Visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum without leaving your school! Free of charge, museum docents lead the study of U.S. history and culture using our extensive holdings of American art via real-time videoconferencing. We have already held Artful Connections with teachers and students across the country—from the Garden State to the Golden Gate!
| Looking at Art |
|
To See Is to Think: Visual Literacy (grades 1+)
Complete To See is To Think Teacher Guide (pdf)
Learn the language of art and consider the many choices artists make when creating art. Suitable for grades 1 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. To See Is To Think Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. To See Is To Think Post-Lesson Grades 1-5 (doc)
Part V. To See Is To Think Post-Lesson Grades 6-8 (doc)
Part VI. To See Is To Think Post-Lesson Grades 9-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes; K-12.2 Using Knowledge of structures and functions; K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others; K-12.6 Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Performing Arts K-12.2 Acting by assuming roles and interacting in improvisations; K-12.6 Comparing and connecting art forms by describing theatre, dramatic media (such as film, television, and electronic media), and other art forms.
|
|
America's Signs and Symbols (grades 3+)
Teacher Guide (pdf)
Familiar icons of America—the Statue of Liberty, the flag, the bald eagle—symbolize the United States both to residents and to others around the world. Artists use these images to communicate their personal ideas and to encourage probing thought on American society. Designed for grades 3 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. America's Signs and Symbols Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Standards
US History Era 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s).
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas. K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures; K-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and other Disciplines.
|
|
Found Object Artworks (grades 1+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
From beads to bottle caps, foil to fabric, students will explore the diversity of media and experiences in American folk art! This videoconference covers the main elements of folk art: self-taught artists, everyday materials, vision and imagination, storytelling and sense of place. Intended for grades 1-12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Found Object Artwork Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. To See Is To Think Post-Lesson Grades 1-5 (doc)
Part V. To See Is To Think Post-Lesson Grades 6-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes; K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas. K-12.2 Using knowledge of structures and functions; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
|
|
Contemporary Craft: Clay Works (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
Whether traditional or cutting edge, artworks in the Renwick Gallery's collection highlight recent craft achievements with a focus on works in clay. Intended for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-7 (doc)
Part V. Post-Lesson Grades 8-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes; K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas. K-12.2 Using knowledge of structures and functions; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
|
| Learning History Through Art |
|
Young America (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
How have artists depicted the U.S. war for independence? How have those images shaped ideas and assumptions about the American Revolution? How do artists combine both fact and myth in reinterpreting history? Designed for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-6 (doc)
Part V. Post-Lesson Grades 7-12 (doc)
"Our kids loved the virtual tour. You'll be hearing from other teachers here." — fifth-grade teacher
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures; K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
US History K-4.1 Living and Working Together in Families and Communities, Now and Long Ago; K-4.2 The History of Students' Own State or Region; K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the Peoples from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage.
US History 5-12.2 Era 2 Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763); 5-12.3 Era 3 Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s).
Civics K-4.2 Values and Principles of Democracy; 5-12.2 Foundations of the Political System; 5-12.3 Principles of Democracy.
|
|
Lure of the West (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
As both a place and an ideal, the American West retains a powerful allure in popular culture. Explore depictions of the people, lifestyles, and landscape of the nineteenth-century West to better understand this dynamic period of history. Suitable for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures; K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
US History K-4.1 Living and Working Together in Families and Communities, Now and Long Ago.
|
|
Civil War: A House Divided (grades 7+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
The Civil War tested and consumed the country for more than four years. Many families were touched by death in the bloodiest conflict our nation's history. How did the new technology of photography depict the country and the war? What do paintings and sculpture reveal of life during Reconstruction? Intended for grades 7-12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part III. Post-Lesson Grades 7-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
US History K-4.1 Living and Working Together in Families and Communities, Now and Long Ago; K-4.2 The History of Students' Own State or Region; K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the Peoples from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage; 5-12 Era 5 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877).
|
|
Reshaping American Life: 1930s America (grades 7+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
This videoconference asks students to question and evaluate the role of the federal government in the aftermath of the depression. By examining the 1930s in light of FDR's New Deal, participants analyze WPA and PWAP objects to understand the effect of the depression on the United States and the role of the federal government. Intended for grades 7 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part III. Post-Lesson Grades 7-12 (doc)
"Thanks for an outstanding, comprehensive presentation on the American Impressionists. …Particularly helpful were comparisons and contrasts and…history and attitudes leading up to the movement." — coordinator, senior adult programs, county recreation department
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes; K-12.2 Using Knowledge of structures and functions; K-12.3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; K-12.4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures; K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
US History K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the Peoples from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage; Era 8 The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945).
Civics K-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government; K-12.3 Principles of Democracy.
|
| Celebrating Heritage |
|
African American Artists (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
The lives of African American artists lend insight into the historical, social, and cultural context of their works. Appropriate for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-12 (doc)
"The kids really enjoyed the virtual tour presentation. They were a little shy about talking on air, but later they did their talking! By not leaving school, for my kids, it takes away the stress from unfamiliar experiences. The docents talked about things our kids read about in books—apartheid, masks, farming, for example. Thank you for putting all this together." — high school teacher
Standards
US History Era 5 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); Era 7 The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); Era 8 The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945).
Civics K-12.1 Civic Life, Politics and Government; 5-12.3 Other Nations and World Affairs; 5-12.3 Roles of the Citizen.
Visual Arts K-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines; K-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures; K-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter.
Music K-12.9 Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture.
|
|
Latino Art and Culture (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
Artistic achievements of Hispanic Americans from the 1860s to the present represent the diversity of the Latino community and reflect historical and cultural developments that have transformed American art. Appropriate for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-7 (doc)
Part V. Post-Lesson Grades 8-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and other Disciplines; K-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures; K-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter, Symbols and Ideas; K-12.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques and Processes.
US History Era 9 Post-War United States (1945-early 1970s); Era 10 Contemporary United States (1968-present).
Civics K-12.1 Civic Life, Politics and Government; 5-12.3 Other Nations and World Affairs; 5-12.3 Roles of the Citizen.
|
|
Native Americans (grades 1+)
Teacher Guide (pdf)
Students examine the cultural heritage of American Indians, as captured by native and non-native artists. Intended for grades 1 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 9-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter; K-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others; K-12.6 Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
US History Era 5 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); Era 7 The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); Era 8 The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945).
|
|
Recognizing Women Artists (grades 4+)
Complete Teacher Guide (pdf)
Students examine how artwork by women reflects the artistic, social, and political influences in American culture. Intended for grades 4 through 12.
Visit CILC to schedule a videoconference.
Part I. Overview (doc)
Part II. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 1-4 (doc)
Part III. Videoconference Pre-Lesson Grades 5-12 (doc)
Part IV. Post-Lesson Grades 4-8 (doc)
Part V. Post-Lesson Grades 9-12 (doc)
Standards
Visual Arts K-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter; K-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures K-12.5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others; K-12.6 Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
US History K-4.1 Living and working together in families and communities, now and long ago; K-4.3 The history of the United States: Democratic principles and values and the peoples from many cultures who contributed to its cultural, economic, and political heritage; Era 5 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); Era 7 The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); Era 8 The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945).
Civics 5-12.3 Roles of the citizen.
|
Don't see what you need? Ask us about customized tours: AmericanArtEducation@si.edu.
Social Media @ American Art