I ran across this website just now: the estate of Keith Haring has a website called HaringKids.com which containg a number of things, including lesson plans for art, art criticism, and a whole bunch of other subjects:

Haring Kids Lesson Plan Database

You can view lessons by Curriculum, Age/Grade, Subject, Materials, Title, Institution, Location, and Author.

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Drama Curriculum for 2006-2007 Academic Year
Grades 9-12

I had little clue how to lead a drama class at the beginning of the year, and it shows in the somewhat haphazard delivery in lessons. However, I did get my kids through a variety of skill development exercises: movement, vocal, character development, analysis, script writing, rehearsal, performance, critique, and group cooperation. I have endeavored to meet the California state content standards, but have a long way to go.

For the most part, I set aside Mondays for reading and responding (literacy reinforcement), and Fridays for drama games (the kids’ favorite day.) Three of my students are Advanced Drama students, but this year they get the same curriculum as the beginning students. I haven’t had time to create separate projects for them, plus I’m not sure they got all the basics down last year. Next year I hope to create special projects for drama students who had me this year.
I’ve borrowed many ideas from several wonderful drama books. They are referenced with superscript notation to footnotes at the bottom of the page.

I’ve also displayed my art curriculum.

WEEK No.	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI
1 Aug 14	Intro Syllabus About Me Student surveys	Game: “Two truths and a lie”	Game: “Sell your name”1	“Sell your name”1 (cont.), drama games	Group mini-drama from children’s books a la “What’s Up Tiger Lily?”
2 Aug 21	“What’s Up Tiger Lily?” (cont.)	“What’s Up Tiger Lily?” (cont.)	“What’s Up Tiger Lily?” (cont.)	“What’s Up Tiger Lily?” (cont.)	Drama Games
3 Aug 28	Introduction to improv: - read & respond to “Rules of Improv”1 - chair exercise	Read & respond: - “The Job of the Actor”2 - “Technique Outline”2	Vocal exercises, especially articulation	Vocal games and exercises	Drama Games
4 Sep 4	HOLIDAY	Read & respond: “Physical Action”2	Movement exercises3	Movement exercises3	Drama Games
5 Sep 11	Read: “Analyzing a Scene”2	Respond to reading, discussion, analyze a scene (group project)	Analyze a scene (cont.)	Movement exercises3	Drama Games
6 Sep 18	Read & respond: “The Truth of the Moment”2	Movement exercises3	Movement exercises3	Character exercises1	Drama Games
7 Sep 25	Read & respond: “Externals”2	Group worksheet: analyze a short play for externals	Character exercises1 - “Like an Animal” steps 1-4 - Laban Effort Actions	“Like an Animal”1 steps 6-7	Drama Games
8 Oct 2	Read & respond: “Preparing for a Scene”2	“Like an Animal”1 - create scripts for 2-person scenes	“Like an Animal”1 - rehearse scenes	“Like an Animal”1 - perform scenes	Drama Games
9 Oct 9	Read & respond: “Trouble- shooting”2	“Like an Animal”1 - perform scenes	“Like an Animal”1 - perform scenes	Character development: 2-minute interview1	Drama Games
10 Oct 16	Read & respond in pairs: “The Tools of the Craft”2	Character development: humors and colors, character sketch1	Write a monologue based on new character from 2-minute interview	Write a monologue (cont.)	Drama Games
11 Oct 23	Read & respond: “The Actor’s Art” & “The Method”4	Write a monologue (cont.)	Write a monologue (cont.)	Rehearse monologue (cont.)	Drama Games
12 Oct 30	Read & respond: “Physical Basics”4	Perform monologues, feedback	Perform monologues (cont.)	Perform monologues (cont.)	Drama Games
13 Nov 6	Read & respond: “Stage Geography” and “Blocking”4	Perform monologues (cont.)	Perform monologues (cont.), survey possibilities for school play (catalog)	Drama Games	HOLIDAY
14 Nov 13	Read & respond: “Sets”4	“A Streetcar Named Desire” Act I, scenes 1 & 2	“Streetcar” - group discussion	“Streetcar” - character analysis on Blanche or Stanley	Drama Games
THANKSGIVING BREAK: Week of Nov 20
15 Nov 27	School play selection, read three choices in class	School play selection (cont.)	School play selection (cont.)	“Streetcar” - Act I, scenes 3 & 4 - second character analysis: Blanche/ Stanley	Drama Games
16 Dec 4	“Streetcar” reading and discussion	“Streetcar” reading and discussion (cont.)	“Streetcar” reading and discussion (cont.)	“Streetcar” reading and discussion (cont.)	Drama Games
17 Dec 11	“Streetcar” - reading and discussion (cont.)	“Streetcar” - discussion and essays	“Streetcar” - collage project	“Streetcar” - collage project	Drama Games
18 Dec 18	“Streetcar” - view movie	“Streetcar” - view movie	“Streetcar” - view movie	(no class – finals schedule)	“Streetcar” Quiz, Drama Games
WINTER BREAK: Week of Dec 25
19 Jan 8	Read: “Executive Team”4	“Executive Team”4 skits	“Executive Team”4 skits (cont.)	“Executive Team”4 skits (cont.)	Drama Games
20 Jan 15	HOLIDAY	“Executive Team”4 skits (cont.)	“Executive Team”4 skits (cont.)	“Executive Team”4 skits (cont.)	Drama Games
21 Jan 22	“Executive Team”4 skits - performances	“School for Nerds” (school play) - seated read-through	“School for Nerds” - seated read-through (cont.)	“School for Nerds” - seated read-through (cont.)	Drama Games
22 Jan 29	“School for Nerds” - character sketches	“School for Nerds” - character sketches (cont.) - share sketches with whole group	“School for Nerds” - share sketches with whole group (cont.)	“School for Nerds” - share sketches with whole group (cont.) - begin blocking	Drama Games
23 Feb 5	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.)	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.)	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.)	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.)	Drama Games
24 Feb 12	HOLIDAY	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.)	“School for Nerds” blocking (cont.) / reflection on blocking process	Discuss props and costumes, go through old prop/costume box	Drama Games
25 Feb 19	HOLIDAY	Laid out stage dimensions on floor with masking tape	(nothing accomplished due to minimum day conflicts between schools)	Read and respond: “Directing Theater” by Debra Bruch	Drama Games

1) Source: “Stages: Creative Ideas For Teaching Drama” by Talia Pura
2) Source: “A Practical Handbook for the Actor” by Melissa Bruder
3) Source: “At Play: Teaching Teenagers Theater” by Elizabeth Swados
4) Source: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amateur Theatricals” by John Kenrick

Upon reflection, I feel that “A Practical Handbook for the Actor” by Melissa Bruder (2) was too advanced for my high schoolers. I have ordered high school drama textbooks for next year (or maybe the late part of this academic year!):

“Basic Drama Projects” by Fran Avarett Tanner, PhD

It does a great job of covering the content standards. I am relieved that I will have an individual text book for each student. I don’t believe there has ever been a drama textbook in this school before (at least, not recently).

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I’m brand new at this. I had to build an art curriculum last year for an independent study charter school. This year I am building an art curriculum for a traditional school. I’m sure there are many flaws, but I have endeavored to meet the California state content standards. I also wanted to make it enjoyable for all of my students.

There may be other art teachers out there looking for art curriculum ideas, so I’ve complied a calendar of the academic year to date. It includes links to blog posts here that give further description of the lessons. I’ve done the same for drama.

Art Curriculum 2006-2007

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Art Curriculum for 2006-2007 Academic Year
Grades 6-12

I’m brand new at this. I built an art curriculum last year for an independent study charter school. This year I am building an art curriculum for a traditional school. I’m sure there are many flaws, but I have endeavored to meet the California state content standards. I also wanted to make it enjoyable for all of my students.

The first semester features lessons which focus mainly on the art elements (line, shape, space, form, value, color and texture.) The second semester focuses on large projects and design principles (balance, unity, contrast, emphasis, proportion, pattern, and rhythm.)

There may be other art teachers out there looking for art curriculum ideas, so I’ve compiled a calendar of the academic year to date. It includes links to blog posts here that give further description of the lessons, and links to outside resources.

Unfortunately, since I’ve had to create brand new classes for both drama grades 9-12 and art grades 6-12, and only 24 hours in a day, I have the same curriculum for the middle school and high school. Next year I plan to have distinct curricula for art grades 6-8, grades 9-12 proficient, and grades 9-12 advanced.
I’ve done the same for my drama curriculum.

I’ve borrowed many ideas from several wonderful drawing books. They are referenced with superscript notation to footnotes at the bottom of the page.

WEEK No.	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI
1 Aug 14 Line	Intro Syllabus About Me Student surveys	Pre-instruction drawings1: -hand -stack of books	Pre-instruction drawings1: - portrait of student across table	Upside-down drawing1	Free Draw
2 Aug 21 Line	Duplication exercise2	Differentiation exercise2	Mirror-imaging exercise2	Object-recognition exercise2	Free Draw
3 Aug 28 Line	Gridding exercise	Gridding exercise (cont.)	Doodles with templates and french curves2	Unstructured doodles: pattern and color2	Free Draw
4 Sep 4 Space, Shape	HOLIDAY	Negative space exercises2	Negative space exercises2 (cont.)	Negative space exercises: photos of athletes in motion	Free Draw
5 Sep 11 Form	Introduction to “Art History Reading“	Art History Reading	One-point perspective: demonstration	One-point perspective: worksheets	Free Draw
6 Sep 18 Form	Art History Reading	One-point perspective: worksheets	Two-point perspective: demonstration	Two-point perspective: worksheets	Free Draw
7 Sep 25 Form	Art History Reading	Sighting – drawing outdoors	Human head in profile1 (worksheet)	Human head in full face1(worksheet)	Free Draw
8 Oct 2 Value	Art History Reading	Value: shading3	Value: shadow3	Shading techniques worksheet	Free Draw
9 Oct 9 Value	Art History Reading	Value: draw a sphere	Value: draw a figure in crosshatch1	Value: draw a human skull in profile	Free Draw
10 Oct 16 Value	Art History Reading	Value project: draw another student with an imaginary background	Value project (cont.)	Value project (cont.)	Free Draw
11 Oct 23 Value	Art History Reading	Value project (cont.)	Value project (cont.)	Value project (cont.)	Free Draw
12 Oct 30 Color, Texture	Masks: tempera and tag board	Masks: tempera and tag board	Paper mosaic: individual work	Paper mosaic: group work	Free Draw
13 Nov 6 Color, Texture	Art History Reading	Decorative paper painting	Decorative paper painting (cont.)	Free Draw	HOLIDAY
14 Nov 13 Color, Texture	Art History Reading	Color wheel collage	Color wheel collage (cont.)	Painting with colored paper collage	Free Draw
THANKSGIVING BREAK: Week of Nov 20
15 Nov 27 Color, Texture	Painting with colored paper collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Free Draw
16 Dec 4 Color, Texture	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Free Draw
17 Dec 11 Color, Texture	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage (cont.)	Self-portrait collage – critique	Free Draw
18 Dec 18 Review	Line and shape game	Manikin models (form and value)	Woven paper (color and texture)	Draw an imaginary person	Free Draw
WINTER BREAK: Week of Dec 25
19 Jan 8	Make an art storage box	Make an art storage box (cont.)	Make an art storage box (cont.)	Make an art storage box (cont.)	Free Draw
20 Jan 15	HOLIDAY	Art History Reading	Character nichos	Character nichos (cont.)	Free Draw
21 Jan 22	Art History Reading	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Free Draw
22 Jan 29	Art History Reading	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Free Draw
23 Feb 5	Art History Reading	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Character nichos (cont.)	Free Draw
24 Feb 12	HOLIDAY	Art History Reading	Character nichos – last details	Nicho critique	Free Draw
25 Feb 19	HOLIDAY	Personal symbols – research	Personal symbols – thumbnails	Personal symbols – final design	Free Draw
26 Feb 26	Accordion Book – paint cover backgrounds	Accordion Book – paint symbol on front cover	Accordion Book – paint symbol on front cover	Accordion Book – assemble book	Free Draw
27 March 5	Posters for school play – thumbnails	Posters for school play – thumbnails	Posters for school play – refined draft	Posters for school play – refined draft	Free Draw
28 March 12	Posters for school play – 18" x 24" in pencil	Posters for school play – 18" x 24" in pencil	Posters for school play – 18" x 24" in color	Posters for school play – 18" x 24" in color	Free Draw
28 March 19	Origami4	Origami4	Origami4	Origami4	Free Draw
29 March 26	Origami4	Origami4	Origami4	Origami4	Free Draw

1) Source: “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards
2) Source: “Drawing with Older Children and Teens” by Mona Brooks
3) Source: “Mark Kistler’s Draw Squad” by Mark Kistler (lessons 3 and 4)
4) Source: “Essential Origami: How to Build Dozens of Models from Just 10 Easy Bases” by Steve and Megumi Biddle

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Horror Stories Continue as NYC Enters 3rd Day of New School Bus Plan 

Stories of chaos and inexplicable stupidity continue to unfold as New York City parents try to make sense of a new school busing plan.

After a lead-in like that, who can resist reading the rest?

In one case – a 7-year-old Queens girl can take the school bus, but her five-year-old sister, who goes to the same school can not.

In another story a ten-year-old girl from Brooklyn might be forced to leave her gifted program because she lost her bus seat and her parents don’t want her riding the subway alone.

In a third story, a Staten Island second-grader is expected to walk along a street without sidewalks and then take three different city buses to get to school.

[More...]

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