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Links for Standards Based K-12 Arts Lesson Plans
There has been an explosion of online lesson plans in the arts. Some
are excellent. Many have little to do with teaching to the standards,
and are, instead, craft, skit and sing-along activities.
Dance has a limited number of substantive materials online; there a more
in theatre. Music has a number of sites. Visual arts has the greatest
number of good sites available. Here are some of the best we could find.
Also check out Great Kids
Sites to find a number of fun, kid ready, interactive sites listed.
We’ve divided our links into the following categories:
All the arts: Dance, Music, Theater
and Visual Arts
ARTSEDGE
K-12. In Curriculum, Lessons & Activities you'll find Standards based,
teacher tested lessons for design arts, performing arts, and visual arts
as well as lessons with the arts integrated into other subjects such as
ESL, foreign languages, mathematics, physical education, science, and
social studies. You can search by grade and by lesson title. Each lesson
includes length, grade, related subject areas, overview, equipment, standards,
instructional plan and strategies, assessment, resources, and author.
There are hundreds of lessons. Good stuff!
Curriculum Web Links includes carefully selected and annotated links
in each of the areas found in Curriculum. The links are organized by Lesson,
Primary sources, Organization, Indexes. It is possible to sort the site
by curriculum subject area. Kept current.
A to Z Teacher
Stuff Network
K-12. Sorted by grade, there are 96 arts and crafts lessons, 30 for drama,
11 movement and dance, 14 music lessons. You need to work to find the
good stuff mixed in with simple minded activities – but it is there.
Arts Careers
3-8. Interactive materials that help students explore a number of careers
in dance, music, drama/theatre and visual arts. Multiple links for high
school students.
California State University, Chico: Arts
Lessons
K-12. Search for: Dance Lessons, Drama/Theatre Lessons, Music Lessons,
Visual Art Lessons or Arts Lesson Database. Lessons based on the California
standards, written by Chico students. Some very interesting materials.
Delaware
Department of Education
Vignettes of classroom activities for all the arts at grades K-3, 4-5,
6-8, 9-12 and 9-12 Advanced. Based on their 1997 standards, but still
some very interesting ideas.
Great
Performance: PBS
4-12. Excellent dance, music and theatre arts appreciation lesson plans
based on Public Broadcasting’s Great Performances. Check out the
TV Schedules to see if the performance (used as motivation for the lesson)
can be purchased on CD or tape. What is listed now (September 2003) is
the 2002-2003 season. We assume that the 2003-04 season will be listed
shortly.
Lesson Plan
Central
K-12. Most of the lessons have good ideas. Some, but not all, of the lessons
are based on the standards. There is a wealth of subject areas here and
even though many categories seem to overlap, there seem to be different
lessons in each category:
- Architecture
- Computer Art
- Dance
- Design Arts
- Drama (even much of this is quite good, but of course some are simple
minded games with little purpose
- Drawing
- Elementary
- High School
- History
- Middle School
- Music
- Photography
- Visual
- Webquest (The lessons that have current links do send the students
on interesting “quests.” We found several lessons with many
dead links! Check them out before you decide to use the lesson.)
AskEric Lesson
Plans
This federally funded site has teacher created and tested lessons for:
architecture, art history, computers in art, music process skills, visual
arts. Each lesson includes author, date, grade level, subjects, description,
goals, objectives, materials, procedure, assessment.
Lesson Plans Page
Click on Art Lessons and Music Lessons to find teacher-tested lesson plans
that generally include technology. Each lesson includes: title, subject,
grade level, objectives, supplies, time needed, introduction, Lesson Plans,
closure. Search by grade level: Pre K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, Jr/High School
McRel: Lesson
Plans
K-12. The Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning site has links
to 19 sites with dance, music, theater and visual arts lessons or further
links to sites with actual units. The lessons are carefully selected from
some major and some less accessible sites. Well worth the visit.
The
New York Times Daily Lesson Plan
6-12. Very thoughtful lessons based on Times articles. The articles are
included with the lesson. There are more lessons for the visual arts,
but the dance, music and theatre are there too. There are 50+ lessons
and growing.
Utah
Education Network
K-12. The lesson plans in the four art forms are very well done! Search
by subject and grade.
Yale-New Haven
Teachers Institute
K-12. Totally awesome! The work of K-12 New Haven teachers who take time
at the Yale summer institute to carefully research and write lesson plans
for the coming years. There are hundreds of lessons searchable alphabetically
by subject, such as acting, architecture, art, dance, drama, music, music
history, etc.
Dance Only
Lesson Plans Page.com
PreK-5. One section devoted to Dance & Movement.
Multiple
Intelligence Lessons and Activities
“. . .incorporates the use of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence
Theory with the integration of instructional technology. . .stations [are]
set up to help the students discover the topic. . . [and are] designed
with constructivist learning strategies for cooperative groups. Each lesson
incorporates computers/technology to enhance learning. One unit for dance.
- Art Connection: anatomy, literature, health and dance (9th)
PE Central
K-12. There were two dance lessons here, both with standards and assessment.
Music Only
AskEric Lesson
Plans
K-12. This federally funded site has teacher created and tested lessons.
Each lesson includes author, date, grade level, subjects, description,
goals, objectives, materials, procedure, assessment.
Baltimore Curriculum
Project Lesson Plans
K-5. Based on the “Core Knowledge Sequence,” the music and
visual arts lessons are accessible by grade and month that they are presented
in these schools. Skipping the information applicable to these schools,
the “core” lessons are well thought out with a logical sequence.
Continental
Harmony Web
3-8. From PBS. Very well thought out. Has six lessons:
- Music & mood – can what we hear change what we see?
- World beat – explore the common function of music around the
world
- Sonic sketching – painting pictures with found sounds
- Elements of music – exploring the composer’s tools
- Musical imagery – exploring the visual power of music
- Music, slavery & the civil war – exploring the spiritual
Core
Knowledge Lesson Plans
K-8. The lessons are from individual teachers basing their work on the
Core Knowledge sequence. Interesting material. Core Knowledge is a private
foundation.
Lesson Plan
Search
K-12. Some good (some much less than good) music lessons K-12.
Lesson Plans Page.com
PreK-12. Good music materials from the University of Missouri. Categories
include:
- Composition
- Dance & Movement (grades PreK-5)
- Instruments
- Music Components – Dynamics & Patterns; Mood, Expression
& Emotion; Rhythm & Melody; Speed & Tempo; Symbol &
Scale
- Music History/Literature/Musicians
- Musical Styles/Types
- Singing
- Multiple Topics
- Connections – Language, Math, Physical Education/Health, Science,
Social Studies
Multiple
Intelligence Lessons and Activities
“. . .incorporates the use of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence
Theory with the integration of instructional technology. . .stations [are]
set up to help the students discover the topic. . . [and are] designed
with constructivist learning strategies for cooperative groups. Each lesson
incorporates computers/technology to enhance learning.
- Art and Music of Our Time (7th & 8th)
- Art Walk About: Develop a sense of creativity & perspective (7th-10th
- Culture: Life in the 1920s & 1930s (secondary)
- Renaissance: Important Artists & Composers (6th-9th)
- Renaissance: art, literature, architecture, expansion (senior high)
Rock + Roll for
Teachers
9-12. A wonderful set of 78 lessons for high school students from the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The lessons connect the songs to the social
milieu that generated them. Because of copyright issues, songs and lyrics
are not provided, but they should easily be available in music stores.
The writers caution, “. . .that some material contained in these
lessons my be considered controversial or inappropriate by some students,
educators, administrators and parents; it is the responsibility of individual
educators to determine whether any particular lesson conforms to the accepted
standards of his or her particular school or community. “
Stomp: Percussion
for Kids
K-12. Classroom lessons that use familiar objects to explore: vibration,
volume, amplification, pitch, and frequency. Exciting ideas from a performance
group in England. Includes three sections:
- Younger students – 9 lessons
- Rainforest – activities
- Older students – simple sound, music: controlled sound, noise
vs. sound, and all about rhythm.
TeachersFirst.com
1-12. At least 100 lessons. Good materials; some interactive.
Single Lessons or Units
Comparing
Composers: Beethoven and Mozart
K-12. From Education World. Links to text and worksheet for high school
and for younger kids.
A
Different Drum
3-8. From Education World. Students invent musical instruments and learn
about the properties of sound. Some of the links are inoperable, but there
is enough here to be interesting.
Lesson
Plans
6. An excellent project that stresses the integration of music composition,
still photography, poetry, and art as an alternative means of communication.
The students create a music/slide show based on the students’ original
compositions.
Music
Inventions
4-6. A prize winning, music and science lesson that introduces the
children to vibration, sound waves, resonance, frequency, amplitude, and
volume through simple experiments using rulers and rubber bands.
Theater Only
Drama
in Education
7-13. Tested lessons for students. From England.
EdHelper.com: Drama Lessons!
6-12. Some fifty lessons from classroom teachers. Mostly high school,
mostly acting. Some better than others, if teaching to the standards is
a criterion.
Lesson Plans
K-12. A wonderful site, from Arizona teachers, with very well designed
lessons on a variety of topics ranging from: Beginning Drama, Character
Analysis, Greek Tragedy to the Elements and Principles of Design, and
Emotional Intelligence.
Teaching Shakespeare
K-12. The Folger Shakespeare Library site includes Lesson Plans for elementary,
middle school and high school students. Well researched and field tested
materials. Updated 2002.
The
World of Puppets
K-2. A ten day unit that introduces the children to puppets from Japan,
Vietnam, Java and Bali. Activities are included to make the work interesting
and memorable for the students. Good links. As so often happens, the strength
is on learning about the type of puppet. The students are expected to
create puppet shows with no teacher advice about performance. Check out
The Theatre Book ((link to our source – puppetry)) to get some hints
about helping the children learn about story creation and performance.
www.childdrama.com
K-12. Homepage of Matt Buchanan, Playwright and Drama Teacher. His standards
based lesson plans have been forged in his classroom. He has also included
his curriculum. The material looks good.
Visual Arts Only
Arizona Arts Education Assocation
K-12. The Arizona Arts Education Association site. It has a number of
lessons by Arizona teachers in art history, art elements and principles,
and cultural art. Links send you to Changing Lesson Plans at: Crayola,
Art Ed Net Lesson Page, The Art Teachers Connection, Art Teacher on Net,
Visual Mania. Recently redesigned and researched.
ArtsEdNet
1-12. From the Getty, this remains an outstanding source for standards
based lessons and units. The lessons are sorted by grade plus an alphabetical
listing of titles.
AskEric Lesson
Plans
K-12. This federally funded site has teacher created and tested lessons
for: architecture, art history, computers in art, process skills, visual
arts. Each lesson includes author, date, grade level, subjects, description,
goals, objectives, materials, procedure, assessment.
Baltimore Curriculum
Project Lesson Plans
K-5. Based on the “Core Knowledge Sequence,” the lessons are
accessible by grade and month that they are presented in these schools.
Skipping the information applicable to these schools, the “core”
lessons are well thought out and there is a logical sequence from Kindergarten
through fifth grade.
Core
Knowledge Lesson Plans
K-8. The lessons are from individual teachers basing their work on this
sequence. Interesting material. Core Knowledge is a private foundation.
Crayola
Lesson Plans
PreK-12 and Special Needs. A wealth of good lessons from teachers across
the country. Searchable by:
- Media (a huge list)
- Curriculum – visual arts, language arts, math, science, social
science,
- Grade
- Timeframe
- Theme (also a very long list)
The Cyber
Sketchbook and Digital Drawing-board
7-12. An exciting site. The emphasis is on computer generated graphics
and animation, but the author continues to focus on the traditional study
for drawing, painting and sculpture. Lessons in four categories:
- Elements of Design
- Principles of Design
- Art History and Appreciation
- Teaching Art with Technology
Educate
the Children: Teacher Zone
K-3. From Britain. Lessons, worksheets, interactive resources and assessment
based on department of education standards. Very interesting materials!
When we visited, three of the six units were up:
- Investigating Pattern
- Viewpoints
- Objects and Meaning, and Talking Textiles
Favorite
Lessons
PreK-12. teacher tested lessons based on the standards. Copyright held
by Ken Rohrer who has had good sites online for a very long time. (The
drama material is not well done.)
Huntsville
City Schools: Elementary Art
k-5. Nicely done lessons that include:
- American Art
- Animals in Art
- Architecture
- Art and Literature
- Art History
- Elements & Principles
- Multicultural Art
- People in Art
- A Potpourri of Art
KinderArt
K-12. Has many lessons, some better than others. Includes:
- Art history
- Drawing
- Painting/printmaking
- Sculpture
- Cross curricular art
- Multicultural art
(We do not recommend the drama materials.)
Kodak
Lesson Plans
K-12. Fifteen teacher-tested units using photography. Well thought out.
Standards, as such, are not listed, but the basics of the discipline are
being taught.
Multiple
Intelligence Lessons and Activities
“. . .incorporates the use of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence
Theory with the integration of instructional technology. . .stations [are]
set up to help the students discover the topic. . . [and are] designed
with constructivist learning strategies for cooperative groups. Each lesson
incorporates computers/technology to enhance learning.
- Art and Music of Our Time (7th & 8th)
- Art WalkAbout: Develop a sense of creativity & perspective (7th-10th
- Culture: Life in the 1920s & 1930s (secondary)
- Renaissance: Important Artists & Composers (6th-9th)
- Renaissance: art, literature, architecture, expansion (senior high)
A Series of Basic
Art Lessons ((link to
7-12. Tested lessons introducing kids to drawing, color, collage, mixing
paint, art history. No standards statements here, but they could easily
be stated. The material seems to solidly teach art knowledge and skills.
Teach
Art
K-12. Teacher tested lessons from the Sanford Company. Not the easiest
to read, but the ideas are interesting.
TeachersFirst.com
K-12 lessons from the Network for Educational TV. The art lessons are
particularly wonderful.
Virtual Curriculum:
Elementary Art Education
K-5. A site from an individual last updated in 1999 so some of the links
are not operable, but there are good lessons that include the concept,
objectives, vocabulary, materials, procedures, evaluations and links to
related sites.
- Element
- Principles
- The Americas
- Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
- Prehistory
Single Lessons or Units
Art
for Sale
5. A wonderful Webquest lesson that starts, “Your art brokerage
firm has been contacted by a rich entrepreneur. . .She has decided to
add three pieces from [the Pacific Northwest to her vast European art
collection]. It is your job to research the art of the Tlingit, Haida,
Tsimshian, Kweakiutl, and other tribes of the Northwest Coast and to select
three pieces from that culture to add to her collection.” And the
search is on. Good stuff!
Color
3-5. An online children’s book that combines artistic and scientific
observation and technical skills to help students explore artists and
schools of art, sharpen observation of colors, investigate the sciences
of light and color. Fun!
Digital
Classroom: Teaching With documents Lesson Plan: powers or Persuasion
– Poster Art of World War II 9-12. From the U.S. National Archives
& Records Administration. A very interesting lesson. Links to posters
and a Poster Analysis Worksheet included.
Explorations in Art:
Expressionism/Painting
7-12. Four units introducing: Art as Inquiry, Art in Context, and Creating
Art. The text and images are ready for student use. Assignments and self-
assessment are included. Written by Dr. Mary Stockrocki from ASU, based
on the National Standards.
Eyes on Art
7-12. A wonderful site! Student ready, interactive series of four lesson/units
to introduce art appreciation. The authors have worked wonders to get
permission to use images from major artists so that students can analyze
the art elements and principles. Based on the 2001 California Visual Arts
Standards, the units challenge the students to use higher level thinking
and affective response to the work.
Geometry Through Art
K-6. A GREAT site with carefully explained activities that introduce the
children to geometric concepts and art elements and principles. Printable
grids, graphs and patterns supplied.
Lesson
Plans
6. An excellent project that stresses the integration of music composition,
still photography, poetry, and art as an alternative means of communication.
The students create a music/slide show based on the students’ original
compositions.
Line, Shape, Form and Pattern
7-12. Six lessons, written by Jacky Andes an Arizona teacher, for students
to explore:
- Line
- A Geometric Exercise
- Shape and Form
- Light and Shadow
- Line and Pattern
- Tessellations
Navajo Pottery
7-12. A unit written by Dr. Faith Clover, U of Minnesota, and Jim Alan
from Navajo country. Each lesson has text for the students and is accompanied
by worksheets and assignments and self assessment rubrics. Based on the
Arizona Standards.
- Introduction
- Clay
- Philosophy
- Techniques
- Navajo Firing
Political Cartooning
7-12. A unit, based on Arizona Standards, ready for student use. Ben Franklin
takes the kids through the lessons. Each lesson includes a quiz, an assignment
and self-assessment rubric. Written by Larry Woodson, award-winning junior
high teacher, and Dr. Mary Stokrockie from ASU. The three sections are:
- Cartoons in Context, including a caricature exercise
- Criticizing Cartoons
- Creating a Cartoon
Teach Impressionism
1-8. Complete with lessons, images and teacher information. Nine lessons
from the High Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum and the Denver Art
Museum. The artists include:’
- Monet
- Degas
- Caillbotte
- Morisot
- Monet
- Cezanne
- Van Gogh
- Renoir
- Degas
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