Art & Ideas: Teaching with Themes

Welcome to Art & Ideas! In this course, you'll learn to see art through a new lens—one that focuses on themes instead of chronology or historical movements. Themes allow us to make connections between multiple artworks, classroom content, and our own lives. Teaching with a thematic approach not only makes art more accessible but also centers the student experience and supports interdisciplinary teaching.

In this module, we'll explore our first theme: Places & Spaces. When you ground your lessons in sights and structures that are familiar, you provide students with a direct connection to the artwork. You'll discover some of the ways artists have represented place and found inspiration in their surroundings.

In this module, we'll move from place to people as we discover some of the ways artists express, explore, and question identity. You'll learn about portraiture and how artists have created representations of themselves and others. You'll also explore strategies for using art to explore the topic of identity with students.

In this module, we'll consider how artists use everyday objects to challenge assumptions about what constitutes art and how it should be made. At the core of this theme is the idea of artistic choice and the works you encounter will offer insight into the creative processes artists and designers use to invent and transform everyday objects. You'll also gain skills for making interdisciplinary connections and fostering students’ critical thinking abilities.

In this module, you'll explore artworks created in response to the social, cultural, and political issues of their time. You'll gain a deeper understanding of history and contemporary society and explore strategies for encouraging students to think critically about world events and how they are depicted.

In this module, you'll take everything you've learned and create your own thematic lesson plan using works of art. We'll also share some resources you can save and use in the future.