**Lesson Plan: Art History (Ancient to Medieval) for Grade 3**
**Grade Level:** 3rd Grade
**Subject:** Art
**Duration:** 1 hour
**Topic:** Art History (Ancient to Medieval)
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**Objectives:**
- Students will gain an understanding of various art forms from ancient to medieval times.
- Students will learn about key characteristics and contributions of different art periods.
- Students will create a piece of art inspired by an ancient or medieval style.
**Materials Needed:**
- Visual aids: images and photographs of ancient and medieval artworks (digital projector or printed)
- Art supplies: paper, pencils, colored pencils, markers, clay, paint, brushes
- A world map
- Chart paper and markers
- Historical timeline for reference
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**Lesson Procedure:**
1. **Introduction (10 minutes):**
- Begin by showing a world map and explaining the journey of art from ancient to medieval times.
- Briefly discuss what art is and why it has been important throughout history.
- Introduce the key periods that will be covered: Ancient Art (Egyptian, Greek, Roman) and Medieval Art.
2. **Visual Presentation (15 minutes):**
- Show images of famous artworks from each period. For example:
- Egyptian Art: Pyramids, hieroglyphs, statues
- Greek Art: Pottery, Parthenon, sculptures of gods and goddesses
- Roman Art: Mosaics, Colosseum, frescoes
- Medieval Art: Illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, tapestries
- Discuss key features of each period, such as symbolism in Egyptian art, realism in Greek and Roman art, and the religious focus of medieval art.
3. **Interactive Discussion (10 minutes):**
- Ask students questions about what they observed in the artworks. For example:
- What colors do you see most often in Egyptian art?
- What materials do you think were used to create Greek statues?
- How can you tell a piece of medieval art is religious?
- Write students' observations on chart paper.
4. **Art Activity (20 minutes):**
- Explain to students that they will create their own piece of art inspired by one of the periods they learned about.
- Provide choices for the students:
- Draw an Egyptian hieroglyphic story using symbols.
- Create a Greek pot design on paper.
- Sculpt a small Roman-inspired statue from clay.
- Paint a medieval-style scene or design a stained glass window using colored pencils.
- Distribute materials and let students begin their projects.
5. **Sharing and Reflection (5 minutes):**
- Allow students to share their artwork with the class.
- Display the artworks in the classroom.
- Ask students to reflect on what they learned and how they felt creating art in the style of ancient or medieval periods.
6. **Closing (5 minutes):**
- Recap the main points about the different art periods covered.
- Encourage students to think about how art from different times and cultures is connected.
- Provide a brief overview of what will be covered in the next lesson.
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**Assessment:**
- Participation in discussion and observations.
- Completion and creativity of the art project.
- Ability to articulate what they learned about ancient and medieval art styles.
**Extension Activities:**
- Visit a virtual museum to explore more artworks from ancient and medieval times.
- Create a class timeline with researched facts and small drawings or printouts of different art periods.
- Write a short story inspired by one of the artworks they learned about.
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**Resources:**
- Books on ancient and medieval art
- Online databases and virtual museum tours
- Printable handouts with fun facts about each art period
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This lesson introduces third graders to the rich history of art and encourages them to create their own works inspired by historical styles, offering a hands-on approach to understanding artistic heritage.