Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Impressionism, and supports the standard of explaining how arts traditions, beliefs, values, and behaviors contribute to the development and transmission of culture. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students: 

  • What types of art do you enjoy?
  • How does this art make you feel?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Impressionism topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the following articles: “Arts and Entertainment” or “Around the World”. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign Impressionism Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about Impressionism while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a documentary that explains the history and impact of the Impressionist Movement.
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying qualities of Impressionist art and provide examples of each. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a digital museum exhibit featuring Impressionist artists and their works.
  • Primary Source Activity: Examine an Impressionist painting and analyze quotes to answer the accompanying questions.

More to Explore 

Art Concepts Unit: Continue to build understanding around cultural expression by exploring more BrainPOP topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments