The Kennedy Center: ARTSEDGE — the National Arts and Education Network

Performance-Lesson

Acting Up, A Melodrama

In this lesson, the students practice some melodramatic movement.

Adapting a Musical

This lesson explores the implications of developing a musical from a literary text or an historical event, and includes suggestions for immersing students into the creative process of building a musical.

Adjective Monster

Use the visual art and language arts to creatively tell stories of monstrous proportions

Alexander Calder: Master of Balance

Viewing mobiles created by sculptor Alexander Calder, students learn about the function and form of levers. They build mobiles, experiment with balancing levers, and equilibrium.

All Around the Baseball Field

Students construct a mock baseball field and from there explore the sport of baseball through art, movement, and sound.

Amazing Fibonacci

Using the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, your students study math concepts of pattern, recursion, Pi and the Golden Ratio, developing their ability to analyze the structure of music.

America, A Home for Every Culture

Students will discuss and explore the cultures that have contributed to making the United States the unique and diverse country it is today.

An American Scene Painter

Students learn about American artist Charles Burchfield. Students capture information and sketches in a journal, then use these ideas to create an original watercolor.

Analyzing Photographs: From Theory to Practice

Throughout this lesson, students will examine works of art and learn tools to analyze and discuss photography.

Animal Habitats

Pre-readers are introduced to animal habitats through story, song, and dramatic play using children’s books

Art from Tragedy: Remembering 9/11

In this four-day lesson, students will be reading Anne Nelson’s play, The Guys, not only as a vehicle for remembrance, but also as a mentor text for their own playwriting. Over the course of four classes, students will interview their peers about their memories of September 11th, 2001, and use those memories to craft a one-act play for performance

Art Show with the Masters

Research information on artists' lives and works and prepare works of art based on their understanding of the artists, their time and place in history, and their works.

Arthur Miller and The Crucible

This lesson examines the consequences of personal conscience in conflict with rigid societal perceptions of what is "right" in human behavior as articulated in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.

Arts of the Gilded Age

Learn about and discuss characteristics of the Gilded Age. Using books, internet and other media, research the various fine and performing art forms popular during that time period.

Ballet and Classical Music

This lesson will introduce students to both conceptual and practical elements of classical ballet.

Brass Instruments and Pitch

This lesson introduces students to the instruments of the brass family.

Broken Worlds

This lesson provides a variety of options for conducting comparative analysis between Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.

Capturing History

Through teacher-guided discussions and hands-on activities, students will understand the political and economic reasons for the African-American migration to Northern cities between the World Wars.

Castles & Cornerstones

This lesson will explore the historic importance and function of castles in King Arthur's time and introduce students to a general history of castles and architectural terms.

A Character Life Box

This language arts lesson offers a hands-on opportunity for students to understand characterization in literature and to connect historical and contemporary culture.

Characterization in Literature and Theater

In this lesson, students explore various methods authors use to create effective characters.

Children of War

This lesson explores the realities and effects of war on children by examining diaries, journals, and letters written by children during times of war.

Chinese Calligraphy

Students will experience the art and culture of Chinese calligraphy and Chinese ink painting through watercolor painting and Chinese instrumental music.