Browse lesson plans

Butterfly cycle

Students will understand the life cycle of the butterfly and create various art activities that would model metamorphosis.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Becky Woolard.

Butterfly metamorphosis

This is an integrated lesson which is introduced using the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Butterfly metamorphosis is explored through art, math, and writing.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Laura Byers.

Haiku and photography: A natural connection

This lesson will allow students to combine photographing nature with creating a Haiku poem to express what they see in the photograph.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Steven Sather.

How do pumpkins grow?: Book project

This is an integrated science and language arts lesson plan. Students will create individual books that illustrate how pumpkins grow.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Marty Britt.

Issues, we've all got them: Language arts/visual arts integration

Students will learn how to deal positively with social issues important in their lives through personal investigation of social issues addressed in literature and art.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and English Language Development)

By Runell Carpenter.

Looking back - An Art/English interdisciplinary unit

This is an interdisciplinary unit that incorporates research of historical events of the past century. Students learn to understand the relationship among society, art, and literature, and then draw on that knowledge when they interview an individual to develop a biographical narrative, a collage, and an oral presentation.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Julie Osmon.

Marc Brown author study: Arthur's Nose

Using the book Arthur's Nose by Marc Brown students will respond to the story through art, music, and in written form.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Kathy Palmore.

Mixing colors with Little Blue and Little Yellow

This is an integrated lesson based on a French book entitled Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. Within the lesson, students will experiment with various colors to create new colors and eventually write their own version of this story.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Lisa Tartaglia.

Motor car and galimoto: An intercultural lesson in pragmatism, creativity, and perseverance

In this lesson for grade three, students read the book Galimoto, about a young boy in Malawi, Africa, and his quest to gather wire in order to make a toy car. Students discuss the literary elements of the book, study the language used, and complete their own quests to gather wire and create their own galimotos.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Edie McDowell.

Nature journaling: A new way to enjoy nature

Nature journaling is a way to record and re-create an image experienced in nature. By combining drawing and writing, the student uses their senses to record what they feel, see, hear and touch at a particular point in time.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Steven Sather.

Observing connections: Art, poetry and the environment (Lesson 1)

Students will explore the poem of Pat Lowery Collins, “I Am An Artist” and create their own poem from what they see and experience. They will then illustrate their poems with a visual design. This is the first lesson in a series of three in which students are creating art based on their observations: Observing Connections —Art, Poetry, and the Environment (Lesson 1); Observing Connections—Changing Landscapes (Lesson 2); Observing Connections—North Carolina Pottery and Face Jugs (Lesson 3)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Lisa Mitchell.

Picturing Vietnam

This lesson plan is intended to introduce students to Vietnam’s geography, climate, culture, history, natural history, arts, economics, and government. Students will view a collection of documentary photographs and use these for making logical observations, drawing conclusions, and as a basis for creative writing.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)

By Edie McDowell.

Pilgrimage: Mission

The students view symbols and traditions of world religions in artwork as a source for discussion of the effect of “mission” in world history. This discussion also parallels texts usually taught in English II.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Betty Eidenier.

A renaissance of jazz and poetry

The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of a creative plethora in all fields of art for African Americans. The poetry and jazz composed during or inspired by this era naturally complemented each other. Furthermore, many of the themes from the musical and literary worlds are universal and provide a great lesson on how two different works can have a parallel theme.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts and Music Education)

By Janet Fore.

Threads through South America: Weaving in Ecuador

This lesson for grade six takes a look at the weaving and textiles created in the Andes of Ecuador in and near the town of Otavalo. In addition to learning about Ecuadorian weaving, students may also create their own woven artifact.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Understanding the complexities of setting

In order to address a variety of learning styles with emphasis upon the tactile learner, students will participate in a class project to construct a wall-sized, three dimensional mural of the setting of the novel, Where the Lilies Bloom. This project cannot be too large (an outside corridor wall is suggested.) The massive size of the mural makes the project distinctly different from similar art projects attempted in the past, it allows students enough space for all of the details desired in the end result of the mural, and it affords enough space for all students in the class to display their work.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

By Pam Altom.

What do you see? (visit)

This lesson outlines activities for students to complete while visiting the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, NC. Students will observe and reflect upon a variety of artwork. In doing so, they will develop observation and communication skills, and learn to understand and appreciate others' interpretations and opinions of works of art. This lesson applies skills learned in the previous lesson, "What Do You See" (Pre-Visit).

This lesson may be adapted for use in a school/classroom by using museums and artwork found online (see Web sites listed below). A Powerpoint presentation which displays some artwork from the Ackland Art Museum is attached to this plan, as well.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Visual Arts Education)

By Reagan West.

Resources on the web

Adjective monster

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students explore the connections between visual art and language arts, and how both are used to creatively tell stories and express emotions. Students read the book Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. They are... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Mathematics)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

American Memory Project Learning Page

Use the American Memory web site to teach about United States history and culture with these tips and tricks, frameworks, activities, and lessons that provide context for their use. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Library of Congress

An American scene painter

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students learn about American artist Charles Burchfield and his style of painting. Following Burchfield's example, students capture information and sketches in a personal journal, then use these ideas to create an original watercolor. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 Visual Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge