This album was created by a member of the TPS Teachers Network, a professional social media network for educators, funded by a grant from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit tpsteachersnetwork.org.

Lesson Plans: The City as a Primary Source at the University of the Arts

Album Description

Collection of lesson plans from the University of the Arts TPS course The City as a Primary Source. These lesson plans were selected and edited by UArts TPS Coaches.

  Pre K - 2   3 - 5   6 - 8   9 - 12   13+   Art/Music   English/Language Arts   Social Studies/History   studio art   geography   UArts 


City as Primary Source

Teaching Notes

N. Walton

The City as Primary Source

September 2018
Local history provides rich insight into our daily lives. So often we do not use primary source images, situations, and artifacts in the presence of our students. The practice of teaching using primary sources is the objective of this lesson. In using teaching tools that are first person and immune to interpretation, these tools allow for the students’ own interpretation. The focus using this practice is that students come to their own conclusion through guided practice. In these lessons, we will tour a neighboring city of Philadelphia, learn and use the Library of Congress website as a means of teaching effectively, and reflect and respond to situations which sometimes take place outside of the classroom.

  9 - 12    English/Language Arts    Social Studies/History    digital literacy    UArts  

Mondrian City Maps

Teaching Notes

M. O'Brien

Mondrian City Maps

July 2018
Students will have the opportunity to view and discuss the artwork of Piet Mondrian, as well as primary sources provided by the Library of Congress. These images will inspire the creation of an abstract design using lines, shapes, and the primary colors.

  Pre K - 2    Art/Music    studio art    design    UArts  

Skyscrapers in Cities as a Primary Source

Teaching Notes

  Kaitlin Pankowski  

Skyscrapers in Cities as a Primary Source

July 27, 2018

This lesson can be utilized by many different teachers in the subject areas of art, STEM, and technology; it is also ideal for a collaboration between art and core content and/or technology teachers. Through the lessons students will learn more about primary and secondary sources, skyscrapers and how they are constructed, scale, drawing 3D items, building and support systems, and about architects and what they do. There will be different focuses in the lesson depending on the subject area and the collaborating teacher’s needs.

  6 - 8    Art/Music    English/Language Arts    Social Studies/History    Science    Technology    STEM    STEAM    design    architecture    UArts  

Two Point Perspective, 8th Grade

Teaching Notes

K. Hanson

Two Point Perspective

July 2018

Students will create a drawing of a unique building using two point perspective.

  6 - 8    Art/Music    studio art    UArts  

Neighborhood Architecture

Teaching Notes

T. Fussaro

Neighborhood Architecture

July 2018

Neighborhood architecture: Our neighborhoods, especially in Philadelphia, have gorgeous details we often overlook in our daily lives. These lessons are an opportunity to look more closely, explore, consider, and dream about the future. These lessons focus on noticing details, describing, considering how architecture has changed, as well as how we might like it to change. The final product is creating and writing a description of a new space for the neighborhood.

  3 - 5    6 - 8    Art/Music    English/Language Arts    Social Studies/History    UArts  

Architecture Walk: Comparing Architecture from the Library of Congress and AP Art History Curriculum Set to Local Architecture

Teaching Notes

Architecture Walk: Comparing Architecture from the Library of Congress and AP Art History Curriculum Set to Local Architecture

July 2018

Using images from the Library of Congress that reference AP Art History course content, students will observe, analyze and compare local architecture they see during a walk or “virtual” walk. Students will observe images from LOC prior to talking the walk, then photograph and draw buildings in which they find similar architectural features during their walk. Students will follow up by comparing their drawings to the LOC images and creating a written response.

  9 - 12    Art/Music    architecture    UArts  

Changes in the Hunting Park/Kensington Neighborhood from 1777-1982

Teaching Notes

  Alan Foo  

Changes in the Hunting Park/Kensington Neighborhood from 1777-1982

July 27, 2018

This lesson explores how changes in the students’ neighborhood and landscape affects their lives. Using maps as primary sources to analyze the changes to their neighborhood challenges students’ perception of time and space as well as providing some geographical background into the history of Hunting Park.

  3 - 5    6 - 8    English/Language Arts    Social Studies/History    geography    UArts