Curated OER
Exploring the Art of Leonardo da Vinci
Ninth graders use a web worksheet to gather information about the Italian Renaissance artist, Leonardo da Vinci. They look at the front and back of the Mona Lisa, Leonardo's most famous painting. Students learn about the painting...
Curated OER
Painting Music
Middle schoolers convey the concept that music expresses different moods. Using paint, students draw various artistic elements that convey the mood of a piece of music they hear in class. They complete an analysis of classical paintings...
Curated OER
Jazz in America
Pupils explore the Swing Era and its implications. They answer questions and listen to music from the era.
Curated OER
Ambassadors of Art
Have your class create their own art exhibit. Learners study the exchange of artwork between the Louvre in Paris and two American art museums, and create an introductory exhibit featuring European and American art from the Renaissance...
Curated OER
Leonardo da Vinci
Students examine the life of artist Leonardo da Vinci. They tour his birthplace via a virtual tour. They explore his many different paintings and sculptures. They discover his personal history and discuss his most famous painting, The...
Curated OER
The Great Migration
Students explore how migration to Harlem created a new life for African Americans. In this cross curricular lesson, students illustrate maps showing the migration, paint murals representing African American life in the South and...
Museum of Science
Linear Perspective: Painting Distance with Size
Young scholars examine a simple set up to measure the change in the apparent size of an object as it moves away from them.
Curated OER
Different Points of View
Considering an examination of point of view? Use visual arts to engage learners in of this element of art and literature. Class members select a portrait from the Renaissance Connection and, guided by a series of brainstorming...
National Gallery of Canada
Reading Symbols
Introduce your upper-elementary students to printmaking. Class members view prints, select and research symbols in a piece, and create their own sets of prints using styrofoam trays. Pupils can wash off the paint on their trays to make...
National Gallery of Canada
My First Print
Practice printmaking with a fun lesson. After observing images, class members use the listed materials, such as stamps and sponges, create their own prints. They experiment with layering, pressure, and paint colors.
Curated OER
Review of Landscapes, Portraits
First graders examine the term landscape painting, and compare several landscape paintings in their use of color, line, and shape. They create winter landscapes on paper, then observe two Renaissance portraits.
Curated OER
Seeing the Invisible: Angels and Demons
Pupils search for angels and demons within the paintings in the Getty's medieval and Renaissance galleries. They examine the ways that artists made these invisible creatures visible.
Curated OER
Eye-Popping Op Art
Students examine and discuss work of Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely, recognize visual components of Op Art, compare traditional Renaissance perspective with Op Art's illusion of three-dimensional space, and create original painting...
Curated OER
Self-Portraits Inspired By Saint Helena
Students create their own self-portrait revealing personal information employing two types of aesthetics: imitation and expression. Emphasis is placed on the painting "Saint Helena with True Cross" created by Lucus Cranch the Elder.
Curated OER
Visual Art: Romare Bearden and Group 306
Students examine the life and art of Romare Bearden. Using his "Mill Hand's Lunch Bucket" for inspiration, they write a first chapter for a book. Students observe numerous other works of his art and discuss them from artistic and...
Museum of Science
Open Window: Using Leonardo's Perspectograph
Young scholars look through one eye and trace the outlines of objects seen through a window to create a drawing with natural and correct perspective.
Curated OER
Langston Hughes: Dream Variations
Students examine African-American communal life. In this Langston Hughes lesson, students read poetry by Hughes in order to gain insight into the Harlem community. Students select artwork that represents their community.
Curated OER
Fiddling Around
Learners look at a piece of art to make connections between early Baroque art and Baroque music. In this art and music lesson, students focus on the painting The Boy Violinist, by Hendrick Terbrugghen. They listen to the music to...
Curated OER
CD-ROManticism and Computer Classicism
Young scholars assess the many benefits and drawbacks of reproducing works of art, such as sculpture and paintings, on CD-ROMs and on the Internet, as well as explore art history via these computer technologies.
Curated OER
What's Right and Wrong? Moral Messages in Art
Learners explore the Steen and Mount paintings and their presentation of moral issues. They discuss ethical debates in society today and write a short position paper on an issue raised by the paintings or in the discussion. They make a...
Curated OER
Proper Perspective
Students consider what makes a famous painting realistic, then examine a theoretical debate about how Renaissance masters created their true-to-life images. They create their own realistic drawings.
Curated OER
Print-Making Card Designs
Students explore print making. In this art and print making lesson, students listen to biographical information about Leonardo da Vinci, then define "mirror image" as a technique used by this artist. Students cut out magazine pictures...
Curated OER
National Gallery of Art: Leonardo da Vinci
Students study a portrait of Ginevra by Leonardo da Vinci. In this art appreciation lesson, students study this unique double-sided work by Leonardo da Vinci and are asked to create their own double-sided piece of art.