How can you tell a Rembrandt from a Vermeer? They both are from the same location and same time period, but they each have their own way of painting, and they are each categorized in art history as Northern Baroque, Rembrandt’s thick application of paint and raw emotion is easily distinguishable from Vermeer’s crisp genre…
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What Makes Art Good? A Lesson and Explanation of Art Theories
Inside: An explanation of four popular art theories and how each of them defines what makes a work of art good. What makes an artwork good? When it adheres to design principles? If it looks true to life? Should it turn our worldview upside down? Must it fill us with emotions? The issue of…
I am… Dorothea Lange: Exploring Empathy Art Lesson
Inside: Explore empathy art with this photography analysis activity. Students study the photography of Dorothea Lange, consider the thoughts and feelings, and write an empathy art poem from the perspective of the people in the photographs. My 8th-grade boys don’t open doors for me. The girls do. The 6th, 7th, and 9th-grade boys do, but…
5 Tips for Meaningful Classroom Art Discussion
Inside: Five tips for how to lead a classroom art discussion that will get your students thinking about and enjoying works of art. Looking at art is an inspirational and emotional experience. Talking about art is a launching pad for creativity, collaboration, and cognition. A meaningful classroom art discussion helps students develop empathy, flex thinking…
6 Juicy Artworks for the First Day of School
Inside: Six works of art with discussion questions and creative activities that make perfect first day of school art activities for art teachers of any grade. August is coming… I know. Summer just started! You’ve barely had a chance to sunbathe or swim, and yet it’s almost time to attend in-service meetings, set up your…
Teaching Art History Without Lecture: Classical Sculpture Analysis Lesson
Inside: In this Ancient Roman & Ancient Greek sculpture lesson, students learn about art history through an interactive activity. Downloadable worksheet & PowerPoint! As a long-time teacher, I have a handful of lessons that I know always work. I can pick up these lessons and give them anytime and know that they will lead to…
