For young children, a found acorn, stone, or lichen-covered branch can be a touchstone of an experience in nature. Children, however, should also be taught to "leave no trace." As the National Park Service advocates, visitors to natural areas should "Preserve the sense of discovery for others by leaving all natural and cultural…

It's easy to see the connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) in daily life, but they may not be so obvious in the classroom. This month's lessons allow students to explore the components of STEAM through a favorite art supply, the crayon, and a beloved American tradition, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day…

This article describes a lesson, designed for second graders, that begins with the teacher showing and talking about a few landscape fundamentals: horizon line, depth, and the mood or feeling that a work of art inspires. A class discussion ensues about how an artist's images can make one feel, how they can convey calmness, warmth, anxiety, or a…

There are many interpretations for the symbols that are seen in rock art, but no decoding key has ever been discovered. This article describes one classroom's experiences with a lesson on rock art--making their rock art and developing their own personal symbols. This lesson allowed for creativity, while giving an opportunity for integration…

How second graders made three-dimensional forms using construction paper scraps is described. (RM)

Describes a lesson plan used to introduce K-3 students to a Canadian Inuit artist, to the personal and cultural context of the artwork, and to a simple printmaking technique. Includes background information on the artist, instructional strategies, and a print of the artist's "Young Owl Takes a Ride." (GEA)

The elementary art program level 1 (grades 1 and 2), level 2 (grades 3 and 4), and level 3 (grades 5 and 6) is a unified, sequential course which focuses on 4 major concepts of visual learning. The concepts are: reflection--the response to visual forms in nature, designed objects and artworks; depiction--the development of imagery based on…

Presents a lesson that introduces students in grades K-three to sources of design inspiration in contemporary urban settings. Using Don Eddy's painting of a jewelry store window display, asks students to describe and analyze the interplay of shape, pattern, and color. Suggests studio activities, including an activity in which students build a…

Presented are environmental education lessons adapted for use in the second-grade classes of Pinellas County, Florida. Many examples are drawn from local situations. Six conceptual schemes provide the guide's organizational framework: interrelationships, heredity and environment, change, effects of population growth, finite resources, and…

This thematic unit involves 1st and 2nd grade students in exploration of their own unique and special qualities. The interdisciplinary unit connects knowledge related to art, language arts, applied mathematics, social studies, and science. Lesson activities focus on topics of family, friends, health, and emotions. The unit encourages students to…

This thematic unit involves 2nd and 3rd grade students in an in-depth study of wild animals and their habitats. The interdisciplinary unit connects knowledge related to art, language arts, applied mathematics, social studies, and science. Students think about different types of animals from around the world and consider how they are alike and…

This guide is intended to inform school districts about the Learning through Communication Program. The goals of the program are (1) to prevent summer loss of reading skills for Chapter 1 and learning disabled students in grades one and two; (2) to involve parents in the learning process of their child; and (3) to increase the child's ability and…

This primary social studies unit, designed to teach an awareness of the Americas, is appropriate for teaching kindergarten through third grade students about Ecuador. The activities could easily be adapted to fit Mexico and many other countries in Central and South America. Eleven basic concepts are developed in this unit. The concepts are: (1)…

The documents aggregated here comprise the second grade unit of a career education curriculum for migrant children. The unit for grade 2 foucses on the fields of recreation and transportation. Travel agent, tour guide, camp counselor, coach, usher, school bus driver, airplane pilot, trucker, mover, railroad engineer, and astronaut are the 11 jobs…

Focusing on the creative process, this guide enables teachers to encourage elementary students to learn more about art through active participation. A series of activities for kindergarten to sixth grade emphasize art ideas and concepts that are important in an artist's work. Each activity includes concepts, objectives, elements of art, principles…