The lessons below are designed for elementary and secondary teachers to prompt classroom discussion and learning around the history of Impressionist painting. Lessons include examples of late-19th century Impressionist painting in the Getty Museum's collection.

Lessons 1-4 of 4

The Art and Science of Impressionist Color
Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, Science
Lesson Overview: Students will learn about the Impressionist painters' use of color and how it connected to early-19th-century scientific theories about color. They will explore combinations of primary and secondary colors, experiment creating secondary colors, and create a landscape using complementary colors.

Framing the Landscape
Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: This is a one-hour guided drawing lesson in which students will gain knowledge about composition and line. Students will build a “personal drawing vocabulary” by experimenting with various tools to create their own unique lines and marks using traditional art media. Students will create two original drawings in a one-hour en plein air, or outdoor, session.

Writing about Art: Comparing Portraits
Grades/Level: Upper Elementary (3–5), Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts
Lesson Overview: Students will compare and contrast an academic and an Impressionist portrait through a writing exercise and discussion. Each student will then write a formal commission letter to one of artists, requesting a portrait.

Historical Context: Discovering a Painting
Grades/Level: High School (9–12)
Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts, History—Social Science
Lesson Overview: Students will work in groups to visually analyze a work of art and then research what was happening in the time period when the work was made. Students will then discuss what impact their research had on their original perceptions. Students will finally be given background information about the work of art and will discuss how their ideas are different or similar to what they read.

Lessons 1-4 of 4