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Picturing America
Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.
The nation’s artistic heritage—our paintings, sculpture, architecture, fine crafts, and photography—offers unique insights into the character, ideals, and aspirations of our country.
Picturing America Lesson Plans
| Curr. Unit | Lesson Plan | Class Period(s) | Worksheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| No | 3 | Yes | |
| No | 3-6 | Yes | |
| No | 2-3 | Yes | |
| No | 2-3 | Yes | |
| No | 3 | Yes | |
| No | 3 | Yes | |
| No | 1 | No | |
| No | 3-4 | Yes | |
| No | 2-3 | Yes | |
| No | 3-4 | Yes | |
| No | 2-3 | Yes | |
| No | 2-3 | Yes | |
| No | 3-4 | Yes |
Picturing America Websites
Art & Culture
History & Social Studies
Picturing America on Screen
Picturing America on Screen is an NEH-funded documentary film project produced by Channel 13, WNET, New York. A group of 25 films created by 9 talented directors presents a sampling of Picturing American art ranging from the mystery and beauty of Anasazi pottery to the sculptural poetry of contemporary artist Martin Puryear.
Picturing America Student Resources
Art & Culture
Benjamin Franklin's Many “Hats”: Hiram Powers statue
4b HIRAM POWERS [1805–1873], Benjamin Franklin, 1862. Picturing America Teacher's Resource Book
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Botticelli Line Drawing
3. Compose a Visual Symphony: Pulling towards the Center
- Sandro Boticelli’s Adoration of the Magi
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Carpaccio Diagram 1 (Figure 8)
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- Vittore Carpaccio’s The Flight into Egypt
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Carpaccio Line Drawing
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- Vittore Carpaccio’s The Flight into Egypt
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Dance) Diagram 1 (Triangle)
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Snow Shoe Dance- Ojibbeway
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Dance) Diagram 2 (ellipse)
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Snow Shoe Dance- Ojibbeway
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Dance) Line Drawing
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Snow Shoe Dance- Ojibbeway
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Paris Diagram Figure 2 (ellipse)
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Ojibbeway Indians in Paris
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Paris) Diagram Figure 1 (oval)
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Ojibbeway Indians in Paris
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Catlin (Paris) Line Drawing
2. Compose a Visual Symphony: Variety of Visions
- George Catlin’s Ojibbeway Indians in Paris
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Conegliano Diagram 1 (triangle)
3. Compose a Visual Symphony: Pulling towards the Center
- Cima da Conegliano’s Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint John the Baptist
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Conegliano Line Drawing
3. Compose a Visual Symphony: Pulling towards the Center
- Cima da Conegliano’s Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint John the Baptist
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: David Diagram 1 (ellipse)
3. Compose a Visual Symphony: Pulling towards the Center
- Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Socrates
Art & Culture
Composition Basics: Leutze Line Drawing
Emmanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware
Art & Culture
History & Social Studies
Emmanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware
Roll over the image to explore the areas of the painting, clicking to bring up the descriptive pop-ups. Make notes in the pop-up's tabs to prepare you for the follow-on multiple-choice questions (under "Test Your Knowledge"), and answer the essay questions on the pop-up tabs. After completing these tasks, follow the instructions for printing out your answers and notes, and you can also print the image istself.
Art & Culture
Launchpad: Composition Basics (Student)
In this launchpad, students learn the definition of composition in the visual arts and some of its most basic components.
Art & Culture
History & Social Studies
Literature & Language Arts
Launchpad: Paul Revere
Read the directions and make use of the resources this LaunchPad is linked to to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Wood's painting.
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: David’s diagram 1, Napoleon
3. What Kind of Lines?
- Jacques-Louis David’s The Emperor Napoleon in his Study at the Tuileries
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Fuseli’s painting diagram 1
3. What Kind of Lines?
Henry Fuseli’s Oedipus Cursing his Son, Polynices
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Berman’s painting
1. Lining Up
Saul Berman’s River Front
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of David’s painting
3. What Kind of Lines?
- Jacques-Louis David’s The Emperor Napoleon in his Study at the Tuileries
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Fuseli’s painting
3. What Kind of Lines?
Henry Fuseli’s Oedipus Cursing his Son, Polynices
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Grien’s painting
3. What Kind of Lines?
Hans Baldung Grien’s Man of Sorrows
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Rice’s painting
2. In the Line of Sight
- William Clarke Rice’s October
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Waugh’s painting
2. In the Line of Sight
- Frederick J. Waugh’s The Knight of the Holy Grail
Art & Culture
Line in the Visual Arts: Line drawing of Woods’ painting
1. Lining Up
- Grant Woods’ Haying
Art & Culture
History & Social Studies
Literature & Language Arts
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere: Fact, Fiction, and Artistic License
This student interactive, from an EDSITEment lesson plan, allows students to explore Grant Wood's painting, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere"
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Bellows diagram 1
3. Working together: Form and Color- George Bellows’ New York
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Biggers diagram 1
3. Working together: Form and Color
John Biggers’ Shotgun, Third Ward #1
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Biggers diagram 2
3. Working together: Form and Color
John Biggers’ Shotgun, Third Ward #1
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Crite Diagram 1
2. Repetition and the Use of Color
Alan Rohan Crite’s School’s Out
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Crite Line Drawing
2. Repetition and the Use of Color
Alan Rohan Crite’s School’s Out
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Diagram 1
1. Practice Makes Perfect? Introducing Repetition in CompositionClaude Monet’s Palazzo del Mula Venice
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Johnson Diagram 3
2. Repetition and the Use of ColorWilliam H. Johnson’s Harlem Street
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Line drawing for Bellows
3. Working together: Form and Color- George Bellows’ New York
Art & Culture
Repetition in the Visual Arts: Line drawing for Biggers
3. Working together: Form and Color
John Biggers’ Shotgun, Third Ward #1
Art & Culture
Symmetry and Balance: Avercamp Line Drawing
1. Mirror, Mirror: Symmetry in Painting
- Hendrick Avercamp’s Scene with a Tower to the Left
Art & Culture
Symmetry and Balance: Benton Line Drawing
1. Mirror, Mirror: Symmetry in Painting
Art & Culture
Symmetry and Balance: Conegliano Line Drawing
2. Balancing Acts
- Cima de Conegliano’s Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint John the Baptist
Art & Culture
History & Social Studies
The Road to Santa Fe: Interactive Map
Come along with EDSITEment this summer and discover the multilayered heritage of the peoples who call New Mexico their homeland. Our virtual road trip will take us through the terrain and annals of American history which characterize this remarkable landscape.
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