General Resources

Art of the Western World
This nine-part instructional series looks at art masterpieces of the Western world and their cultural and historical settings.

Art Through the Ages
This self-paced tour through art history is designed for middle school through adult learners. Source: Cool School

The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology
This multigrade teaching unit from the National Gallery of Art focuses on Chinese architecture and culture.

Quest for Immortality - Treasures of Ancient Egypt
A printable (PDF), kid-friendly activity guide about ancient Egypt from the National Gallery of Art.

Grades K-4
Creative Voices of Harlem
In this lesson, students learn about the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Grades 5-8
A Tribute to Miró
Students create a modern artist's painting in the style of Spanish artist Joan Miró

Alexander Calder, Master of Balance
Students will gain a deeper understanding of levers and their functions by viewing the mobiles of Alexander Calder.

Art Show with the Masters!
Through research and understanding of a selected famous artist and examples of their work, students will create an artistic interpretation, exhibit their work, and act in an impersonation of the artist.

Gyotaku: The Japanese Art of Fish Printing
Students learn about the Japanese art of fish printing and make their own fish prints.

Medieval and Renaissance Art: Botanical Symbolism
In this lesson, students explore how botanical illustrations contribute to the telling of story in a 12th, 13th and 14th century religious painting.

Missing Masterpieces
Students will investigate a fictitious crime involving stolen art masterpieces through the use of an interactive WebQuest.

Grades 9-12
Arts of the Gilded Age
Students will explore the varied art forms of the Gilded Age, then develop a creative piece to perform, present, and/or exhibit as a studio project.

Dalí & Desnos: Surrealism in Poetry and Art
Students will learn about the writers and artists of the Surrealism movement. Students will analyze imagery in poetry and visual art of the period, then create a poem incorporating surrealistic techniques.

Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution
Students will explore how major artistic personalities in the Mexican Revolution influenced the Mexican art of the time.

Japanese Woodblock Prints
This lesson explores the history and evolution of Japanese woodblock print. Students will study the Ukyio-e from its early beginnings to its height in the late 1800s, learn the about the techniques and development of this process, view prints from the time period, and create Ukyio-e of their own.

The Art Collector
Students select works of art for an imaginary personal collection and justify the selection of each piece.

The Art of the Wyeths
This unit includes research and studio lessons focusing on the illustrations of N.C. Wyeth, the watercolor drybrush paintings of Andrew Wyeth, and the portraiture of James Wyeth.

The Gilded Age
This unit explores the history, architecture, arts and culture of American high society from the 1890s-1920s, during the Gilded Age.

The New York School: Action and Abstraction
Students will learn about the writers and artists of the Abstract Expressionism movement. Students will analyze imagery, style and technique in the poetry and visual art of the period.

The Wright Way
Through various research and understanding, students will learn about Frank Lloyd Wright—his work and his legacy.

Uncovering the Legacy of Ancient Greece
This lesson is designed to bring students in general touch with major sources from which the knowledge of ancient Greece has been retrieved. Students will recognize that what we know of ancient Greece has come to us mainly through generations of scholarly research and analysis of artifacts recovered in archeological digs.