These lessons explore the many ways that art can provoke dialogue about the costs and consequences of significant events in U.S. and world history while simultaneously effecting social change and increasing awareness among individuals and governments.

Beginning-level activities address elementary school standards, intermediate activities address middle school standards, and advanced activities address high school standards. However, middle and high school teachers can use less advanced activities in warm-up discussions or to review basic principles.

Lessons 1-9 of 24

Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances (Beginning Level)
Grades/Level: Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will analyze the emotions and personality conveyed in an 18th-century sculpture bust of a strong and confident African man and learn that such a portrayal is unique for its time. They will then create an original portrait bust of a strong person who has faced difficult situations.

Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances (Intermediate Level)
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will learn about ancient styles of Roman portraiture and their influence on western European art, research and write a paper that compares Roman and American slavery, and produce an original sketch of a grave relief for a freed slave.

Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances (Advanced Level)
Grades/Level: High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Advanced-level students will write narratives from the perspective of slaves depicted in rare photographs, and then create a print depicting a moment from the narratives.

Celebration and Satire (Beginning Level)
Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will analyze art elements and symbolism in a late-19th-century painting, create a self-portrait, and learn a dance depicted in the painting

Celebration and Satire (Intermediate Level)
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will compare and contrast how two late-19th-century paintings depict celebrations in different ways through the artists' use of satire and color. Students will explore the historical context surrounding both canvases and create a painting of a celebration employing artistic techniques learned from the pictures.

Celebration and Satire (Advanced Level)
Grades/Level: High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will compare and contrast different perspectives of the French Revolution as depicted in two works of art. Students will discuss the use of satire and caricature to comment on historical and current events and will create satirical cartoons based on contemporary issues.

Depicting Women and Class in a Global Society (Beginning Level)
Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will compare a painting depicting hatmakers at work to a portrait of a noblewoman of leisure. Next, pupils will write narratives from the perspectives of the women depicted in the paintings and then create a paper hat.

Depicting Women and Class in a Global Society (Intermediate Level)
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will discuss the evolution of women's work from the mid-19th century to the present day and then create an artwork depicting women in contemporary times.

Depicting Women and Class in a Global Society (Advanced Level)
Grades/Level: High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will analyze how a portrait reflects the events and trends of its time and then create a portrait of a public female figure today.

Lessons 1-9 of 24