*Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life
Using tissue paper, glue, and black and white tempera paint, students will make mixed media art inspired by Gustav Klimt’s “Tree of Life”
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Art History Lessons for Kids
Students will look at the work of a particular artist (eg: Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Georgia O’Keeffe, David Milne, Leonardo da Vinci, Marc Chagall, Georges Seurat, Emily Carr, Henri Matisse), examining their style and the materials they used. Each student will then have the opportunity to create his or her own work in the style of the selected artist.
*Op Art Shaded Shapes
Students learn about “Op Art” and then create a picture (optical illusions) that can play tricks with the eyes.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Artist’s Birthdays
Do you share a special day with an artist of the past (or present)? Have a peek to find out.
Artists Who Experimented with Colour
The following Art History lesson plans will introduce you and your students to five fantastic artists who spent a good amount of time experimenting with colour.
Building a Klimt
Students will study the art of Gustav Klimt. They will then create a work of art in the style of Klimt, following this step-by-step lesson.
Ages: 5-8 yrs, 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Primary, Junior, Middle School
Cave Art on Ceramic Stones
Students will create cave art in the style of the Lascaux Caves in France.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Chuck Close Portrait Drawing
Using artist Chuck Close as inspiration, art teacher Alison Lorion shows us how to draw portraits using the grid system.
Ages: 11-14 yrs
Grades: Grades 6-8
Classic Still Life Drawing
Students will learn the classic method of drawing, on toned paper with charcoal or black pencil, heightened with white.
Ages: 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs, 14 yrs+
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Levels: Junior, Middle School, High School
Cow Doodles
This lesson challenges students to decorate cow cutouts in the style of great artists. Inspired by Cow Parade.
Crayon Resist Landscapes
Kids will create a landscape on drawing paper, using crayons and tempera paint.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Daydreaming with Marc Chagall
Students will create works of art inspired by artist Marc Chagall’s painting I and the Village.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Draw Elephants – Step by Step
Students will draw a step by step contour drawing of elephants and then add colour and details. They will also learn about Surrealist artist Salvador Dali.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Dripping Paint Action Painting
Students will make a dripping paint “action” painting in the style of Jackson Pollock.
Ages: 2-5 yrs, 5-8 yrs, 8-11 yrs
Grades: Preschool, K-2, Grades 3-5
Edvard Munch: Things That Make Us Want to Scream
After looking at Edvard Munch’s famous painting, The Scream, students will create their own artwork featuring images of things that make them want to scream.
Ages: 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs, 14 yrs+
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Levels: Junior, Middle School, High School
Egyptian Book of the Dead
Students will use scroll shaped pieces of paper and colored pencils to create their own Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Emily Carr’s Trees
Students will learn how to paint trees in the style of Canadian artist Emily Carr.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Expressionist Portraits
Students will learn about Expressionism as they create portraits in the style of artists like Emile Nolde, Edvard Munch and Vincent van Gogh.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Faith Ringgold’s Story Quilts
Children will learn about artist Faith Ringgold as they create paper quilts inspired by her art.
Ages: 5-8 yrs
Grades: K-2
Levels: Primary
Four Orders of Architecture
Students will learn the importance of Ancient Greek architecture and discover how society has been inspired by Ancient Greek art, law, literature and architecture.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Fruit and Vegetable Portraits (Giuseppe Arcimboldo)
Students will create fruit and vegetable portraits inspired by the work of artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Greek Pottery Designs
Students will be introduced to the designs of Ancient Greek Pottery as they explore the use of geometric and organic shape in making ordered patterns.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Greek Story Vases
Students will learn about Ancient Greek Pottery designs as they make their own mini vases using styrofoam cups and paint.
Ages: 8-11 yrs
Grades: Grades 3-5
Levels: Junior
Henri Matisse Shamrock Shapes
Students will learn about positive and negative shapes as they create shamrock paper shapes in the style of artist Henri Matisse.
Ages: 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs, 14 yrs+
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Levels: Junior, Middle School, High School
Henri Rousseau’s Fantasy Jungle
Children will learn about artist Henri Rousseau. They will then create oil pastel versions of Rousseau’s jungle-style paintings.
Ages: 8-11 yrs
Grades: Grades 3-5
Levels: Junior
Invention Convention
Students will discover Leonardo da Vinci’s inventive ideas as they invent a new machine for the 21st century.
Ages: 8-11 yrs
Grades: Grades 3-5
Levels: Junior
Kandinsky Circle Studies
Students will study the art and life of Kandinsky. They will also make an oil pastel picture of circles while listening to music.
Ages: 5-8 yrs, 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Primary, Junior, Middle School
