3.1.4 What are the Important Natural Characteristics of Michigan?

In this lesson students continue their study of the important natural (physical) characteristics of Michigan by exploring vegetation and climate. They begin by analyzing special purpose maps of forests and orchards. Next they are introduced to the concept of climate, connecting to science topics of weather and seasons from previous grades. In addition, they briefly explore the impact of the Great Lakes on climate. The lesson also includes a chart reading activity dealing with Michigan state symbols.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment

Authors: GIANTS, MC3, Michigan Open Book, Monique Coulman

Asian Carp 3rd Grade

Students learn about the Asian carp invasive species and how it causes problems. They explain how it is a problem in an opinion piece.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Reading

Author: Dawn Michalak

3.1.5 Why are the Great Lakes great?

Important bodies of water include the Great Lakes, inland lakes, rivers and waterfalls. In a connection to science students briefly explore how glaciers helped to create some of these natural (physical) characteristics. The lesson uses multiple resources including informational text, legends and photographs.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment

Authors: GIANTS, MC3, Michigan Open Book, Monique Coulman

Works on Paper: Julie Chen

SPARK watches book artist Julie Chen work in her print shop, Flying Fish Press as she and her assistant, Mary Chadwick create up to 100 editions of a book each year. This Educator Guides explores the history of the book from scrolls through the contemporary artists book.

Material Type: Lecture, Lesson Plan

Telling Stories: Larry Reed

Master storyteller Larry Reed is dedicated to the study and practice of the ancient Balinese art of shadow puppetry. This Educator Guide explores the history of Balinese shadowpuppetry, Wayang Kulit and Reed's innovations.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Transplanting a Tradition: Li Huayi

Li Huayi, a painter of propaganda posters during the Cultural Revolution, reinvigorate the centuries-old tradition of Chinese landscape painting with his own, wholly contemporary vision. This Educator Guide explores the Chinese Cultural Revolution and Landscape Painting as well as contemporary painting.

Material Type: Lecture, Lesson Plan

Art Appreciation

This course is particularly focused on helping you develop visual literacy skills, but all the college courses you take are to some degree about information literacy. Visual literacy is really just a specialized type of information literacy. The skills you acquire in this course will help you become an effective researcher in other fields, as well.

Material Type: Full Course, Textbook

Digital Photography Model

Photography, as a nonverbal language, allows students to increase their visual perception and provides a medium for creative expression. The history of photography will be evaluated in the context of historical, social, cultural and artistic developments. Students learn to understand the artistic qualities of the photographic medium while acquiring the techniques for utilizing photography for expressive purposes. Instruction includes studio and field techniques, photojournalism, fashion photography, and commercial, portrait, scientific, nature, wildlife and sports photography. In producing their own works and by studying the photographs of others, students will develop a base for making informed aesthetic judgments. Integrated throughout the course are career preparation standards which include basic academic skills, communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, workplace safety, and technology and employment literacy.

Material Type: Full Course, Lesson Plan

Art of Color, Spring 2005

This seminar introduces, through studio projects, the basic principles regarding the use of color in the visual arts. Students explore a range of topics, including the historical uses of color in the arts, the interactions between colors, and the psychology of color.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Dourmashkin, Peter

Graphic Arts Technology Model

A course in Graphic Arts Technology provides students with an understanding of the processes and systems common to careers in publishing, printing, and other forms of media distribution. Representative topics include graphic design concepts; art and copy preparation; image generation and editing; desktop publishing; on-demand publishing; school yearbook and magazine layout; advertising and promotion; printing technology; binding and finishing; and screen printing.Students will be committed to lifelong learning as they grow individually, participate in groups, think analytically, create artistic products, and contribute to production of a major project. Students will learn illustration design software such as Adobe Illustrator, photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, and page layout software such as Adobe InDesign to create projects that will be printed in traditional and digital formats.

Material Type: Full Course, Lesson Plan

Shaken and Stirred: Scott Snibbe

SPARK follows Scott Snibbe at work on an installation piece Blow Up at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, and through his studio as he discusses his installation, interactive, and net art projects and some of the ideas underlying them. This Educator Guide is about the digital and new media art and the historic interplay between art and science and technology.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Paint x 3: Robert Bechtle

American Photorealist painter Robert Bechtle prepares for a retrospective exhibit of his work at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. This Educator Guide address the history and evolution of photorealism in painting.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Arts Integration in Elementary Curriculum

This open textbook was created with the support of an ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Topics include art integration, music integration, physical education / dance integration, and the theoretical foundations of arts integration in education

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: David Browm, Molly Zhou

Advanced Projects in the Visual Arts: Personal Narrative, Spring 2004

Investigates conceptual and formal issues in different media or between media such as sculpture, photography, and video. Explores issues of representation, interpretation, and meaning, and how they relate to historical, social and cultural context.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Gibbons, Joe

Introduction to the Visual Arts, Spring 2007

Introduction to artistic practice and aesthetic analysis through studio work and lectures. Students communicate ideas and experiences through various media such as sculpture, installation, performance, and video. Projects evolve through stages of conceptual and material development to final presentation. Lectures, visiting artist presentations, field trips, and readings supplement studio practice, providing an index to the historical, cultural, and environmental forces that affect both development of artistic vision and reception of works of art.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Zane, Joe

Ancient Art and Civilizations Unit

Students will learn about ancient art and civilizations including ancient Rome, Greece, China, Egypt, other various regions of Africa, Native North America, Polynesia, and Native Central/South America. In groups, the students will research one of the cultures, create a google presentation, and then present their culture to the class. During the research and presentation process, students will be working on Chromebooks in the classroom. One major resource that the students will use is Khan Academy. Students will also apply their knowledge of ancient art to create a clay project inspired by a civilization of their choice.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Kaylee Hammond

Art Frees the Soul: Sixth Street Photography Workshop

SPARK follows photographers from the Sixth Street Photography Workshop as they take pictures of their lives and ideas in some of San Francisco's most depressed neighborhoods. This Educator Guide is about the history of photography.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Book 5, Music Across Classrooms: Visual Arts. Chapter 4, Lesson 1: Drawing To Music

In this lesson, students explore the principles of synesthesia through drawing to music. By viewing and analyzing artwork based on multi sensory perception, students will become aware of the role of the senses in art, and how sensory stimulation such as listening to music can be used as a tool for inspiration. Guided by a handout outlining the basic elements and principles of art, students will engage in active discussions about how sensory perceptions can be interpreted through color, line, and form. They will then apply these reflections on their own artistic work.

Material Type: Full Course

The Grey Eminences: David Ireland

SPARK is at the Oakland Museum of California as they work with acclaimed artist David Ireland to create an innovative exhibit and retrospective of his 30-year career. This Educator Guide explores the history of Conceptual art and Ireland's contributions.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Fame: Chris Johanson

SPARK explores the impact of fame and notoriety on visual artist Chris Johanson, jettisoned to international art-stardom by his inclusion in the 2002 Whitney Biennial and a 2002 SECA award for emerging artists from the SF Museum of Modern Art. This Educator Guide explores the history and tradition of street-based works and the field of painting.

Material Type: Lesson Plan