Category Archives: Lesson Plans
Hand Stencils and Prints
As part of their study of Prehistoric art, students discussed the images of hands that are frequently seen on cave walls. Hands also appear in the art of Aboriginal peoples in Australia. We discussed several ways that these stenciled and … Continue reading
Painted Cave Walls
Students painted images of animals on simulated “cave walls.” Using crumpled bags to represent stone, they experimented with various watercolor techniques (using a limited palette) and were encouraged to show the “essence” and “energy” of the animal they were painting.
Panama: Molas
The Kuna Indians of Panama make beautiful designs in fabric by layering and cutting away the cloth to reveal the colors underneath. These fabric designs, called “molas,” were traditionally sewn into blouses, but have now gained worldwide recognition as a … Continue reading
Mexican-Style Alebrijes
Students created whimsical “alebrije” sculptures in the style of Oaxacan art carvings. After brainstorming ideas for their sculpture and doing some preliminary drawings, they created an armature from wire and aluminum foil. After they were satisfied with the size and … Continue reading
Oaxacan Mixed-Media Animal Drawings
Students designed imaginative animals, based on images they viewed of Oaxacan sculptures. They used Sharpies, colored pencils, markers, and/or oil pastels to create these colorful, pattern-filled drawings.
Oaxacan Animal Drawings
After looking at examples of colorful Oaxacan-style animal sculptures, middle school students created whimsical drawings of animals. They drew their animals on white paper, and colored them with brightly-colored crayons. When they were finished, they cut them out and mounted … Continue reading
Mexican Inspired Watercolors
After looking at colorful examples of Mexican art, students created playful watercolor paintings that reflect the bright colors of this country.
Japan: Kite Designs
To introduce this traditional Japanese art, students read this beautifully written and illustrated book, “Shibumi and the Kitemaker” by Mercer Mayer: While they were not able to make real kites (this time), they enjoyed working on designs:
Italy: Sports Cars
Ferrari….Lamborghini….Alfa Romeo….Fiat…. Italy is known for its luxury sports automobiles, and as part of our study of the art of this country, middle school students were challenged to either replicate or design a sports car. Using Sculpey clay as the … Continue reading
Italy: Frescos
Students studied the work of Michelangelo and marveled at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel while learning about frescos, which are paintings on wet plaster. To help them understand the process, plaster was mixed according to directions, and then approximately … Continue reading