Historical Markers
Students read the "Chicago Tribute Markers of Distinction," and pick one famous person to write about. In this creative writing worksheet, students write about this person's home. Additionally, students pretend that 100 years from now, a...
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Twain: Steamboat's a-Comin'
Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression. In this Mark Twain lesson, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a...
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Adjective Monster
Explore descriptive writing and visual art. Listen to the story Go Away Big, Green Monster by Ed Emberley and generate a list of adjectives used in the book. Name familiar shapes and create a shapes list. Choose an adjective and shape to...
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Watching Wheatstacks
Young scholars explore basic shapes in Monet's paintings Wheatstacks, Snow Effect and Morning. They study about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights.
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Food and Languages of the World
Third graders become familiar with the German pickle, part of the Christmas celebration in Germany. In this German pickle instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to the story of the German pickle and its significance to the German...
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Referencing the Classical Past
Learners explore the concept of myths conveyed through art. In this art history instructional activity, students examine "Three Goddesses" and discuss the state of the world at the time that Nollekens created the sculptures as they...
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Historical Context: Discovering a Painting
Young scholars analyze a work of art. For this historical context lesson, students research the time period in which the art they observed was created. Young scholars consider differing opinions about a work of art.
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Breaking the Chains, Rising out of Circumstances
Students research, write, and draw about Roman versus American slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students look at the Roman portraits of slaves, its influence on Western European art, and compare Roman slavery to American slavery.
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Celebration and Satire- Beginning Level
Learners examine art elements in a late-19th-century self-portrait painting. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze the painting "A Centennial of Independence" and identify the color, shape, and symbols in the art piece. Learners...
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Putting a Spin on Current Events
Students examine the symbolism on a 17th-century cabinet. In this symbolism lesson, students view samples of a 17th century cabinet and identify it's symbols. Students create their own cabinet by using various art supplies and paint...