The Arts in High School
The average public high school art program varies depending on the school and, inceasingly, the school's budget. And, while there are a handful of publicly-funded schools with a strong performing arts curriculum, you are more likely to find a concentrated focus on these areas of study within the private high school setting. Typically, arts programs available in most public high schools will focus on visual arts such as painting, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture, and music such as orchestra, jazz band, music theory, performance, and choral singing. Some public and private schools may also offer theatre or drama courses, including regular theatrical performances, as well as dance. Whether you teach the Arts as a primary or secondary subject, you will find these lesson plans and teaching ideas written by fellow teachers of interest.
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- Art Lesson: Choose your Style-- Realistic, Impressionist, or Abstract!
Most representational artists tend to work in a defined style, whether it be extremely realistic, loose and abstract, or somewhere in between. By trying all three basic styles, your students will learn about their own preferences and identify what type of art they enjoy creating. - Identifying Shapes: A Quick Draw Art Lesson
Use this quick activity to help your students use their "artist eyes" and get warmed up for bigger drawing projects! - How to Create a Simple Land or Seascape Picture
Land and seascapes have been popular visual subjects for centuries. Using a few basic rules, your students can capture the wonder and beauty of their favorite outdoor places in one or two quick painting sessions. - High School Art Analysis Lesson: Expressing What's on your Mind
Get your students to create artwork that lets the world know what's on their minds! - The Eye of the Beholder: Photography Lesson
The proverbs are many - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don't judge a book by its cover. Clothes don't make the man (woman). They relate to a children's book about a strange duck. Use this as the catalyst for students to find common items, which they photograph to create beautiful artwork. - Using Music in Education to Teach Movement in Drama Class
Theater and acting classes use play to help students explore characters and situations within a script, but young actors can often appear stiff onstage despite their emotional explorations. Music can help get actors moving in a more natural way! - Surrealism Art: High School Lesson
Do your students scoff at art that might be difficult to understand? This surrealism art lesson plan coupled with your students' prior knowledge of art elements, such as line, shape and color, will enable them to analyze and interpret a contradictory art movement. - Loving Latin American Art With High School Projects: Four Ideas
These four high school art projects will help your class learn about the art and culture of Latin America. Craft papel picado, traditional carving designs, mola designs or use traditional patterns to decorate terracotta pots will give a spicy touch to your classes. - Outside the Box: 3 Art Projects for High School Students
High school students love to experiment. If teachers giving them opportunities to think outside the box with high school art projects that challenge their critical thinking, as well as their artistic abilities, they provide the students with a means to discover their talents.