Category Archives: Lesson Plans

Embossed Foil Dragons

As part of a study of the Middle Ages, 5th through 7th grade students created dragons using a tooled-foil technique. After etching their designs into the foil, they painted over them with black waterproof ink, and then used fine steel … Continue reading

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Castles and Cottages

As part of a unit on the Middle Ages, 5th through 7th grade students researched the types of dwellings found during this time period and used Sculpey clay to create small replicas of a castle or cottage. After their sculptures … Continue reading

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Heraldry – Shield Design

As part of a study of the Middle Ages, students in grades 5-7 created coat of arms “shields.” Learning terms such as “bend,” “passant,” “azure” and “rampant” from books such as “Design Your Own Coat of Arms” by Rosemary A. Chorzempa, here … Continue reading

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Mexican Inspired Watercolors

After looking at colorful examples of Mexican art, students created playful watercolor paintings that reflect the bright colors of this country.

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