Students will apply fourth grade concepts of equivalent fractions, decimals, and symmetry to create artwork. Once all students have created their masterpieces, they will have a conversation to compare and contrast the various pieces.  Through teacher questioning, this conversation will lead to a deeper understanding of equivalent fractions and decimal fractions.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

Students will take on a mystery, Sherlock Holmes style, to uncover the secrets, history, and deeper meanings of Moyo Ogundipe's painting Soliloquy: Life's Fragile Fictions.

Students will be able to: explain why Ogundipe used particular colors, patterns, and images for his painting; discuss what the snakes and birds symbolize in the picture; and express in their own words at least three reasons the different elements of the painting are a treasure.

Students will put on their 'detective hats' and use magnifying glasses to find evidence that supports attributing the paintings in the Molleno Altar Screen to one artist and one piece. They will work in small groups and present a case to share with the entire class. They will also explore what would need to be different for them to prove that the pieces do not belong together.

Students will be able to: describe what an altar screen is; state that Molleno painted the scenes for this particular altar screen; develop and support a theory or hypothesis using details and logic; and share what they think and have learned with other students and the teacher.

Students will understand the difference between a sculpture and a drawing or painting, understand the meaning of the word silhouette and will create a simple silhouette of any animal or object they choose and use that drawing to create a sculpture piece which is mounted to a wooden base.

This free website provides more than 600 adaptable lesson plans written by teachers in collaboration with the Denver Art Museum for more than 130 objects from the museums world-class art collection. Lesson plans and resources focus on inspiring students to think and problem-solve creatively. Organized in an easy way so that teachers can pick the topic they would like to explore or enhance, then use works of art to teach that subject.

High resolution images are included. Museum visits are not necessary to implement lesson plans. Includes professional and student development tools such as teacher workshops and webinars, virtual classroom courses, career videos, educator blogs and creativity tools. Easy for teachers in language arts, social studies and visual arts to provide a curriculum rooted in the arts while also meeting 21st Century Skills.