What is scratchboard art? “The Scratchboard technique is a two-dimensional, subtractive process. It involves the use of abrasive tools to directly remove a surface layer of one value (typically dark) to expose the second layer of a contrasting value (typically white). The values within the artwork are predominantly achieved by varying the amount of surface […]

This is a great tutorial on how to make art on scratchboard. Not too long, not too short. Great use of time elapse to show your students how a scratchboard artwork evolves.              

  Grade Level 9-10,11-12 Duration 15 days- Block Schedule 73 min long class periods Materials 12 x 15-inch paper, Prismacolor ink pens, computers or iPads with access to Photoshop or comparable programs, printer Media Pen and Ink Lesson Objectives Main Objective For the student to: • Create an Ink drawing about animal conservation locally. Secondary […]

Grade Level 5-6, 7-8 Duration 3-4 periods, 45-minute periods Materials Brown bogus paper (kraft paper would be OK too) cut to 9×9 inch squares,, colored pencils, viewfinder, Media Color pencils Lesson Objectives For the student to… practice creating dynamic compositions through cropping For the student to create accurate values through the application of white and […]

This is a four-page (or two-page if printing back to back) handout on drawing cylinders and cylindrical forms. The first two pages can be used independently to supplement form lessons or use all four pages as a substitute plan. Click here to see and download the material.

No art room is complete without visuals of the elements of Art! ! See and download the collection by clicking the desired link below. Elements of Art Visuals, 11×17, for printing Elements of Art Visuals, 11×17, for projection Elements of Art Visuals, 8.5×11, for print  

Grade Level 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 Duration unknown Materials White drawing paper, pencil, Prismacolor color pencils, reference photos of fruit and vegetables Media Color pencils Lesson Objectives for the student to… learn about, explore and understand the ART ELEMENTS: Lines, Shapes, Form, Color, Texture, Space, and Value learn about, explore and understand the PRINCIPLES of DESIGN: […]

Grade Level 11-12 Duration This teacher assigns this as a summer project and students keep track of the time they spend on it which can range from 12-100+ hours. The average student spends 20-40 hours typically. Materials Heavy paper board (11” x 14” or larger): Matte, corrugated, railroad, cardboard. (Not poster or bristol. They are […]

Grade Level 9-10, 11-12 Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Paper, drawing pencils, blending stumps, rulers, colored pencils Media Pencil, Color pencils Lesson Objectives For the student to… learn about how art is used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. to create their own Calavera design. understand how to use a grid to […]

Grade Level 9-10, 11-12 Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Adobe Illustrator Media Digital Lesson Objectives For the student to… understand making using Adobe Illustrator’s pattern maker. understand how to approximate a pattern’s value. to use original and found patterns to collage digitally an illustration of an animal. Introductory Activity This project assumes […]

Grade Level 11-12 Duration Approximately three weeks during remote learning with advanced students. Materials Blue Pen, Paper, 18×24 school grade drawing paper is what this lesson used (student did a pick up for paper) but could be modified as needed. An artist who works in this media and prefers slightly textured paper with a weight […]

Color Download our two part bell ringer that teaches student to think about color’s expressive nature. First slide shows six colors they are asked to come up with a name. Second one reveals what the color is from and some context to the color name. Click here to download Think Bell Ringer: What’s in a […]

Grade Level 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Pencil, eraser, Ultra and Fine tip sharpies or Micron pens (Black, 01, 03, 05). Ideally, permanent markers so it doesn’t smudge or bleed. I purchased heavy 8.5x 10 inch cardstock and cut it to 8 inch squares. White out pen. Media Markers […]

Grade Level 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials Digital camera (phones are fine), simple editing program (https://pixlr.com/) Media Photography/Film/Technology Lesson Objectives For the student to… Recognize the work of Edward Weston Photograph ordinary things, and make it look extraordinary Learn about light, shadow and value as elements Practice composition, zooming […]

Grade Level 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 Duration 2 forty five minute periods (size dependent) Materials Typing paper and one of the following: dark color pencil, crayon, graphite stuck or pencil Media Pencil, Wax crayons, Color pencils Lesson Objectives For the student… To find a variety of type and texture To create a collage of type and […]

Grade Level 9-10, 11-12 Duration 8 class periods, 45 minutes Materials Collage materials, and tools: magazines, colored paper, masking tape, feathers, etc., glue, scissors. Drawing supplies: pencils (be sure to have some soft lead pencils for dark values), rulers, viewfinders, paper Media Drawing, Pencil, Collage Lesson Objectives Students translate color into black and white values, […]

Grade Level 11-12 Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Graded Pencils Media Pencil Lesson Objectives For the student to: Draw a still life of basic forms with accuracy in depicting space and form. Use imagination and understanding of form to deconstruct and/or distort the still life. Introductory Activity Within a curriculum that leads up to […]

Grade Level 7-8, 9-10 Duration 10 periods, 40 minutes long Materials Fine Tip Sharpies, Micron Pens. India Ink, paper, exacto knives Media Pen and Ink, Markers Lesson Objectives For students to practice line variation in creating pattern, value and form in graphic black and white illustrations of shells. To create a background reminiscent of water […]

Grade Level 9-10 Duration 15 classes of 40 minute periods Materials Gray paper (with some tooth), black charcoal sticks, black charcoal pencils, white charcoal pencils, white charcoal sticks, blending stubs, variety of erasures, drawing boards or easels, working and regular fixative and a view finder. Still life items including white, black, and gray clothes. Media […]

Grade Level 11-12 Duration 8 class periods, 40 minute periods Materials Drawing paper, a variety of stencils, powdered graphite, artist chamoise (or recycle an old cotton t-shirt), a nice quality paper cut to approximately 16×20 inches, a variety of erasure types- especially erasure pencils! stencils *Tip (graphite powder can be bought in a hardware store […]

Grade Level 9-10 Duration 12-15 classes, 45 minutes Materials Access to cameras, photo editing program. printer, old magazines, acetate, Elmer glue, acrylic glaze medium Media Collage Lesson Objectives For students to identify value accurately. For students to view areas of the photograph abstractly through shape and value. For students to lean how to utilize collage […]

Grade Level 11-12 Duration 10-12 forty-five minute periods Materials Drawing paper, Drawing Pencil Sets with varying grades, Erasers including stick erasers Media Pencil Lesson Objectives To be able to identify the traits of a Trompe l’oeil artwork. To be able to emulate a Trompe l’oeil artwork. To be able to observe values and replicate them […]