📖

Art in Early America

American Art History: Colonial to Early America

Day 26of 180
Week 6of 36
45Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the practical arts and crafts of colonial America

2

Explore how faith influenced early American creativity

3

Appreciate the artistic expressions of early settlers

📖 Scripture Connection

Exodus 35:31-32

“He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs.”

— Exodus 35:31-32 (WEB)

Demonstrates God's gift of creativity and artistic skill to His people

📦 Materials Needed

  • Art history prints or digital images
  • Notebook or drawing paper
  • Pencils
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide: Grade 4 Art
  • World English Bible
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse art lesson! We'll explore how early American settlers used art as both a practical skill and a way to express their faith.

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about color values in our last lesson?
2Teaching (15 min)

Explore colonial American practical arts: quilting, weathervanes, and folk art

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Quilting as a form of storytelling and community connection
  • Weathervanes as both functional and artistic expressions
  • Folk art as a reflection of early American life and beliefs
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How might early settlers use art in their daily lives?
  • What materials did colonial artists use?
3Activity: Colonial Creativity Exploration (18 min)
discussion and sketch

Students will create a simple sketch inspired by colonial folk art, connecting their creativity to the biblical understanding of artistic gifts

📝 Instructions:
  1. Review images of colonial folk art from BibleMouse Resource Guide
  2. Choose one type of colonial art to sketch
  3. Add personal symbolic elements that reflect faith
  4. Share your artwork and discuss its meaning
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Trace or copy a simple colonial art design

Challenge: Research and create a detailed folk art piece with historical context

4Closing (7 min)

Reflect on how God gives creative gifts to His people

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about art in early America?
  • How can we use our creativity to honor God?

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll explore portrait painting in colonial times

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Colonial art was deeply practical and often reflected religious beliefs

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage children to see creativity as a God-given gift
  • Help students connect historical art to their own creative expressions
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may feel uncertain about their artistic abilities

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Enthusiasm, curiosity about historical art forms

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Visit a local history museum to see colonial art
  • Create a quilt square inspired by colonial designs
  • Research a colonial artist and create a presentation

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 27 →Back to Art