A primary goal of substantive art education is to communicate visually--to decipher art for meaning and to construct meaning through images and objects. Strategies available to engage students are the interdisciplinary activities found in performance, visual and written forms of creative expression, and related disciplines such as ethnography,…

The paper, one in a series of instructional units for gifted students, concentrates on contempory art with an emphasis on developing abstract thinking and creative problem solving at a higher cognitive level. An introductory section reviews basic program concepts and briefly describes the use of such procedures as open-ended discussion, guest…

Three approaches that teachers can use to incorporate related ideas into art history courses are discussed. They are parallelism, or the analogous developments in other spheres of study; the elucidation of the credo of a famous personage whose image has been perpetuated through art; and etymology. (RM)

A commentary on the life and work of Henri Matisse for use with secondary art students is provided. Exercises to use with the commentary are provided, and art activities are suggested. Annotated references are also included. (RM)

This packet accompanies a slide series that introduces students to the art of Thailand. The packet includes maps, a chronology of Southeast Asian history, an essay introduction to the influences on Thai art, a 15-item bibliography for further research, illustrations of Thai ceramics, the slide list, slide descriptions, and slide script. (EH)

One in a series of instructional units designed for gifted students, the booklet focuses on the arts in Greece, Rome, and the Medieval period. Narrative information on Greek pottery, sculpture, architecture, music, and dance is followed by lists of suggested activities for students and reference lists of texts and media. A similar unit on the…

Norman Rockwell's Triple Self-Portrait provided the perfect starting point for taking self-conscious teenagers on a personal journey into the intimidating world of introspective art. Asking students to find the three self-portraits in the Rockwell work was an easy way to draw them into painting. From the visual clues and objects meaningfully…

This document consists of two teaching manuals designed to accompany a commercially-available "multicultural, interdisciplinary video program," consisting of four still videotape programs (72 minutes, 226 frames), one teaching poster, and these two manuals. "Teacher's Manual: Ancient Greek Architecture" covers: "Ancient…

Orra White Hitchcock (1796-1863) was an artist and a teacher who integrated major changes for young ladies in her school's art program. She grew up in Massachusetts and from a very young age she exhibited an interest in the visual arts and natural sciences. After completing her education, she choose to become a teacher of exact sciences and fine…

This teaching guide discusses Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas (1834-1917), his paintings, and his sculpture. The guide focuses on his paintings of daily activities at the horse racetrack in Paris (France). The unit has a concise biography of Degas. It is divided into two parts: Part 1: "Paintings and Drawings" (Kimberly Jones); and Part 2:…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to the clay pottery works of Japan. The packet includes an essay introduction to the early influences on Japanese pottery, maps of the region, a time line of the chronology of Japan from 2000 B.C. to the present, illustrations of types of kilns, a 18-item bibliography for…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to Japanese painting from the 12th century to the late 19th century. The packet includes an essay introduction to establish a historical framework, maps of the region, a time line of the chronology of Japan from 2000 B.C. to the present, illustrations of various art forms, a…

Art reflects the ideas, experiences, spirit, and hopes of those who create it. It is through art works that students can see a visual record of how men and women lived and thought throughout history and across cultures. This instructional resource includes 52 transparencies, accompanying teaching strategies, and student worksheets which are…

The Edo period in Japan (1615-1868) saw the flowering of many forms of cultural expression, colorful and boisterous, muted and restrained, that today is thought of as typically Japanese. These include kabuki and no drama, the tea ceremony, martial arts, woodblock prints, and porcelain. This culturally diverse and vibrant period gets its name from…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to the changes in the arts of India over time. The packet includes an essay introduction to the early influences on Indian life, maps of the region with classroom activities, a time line of the chronology of India from 2300 B.C. to the present, stories and illustrations of the…