Description: The following links are resources on African American History, an often and grossly overlooked topic in K-12 history classes. The links below are just a few of the many that exist on the web, please comment with any other links or resources you would like to see on this page. Resources: New Jersey African…
Relearning Thanksgiving
Description: This lesson asks students and teachers to critically examine the way the Thanksgiving holiday and its history are taught in K-12 schools and in popular media. Documents and videos are provided showing various contemporary Native American perspectives on Thanksgiving so that students can seek to understand the complexity of this so-called holiday and learn why some…
Sexism and Women in Video Games
Description: This video is a great icebreaker for a class discussion and project on sexism and the use of tropes in videogames. Much respect to the important and powerful work of Anita Sarkeesian and her blog Feminist Frequency. Just one of the great quotes in this video: “it’s undeniable that popular culture is a powerful…
Photoshop, Ethics & Body Image
Description: This lesson is a critical examination on photo retouching. It can be used in conjunction with a lesson on teen health, eating disorders, bulimia, anorexia, photo retouching, critical media studies, health and art class. LESSON PLAN: Grade: 9-12 Time: 3-5, 50 minute sessions Introduction: This lesson introduces students to techniques for photo retouching using…
Critique Strategies
Description: Critiques are a commonplace activity in most post-secondary art schools. The critique is a dedicated time to discuss, review, examine and provide constructive criticism or praise for a work of art. For many students this is one of the few times that their voices are heard and taken into consideration. All too often K-12…
Analyzing Music Videos
Description: This lesson provides strategies for analyzing music videos and the messages, themes, lyrics and symbols they use. The lesson is influenced by the the work presented in Press Pause: Critically Contextualizing Music Video in Visual Culture and Art Education by Pamela G. Taylor. Thank you Pamela! http://www.questia.com/library/1P3-1261926661/press-pause-critically-contextualizing-music-video LESSON PLAN: Grade: 9-12 or College Level…