Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.
The ancient Greeks established many of the aesthetic foundations of art as we know it, particularly within the Western canon. After students have learned the basics about this topic, projects can be used to let students further explore Greek art. The following project ideas are designed to be easily adaptable to most grade levels.
This project can be completed by students independently or in groups. To start, either assign students a type of art or let them select one (such as statue, architecture or ceramics.). Students will conduct a basic research project on the history of this form of Greek art, identifying the major period, styles, and notable works. With this research, students will curate their own museum exhibit on the history of this form of Greek art. This exhibit should contain 5-7 works of art, organized in whatever manner the student finds to be the most effective. Students can print off images of each work of art, but will also have to write placards explaining each piece as well as an exhibit brochure/guide that explains the major periods, themes, works, and significance of this form of Greek art. Give students space to set up their exhibits and then let students tour each other's pop-up museums.
This project can be completed by students independently or in groups. Start by assigning each student a famous Greek statue or letting them select one. Students will research the history of this statue and its significance. They will present their research on different days. To present, each student will write up a summary of their research, to be read by the teacher or the other group members, and dress and pose as their statue.
Set up a curtain in the classroom. The presenting student will stand behind the curtain, dressed as their statue. When they have their pose ready, draw back the curtain and read their summary. Give the class a few seconds to view the statue, then close the curtain and let the next student/group set up. This project can be modified based on the resources and time of your specific students. If costumes, face paint, and other items will be difficult for your students to procure, provide them with some plain white sheets for togas and ask them to hold the pose of the statue without further dressing like it. The research component will be the same.
For this project, students are going to research the main styles of ancient Greek pottery and then create their own basic reconstructions. As written, this project uses simple paints and paper plates, but if you have access to a kiln then you may consider expanding this to include actual ceramics.
Students will start by researching the history of Greek pottery and ceramics, with a focus on the Geometric, Orientalizing, Black-Figure, and Red-Figure styles. When they have completed their research, students will paint four paper plates in a clay-red color. When that has dried, they will paint each of the four plates in one of the four styles of Greek ceramics. While students should be encouraged to use images of Greek pottery as a reference, their own ''ceramics'' must be of an original design, but made to look as if they could have fit within this tradition. For the Black-Figure and -Red Figure works, students will have to select Greek myths to use, depicting a scene from that story on the plate.
This project can be completed by students independently or in groups. To start, either assign students a type of art or let them select one (such as statue, architecture or ceramics.). Students will conduct a basic research project on the history of this form of Greek art, identifying the major period, styles, and notable works. With this research, students will curate their own museum exhibit on the history of this form of Greek art. This exhibit should contain 5-7 works of art, organized in whatever manner the student finds to be the most effective. Students can print off images of each work of art, but will also have to write placards explaining each piece as well as an exhibit brochure/guide that explains the major periods, themes, works, and significance of this form of Greek art. Give students space to set up their exhibits and then let students tour each other's pop-up museums.
This project can be completed by students independently or in groups. Start by assigning each student a famous Greek statue or letting them select one. Students will research the history of this statue and its significance. They will present their research on different days. To present, each student will write up a summary of their research, to be read by the teacher or the other group members, and dress and pose as their statue.
Set up a curtain in the classroom. The presenting student will stand behind the curtain, dressed as their statue. When they have their pose ready, draw back the curtain and read their summary. Give the class a few seconds to view the statue, then close the curtain and let the next student/group set up. This project can be modified based on the resources and time of your specific students. If costumes, face paint, and other items will be difficult for your students to procure, provide them with some plain white sheets for togas and ask them to hold the pose of the statue without further dressing like it. The research component will be the same.
For this project, students are going to research the main styles of ancient Greek pottery and then create their own basic reconstructions. As written, this project uses simple paints and paper plates, but if you have access to a kiln then you may consider expanding this to include actual ceramics.
Students will start by researching the history of Greek pottery and ceramics, with a focus on the Geometric, Orientalizing, Black-Figure, and Red-Figure styles. When they have completed their research, students will paint four paper plates in a clay-red color. When that has dried, they will paint each of the four plates in one of the four styles of Greek ceramics. While students should be encouraged to use images of Greek pottery as a reference, their own ''ceramics'' must be of an original design, but made to look as if they could have fit within this tradition. For the Black-Figure and -Red Figure works, students will have to select Greek myths to use, depicting a scene from that story on the plate.
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