Describes a self-portrait assignment inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo. Discusses Frida Kahlo's artwork and use of surrealist and symbolist views. States that each student had to incorporate personal symbolism in the portrait to convey a message about him or herself in a subtle manner. (CMK)

Discusses the Surrealist art movement, focusing on creative variations characteristic of Surrealism. Describes the process for a Surrealist portrait lesson, stemming from Rembrandt's "Saskia as Flora," in which students use the technique of oil pastel over a dark tempera-painted ground. (CMK)

Explains that creating color wheels is an appropriate assignment in the art classroom for students of all ages, including high school students, because it still offers older students a challenge. Discusses how students can create color wheels and lists the materials that are needed. (CMK)

Describes an art activity for use in a unit on agriculture in which third grade students create packing crate labels. Students compare examples of packing crate labels, identifying the name, image, product description, and visual elements such as color and balance. Discusses the process of creating the labels. (CMK)

Provides information on Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Honore Daumier's "Rue Transonian." Describes an art activity in which students in an advanced drawing class reproduce a famous drawing in the same medium as the original, make the composition contemporary, and include themselves in the composition. (CMK)

Presents an activity for fourth- and fifth-grade students in which they create a realistic or imaginative insect of their choice following a brief slide presentation on insects. Explains that the activity combines the use of line, shape, and color and takes two 40-minute class periods. (CMK)

Describes an art project for fourth-grade students where they created their own three-dimensional sculptures or structures using recycled computer disks and CD-ROM's. Explains that the students were assessed on their creativity, sturdiness of their structures, and overall design. States that the use of ordinary materials made the lesson more…

Presents an art lesson for third grade students that was the culminating exercise for an integrated art and science unit on Asian painting and the theory of flight. Explains that students create their own kites with original designs using bamboo brushes. Provides detailed direction for making the kites and lists materials needed. (CMK)

Presents an art activity where students create Inuit-style animals. Discusses the Inuit (Eskimo) artform in which the compositions utilize patterning and textures, such as small lines signifying fur. Explains that this project is well suited to a study of animals or to integrate with a social studies unit about Canada. (CMK)

Describes an activity for eighth-grade students inspired by the mola designs for clothing of the Cuna people of Panama. Directs students to sketch, enlarge, and paint their own mola animal emphasizing craftsmanship, consistency, and color harmony. Explains that the students paint animals where the animal and background were broken up into…

Presents an art activity inspired by a workshop "Surrounded by Silk" given by Susan Skvoe in which the students create silk paintings. Explains that the students first sketch their floral design on paper, trace the design on the silk's surface, and apply liquid dye for color. Provides an easier activity for younger students. (CMK)

Gives an art activity for second-graders where they use two art techniques, tissue gluing and tempera painting, to create brightly colored pictures of landscapes. Expounds that first the students examine a variety of landscapes by different artists, such as Paul Cezanne, and then learn the differences between the foreground and background. (CMK)

Describes a project used in a beginning art class. High school students participated in a study of color mixing in which they created their own subtle variations of color. States that the students gain painting experience by blending many color variations. (CMK)

Describes an art project for high school students that incorporates maskmaking with mixed-media. Explains that students choose subjects for their masks, either a fictional character, a famous figure, or a symbol of social commentary. States that the project develops students' creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. (CMK)

Describes a first-grade lesson that combines art and literature in which students learn how to mix colors. Explains that they listen to the story "Elmer" by David McKee and then create their own patchwork elephants just like Elmer. Discusses how the students made the jungle scene. (CMK)