These lessons prepare your middle and high school students for a visit to an art museum, including a lesson in the museum galleries. Insert these lessons into any art curriculum. Learning objectives in the lessons build on skills learned in previous lessons. Therefore, lessons should be taught in sequence.

Contents


Curriculum Home
Lesson Plans

Lessons 1–3 of 3

Looking and Learning in the Art Museum (Grades 6–12)—Lesson 1
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: This is the first lesson in a sequential unit. Students review the elements of art by studying a reproduction of a work of art they will see on their museum visit in Lesson 2. Students prepare for their trip to the museum by researching the work of art and speculating about the museum's motivation for collecting it. Students also review appropriate museum behavior.

Christ Crowned / Honthorst

Looking and Learning in the Art Museum (Grades 6–12)—Lesson 2
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts
Lesson Overview: This is the second lesson in a sequential unit. In a museum gallery, students practice looking skills they reviewed in Lesson 1. They reflect upon the differences between viewing original works of art and reproductions and interpret a work of art using formal analysis and research done for homework.

Getty image

Looking and Learning in the Art Museum (Grades 6–12)—Lesson 3
Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: This is the third lesson in a sequential unit. Students review their experiences looking at an original work of art and a reproduction in Lessons 1 and 2 and address the role of the museum in society. They assess the museum's presentation and interpretation of works of art by writing essays about the responsibilities of museum professionals to support a museum's mission.

Getty image

Lessons 1–3 of 3