A More Thoughtful Way to Share Artists

I wanted my students to encounter more artists, but I also wanted those encounters to feel meaningful. Over the years, I’ve tried several ways to make that happen. I regularly introduce artists through our projects, but I also want students to discover new artists on their own.

For a while, I used an “Artist of the Week” format. Each student added a new artist to a shared slide deck every week and gave one sentence explaining their choice. In practice, this often led to rushed decisions and presentations that felt like something we simply had to get through.

This year, I redesigned the routine. Each student chooses one artist for the entire semester, completes two focused slides, and gives a 2–3 minute presentation. With only two students presenting each week, we have time to look closely, hear why the artist matters to the presenter, and consider one artistic idea we might borrow for our own work. Because students choose only once, their decision feels more intentional and meaningful.

I turned the full routine into an editable resource with student slide templates, a model presentation, teacher directions, a sign-up schedule, Canvas/LMS assignments, and rubrics. If you would like to try Artist Spotlight in your own classroom, you can find it here:

VIEW THE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT RESOURCE

A Simple Way to Teach Art History (Without Starting from Scratch)

Teaching art history can feel like a lot to piece together: slide presentations, notes, artists, assessments, and trying to make it all feel connected for students.

I’ve been working on a set of 90-minute art history lessons that I use in my own classroom, and I recently packaged everything into one place. It covers 12 major movements from the Renaissance to Pop Art, and follows a consistent structure so students know what to expect each time.

Each lesson includes:

• Learning targets, essential questions, and vocabulary
• Guided notes + slide support
• A short video or EdPuzzle 
• A quick “Memory Builder” quiz
• Options for discussion and assessment

I have also added a comparison chart + student worksheet + review activity to help students see how everything connects across movements.

The goal was to make something that could work in a lot of different situations:

• Art history days
• Sub plans
• Integrated studio units
• Or even as a mini-course

If you’re looking for a way to make art history feel more structured (and a little less overwhelming), you can check it out here: Art History Curriculum on TPT

If you try it, I’d love to hear how you use it in your classroom.