K12 Reader
The Art of M.C. Escher
Show your class one way in which art and math are related by teaching them about M.C. Escher. Class members read a brief passage and then respond to five related questions.
Curated OER
Geometric Optic Spinner
Young scholars investigate the concept of an optical illusion and how they are used. They conduct an information search of how the eye works. The information is used in order to set the context upon the creation of a personal optical...
Curated OER
Op Art Shapes
Op art is fun to look at, and it's fun to make. Kids learn about the origins of op art and the op art master, M.C. Escher. They view simple to complex examples of op art to see how it works and then create an optical piece of their own....
Curated OER
Optical Illusion Vase
Students draw an optical illusion. In this optical illusion instructional activity, students create the optical illusion vase. Students draw a profile and repeat the drawing in reverse creating the vase image.
Curated OER
Intro to Art
Learners explore illusions by drawing and viewing images in class. In this art perspective lesson plan, students analyze a skeleton outline drawing which demonstrates the ability to draw in a two point perspective. Learners utilize the...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Do You See What I See?
Can art play tricks on your eyes, and can a still painting really appear to vibrate? The second instructional activity in a four-part series discusses the way our beautiful brains translate visual images. It highlights the style of...
Curated OER
Op Art and Contrast
Seventh graders explore the Op art movement and the work of artists Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely and MC Escher. the principles of contrast and how it can be used to create optical illusions is examined in this instructional activity.
National Gallery of Canada
My Upside-Down World!
M.C. Escher is famous for creating optical illusions. Examine this effect in several of his works and discuss the techniques involved. Inspired by the discussion, learners create an imaginary 3-D world inside of a box using various...
Curated OER
Exploring Optical Movement in Art
Students describe, represent and analyze patterns and relationships using shapes. They create simple geometric patterns. They demonstrate increasing technical ability and skill to complete visual arts assignments.
Curated OER
Fraggle Monster Vase
Students create an optical illusion. In this optical illusions lesson, students sketch a monster's face to create the optical illusion of a vase in the positive space. Students create an original piece of art.
Curated OER
Vasarely Was A Colorful Fellow
Eighth graders create artwork inspired by the work of Victor Vasarely. In this op art lesson plan, 8th graders explore color theory and color mixing. Students create ten shapes to use in their artwork and over the course of two weeks,...
Curated OER
Op Art and Contrast
Seventh graders create Op art designs by reading web information through FlingIt, mapping learned concepts with PicoMap, and creating how-to examples of their own Op art design by using Sketchy. They complete the lesson plan by creating...
Wake County Public Schools
Language
Have your class doing everything from reading literature, analyzing literary devices, identifying independent and dependent clauses, discussing, and writing creatively with the rich resource found here. After a mini lesson on independent...
Curated OER
Psychedelic Checkerboard Op Art
Students analyze optical illusions from the packets, both individually and as a class. They create an original optical illusion design using pattern and repetition. They determine which color needs to be in the pattern.
Curated OER
A Change of Scene
Students create their own optical illusions by making something look big and then changing what's around it to make it look little.
Curated OER
A Change of Scene
Students are challenged to create optical illusions using using cut-outs. The activity provokes thoughtful discussion about scale.
Curated OER
Color the Monsters
In these coloring the monsters worksheets, students color the monster faces making them either scary or merry. Students color two faces.
Curated OER
Anamorphosis
Students classify optical illusions according to their distinguishing characteristics. They create anamorphic art and use Mylar flexible mirrors to view and then they describe and analyze the optical illusion.
Curated OER
Open Your Eyes To Art!
Students help create a colorful bulletin board for classroom art displays in this short lesson plan for the early elementary classroom. The lesson plan, which can use a variety of items, includes product ideas and resource links to find...
Exploratorium
Cardboard Tube Syllabus
Construct paper tubes and then try out a few optical illusion tricks:
See a virtual hole in your own hand
Get a grasp of how the eyes combine images
Notice that one eye is dominant over the other
Reveal how your eyes adjust to...
Curated OER
Op Art Circles
High schoolers create Optical Art, art that seems to move when you look at it, in this Art instructional activity for the High School classroom. Included with the instructional activity is a list of recommended materials and suggested...
Curated OER
The Houdini Box: Compare and Contrast
How did Houdini do it? After reading a short passage about magicians and their tricks, readers are asked to compare and contrast some of the illusions these prestidigitators create.
Curated OER
Who Ever Heard Of Red Shamrocks?
Learners discover optical illusions in this instructional activity that uses a red shamrock and white construction paper. Emphasis is placed upon inquiry, experiment, and then a short discussion on optical illusions and complimentary...
Curated OER
Dot To Dot Seurat
Students discuss the art of Georges Seurat and examples of Pointillism and create original works of Pointillism using colored, sticker dots. This lesson is intended for use in the elementary Art classroom and includes a short vocabulary...