These lessons about french decorative arts were designed for elementary and secondary teachers and include related visual-arts and language-arts content standards. In the Image Bank you will find additional suggested questions and activities for use with the images that can be adapted to different grade levels and particular classrooms.
Lessons 1–5 of 5
Looking at French Decorative Arts: A Tapestry Fit for a King Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2) Subjects: Visual Arts Lesson Overview: Students will examine and discuss the tapestry Chariot of Triumph and its symbols and create their own personal symbols for their own tapestry design.
Looking at French Decorative Arts: Symbols in Marquetry Grades/Level: Upper Elementary (3–5) Subjects: Visual Arts Lesson Overview: Students will study a French cabinet and research and discuss its symbols. Students will then create their own marquetry design based on an animal symbol from another country.
Looking at French Decorative Arts: Makers of Nothing, Sellers of Everything Grades/Level: Middle School (6–8) Subjects: Visual Arts, English—Language Arts Lesson Overview: Students will imagine that they are an 18th-century marchand-mercier, or salesman, and will write a persuasive letter to sell a French bed, the Lit à la Polonaise, along with other bedroom furnishings for a client.
Looking at French Decorative Arts: The Science of Good Design Grades/Level: High School (9–12) Subjects: Visual Arts Lesson Overview: Students will discuss the style and function of an 18th-century compound microscope and its case and then design their own modern scientific or technological instrument.
Looking at French Decorative Arts: The Quest for Porcelain Grades/Level: High School (9–12) Subjects: History—Social Science, Science Lesson Overview: Research activities investigate social-science connections such as trade, societal impact, and style on the production and consumption of porcelain in the period leading up to the French Revolution. Extensions relate to chemistry connections.
