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)

The first art lesson helps middle-school students to understand characteristics, methods, and the historical significance of Cubist paintings as shown in Picasso's "Still Life with Compote and Glass." In the second lesson high school students learn about Cezanne's work and his relationship to the Impressionists and 20th century artists.…

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:…

Describes an art unit that integrated art history and studio projects to teach surrealism to 14- to 19-year-olds. The unit was designed to apply a research study which found that students learned more art history and produced better art using an integrated approach. Class experiences confirmed research results. (AM)

Provides background information on the Impressionism movement. Discusses the life of U.S. artist, Frederick Childe Hassam, and describes the content and techniques used for his painting, "Lower Manhattan." Includes suggestions for class activities and a reproduction of his artwork. (CMK)

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…

Describes origins of the constructed relief and shows some examples of contemporary artists' work. Suggests using this history to motivate students to construct their own reliefs. Outlines a four-step lesson: preliminary drawing, finished drawing, mock-up relief, and finished construction using durable materials, such as wood, acrylic sheet, or…

This course outline, intended for ninth and/or tenth grade students, is designed to: (1) help students develop evaluative criteria for various art forms; (2) become aware of the interrelationships of the arts; and (3) realize that all art forms are part of the individual's attempt to reflect upon and interpret the world in which they live. In the…

Proposes redirecting art education courses from narrow, studio-dominated programs to a general education emphasis, incorporating a studio/production component, a knowledge/appreciation component, and a critical/evaluation component, which are interdependent and derived from aspects of art program development commonly known as the productive, the…

This teacher's resource packet gives a brief history of the Japanese Warrior from the Old Tombs Period, 3rd-6th centuries A.D., to the end of the Edo Period in the 19th century, and explains Bushido, the ethical warrior code. Warrior artifacts, armor, helmets, and swords are discussed. Literature, exemplified by the 12th century historical…

These student materials and teacher lesson plans focus on presenting the fundamental knowledge necessary for mastering basic drawing skills. The devises that create the illusion of reality are introduced as concepts critical to the development of accurate, high-fidelity drawing. These structured materials encourage students to learn to draw…

Murals created by Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros embody a time of change in Mexico. The murals they created were intended to educate an illiterate population. Today these murals embody national pride. The goal of this curriculum project is rooted in learning about the history, culture, and art of Mexico. The project…

Recommends using an activity-based approach to art history similar to that of the "new social studies" movement of the 1960s. Provides suggestions for activities related to art criticism, style, and inductive learning. Concludes that student activities can help integrate art history and studio art in art education programs. (CFR)

Describes how students selected a famous artist for every letter of the alphabet. Using Gothic style letters, each student drew or painted in the style of their artists within the outlines of their letter. (KM)