Art is a natural way for children to express their feelings and ideas. Looking at, thinking about and particularly making art together helps children build community and see themselves as important parts of their world.

This series capitalizes on children’s natural relationship to art by prompting them to examine the ways art relates to community leadership and activism. The lessons can be used individually or as a full series and are not dependent on sequence.

Twelve Mini-Lessons

Lesson One: Art and Community Activism.
Students are introduced to the concepts of art and community activism and have a chance to discuss their understanding of these terms.

Lesson Two: Who Are the Activists in My Community?
Students develop a understanding of local community and consider what attributes make someone a community leader or activist.

Lesson Three: Art and LGBT Rights: Study of Symbols
Students learn about visual symbols that have played an important role in LGBT movements.

Lesson Four: Art and Accessibility: Study of Design
Students explore how artists can advocate for equal rights for people with physical disabilities using universal design.

Lesson Five: Art and Social Justice: What is a Portrait?
Students analyze portraits of well-known African Americans and consider the role of portraiture in fighting racial stereotypes.

Lesson Six: Art and Social Justice: What is in a Self Portrait?
Students analyze how artists of color have fought racial stereotypes through their work.

Lesson Seven: Activate Activism: Planning Our Message
Students work collaboratively to select a message or theme for a communal activism mural.

Lesson Eight: Activate Activism: Planning Our Mural
Students work collaboratively to determine the artistic elements of their communal activist mural.

Lesson Nine: Activate Activism: Creating Our Mural, Part One
Students begin collaborative work on their communal activism mural.

Lesson Ten: Activate Activism: Creating Our Mural, Part Two
Students complete collaborative work on their communal activism mural.

Lesson Eleven: Exhibition: Sharing and Celebrating Our Mural With Others in Our Community
Students invite people from their school, families and community to view their activism mural and share in the lessons they have learned about the relationship between art and activism.

Lesson Twelve: Art and Activism Reflection: Looking Back on What We’ve Learned
Students reflect on the different concepts they have engaged with over the course of the series and set goals for themselves as community members and potential artist activists.

These lessons address the following standards using the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS SL.1, SL.2, SL.3, SL.4