
Lesson Plans
UMFA lesson plans provide inspiration to integrate art into any curriculum. Objects from the UMFA permanent and education collections can enhance the classroom experience. Lesson plans are available as PDFs.
| Name | Grade Level | Core Subject | Duration | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| María Martínez and Community Ceramics | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, Kindergarten | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Social Studies | 50 minutes | |
| My Roots to Branches | 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Science, Social Studies | 50 minutes | |
| Our Classroom Nest | 1st grade, 2nd grade, Kindergarten | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Health Education, Science, Social Studies | 40 minutes | |
| Patterns of a Place | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, Kindergarten | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Social Studies | 40 minutes | |
| Symbols of Family | 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Fine Arts, Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Classroom Shapes Quilt | 1st grade, 2nd grade, Kindergarten | Fine Arts, Mathematics | 60 minutes | |
| Cultural and Ecological Importance of Native Seed Bombs | 4th grade | Fine Arts, Science, Social Studies | 50 minutes | |
| Making Connections Between Art, the Natural Environment and Mindfulness | Junior High, Middle School | Fine Arts, Science | 40 minutes | |
| Map of Us | 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade | Fine Arts, Science, STEAM | 60 minutes | |
| Wind Detectors | Kindergarten | Fine Arts, Science | 60 minutes | |
| Art and Multiple Interpretations | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 9th grade, Secondary | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | ||
| Classroom Shapes Quilt | 1st grade, 2nd grade, Elementary, Kindergarten | STEAM | 60 minutes | |
| Diversity Hands/ The Culture in My Hand | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, All, Kindergarten | English Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes | |
| Making Connections Between Art, the Natural Environment and Mindfulness | Junior High, Middle School | STEAM | 40 minutes | |
| Quilting Together Art and Environmental Education | 1st grade, 2nd grade, Kindergarten | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Science | 60+ minutes | |
| Regional Aesthetics for Kids | 7th grade, 8th grade, Secondary | Visual Arts | 60+ minutes | |
| Storytelling Quilt Activity | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, Elementary | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Traditions of Remembrance: Dia de los Muertos and Memorial Day | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Secondary | English Language Arts, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes | |
| Weaving: An Exploration of Texture and Natural Materials | 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, Elementary | Fine Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Walking Guide | All | |||
| At Work | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Visual Arts | 15 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 1st Grade | 1st grade | Science, Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 2nd Grade | 2nd grade | Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 3rd Grade | 3rd grade | Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 4th Grade | 4th grade | English Language Arts, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 5th Grade | 5th grade | English Language Arts, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class 6th Grade | 6th grade | English Language Arts, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work In-class PreK-K | Kindergarten, Pre-K | Fine Arts, Reading, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 1st Grade | 1st grade | Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 2nd Grade | 2nd grade | Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 3rd Grade | 3rd grade | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 4th Grade | 4th grade | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 5th Grade | 5th grade | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Post Lesson 6th Grade | 6th grade | Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 2nd Grade | 2nd grade | College and Career Readiness, English Language Arts | 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 3rd Grade | 3rd grade | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 4th Grade | 4th grade | College and Career Readiness, Language Arts | 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 5th Grade | 5th grade | College and Career Readiness, Language Arts | 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 6th Grade | 6th grade | College and Career Readiness, Language Arts | 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Roles People Play | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Visual Arts | 60+ minutes | |
| Spinning Yarns, Weaving Tales | 6th grade | English Language Arts, Fine Arts | 45 minutes | |
| The Way we Worked – Art and Social Studies | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, Kindergarten | Art, Social Studies | 45 minutes | |
| Art of Work Pre Lesson 1st Grade | 1st grade | College and Career Readiness, Language Arts | 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Passport Masks Lesson Plan | 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes | |
| Teaching with Objects | All | |||
| Art and Appetite | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Health, Language Arts, Mathematics, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Imagination Land | All | |||
| Art is Accessible! | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, College, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School, University | Fine Arts | 25 minutes, 60 minutes | |
| Bingham Mine | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | ||
| British Passion for Landscapes | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Land Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Speaking and Listening, STEAM, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Landscapes | 4th grade | English Language Arts, Fine Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art Portraits | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Biology, Chemistry, Dance, English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Health, Language Arts, Music, Physics, Science, Social Studies, Theater, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Transforming the Everday object | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Science, Social Studies, Theater, Visual Arts | 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Built Environment | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Fine Arts, Geography, Language Arts, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Printmaking Through the Ages | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Fine Arts, Language Arts, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Color in Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, All, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art, East and West Asian Art, European Art, North American Art |
| LeConte Stewart | All | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | North American Art | |
| Bats in Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60+ minutes | East and West Asian Art, European Art, Mexican and Central and South American Art, Pacific Art |
| Mexican Art | 10th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Mathematics, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60+ minutes | Mexican and Central and South American Art |
| Teaching the Nude through Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten | Art History, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | European Art, Mexican and Central and South American Art, North American Art |
| American Indian Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes | North American Art |
| The Silk Road | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Geography, Information Literacy, Social Studies, Visual Arts, World Language | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | East and West Asian Art, Japanese Art |
| Funk Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, Art History, Language Arts, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | North American Art |
| Japanese Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Social Studies, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Japanese Art |
| Spirituality in Art | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, Kindergarten | Health, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art, Ancient Mediterranean Art, East and West Asian Art, European Art, North American Art, South Asian Art |
| Traditional Paper-cutting | 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade | Art, Social Studies | 60 minutes | |
| Doll Folk Art | Elementary | Art, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | |
| Andy Warhol | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art History, Fine Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Global Contemporary Art, North American Art |
| Bookmaking | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Health, Language Arts, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | European Art, North American Art |
| Video Art of Bill Viola | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Health, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | European Art, North American Art |
| Images of Buddha | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art History, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | East and West Asian Art, South Asian Art |
| Revisiting Utah's Past | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Language Arts, Literacy, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | North American Art |
| African Art 1 | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Anthropology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art |
| Mexican Folk Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art History, Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Mexican and Central and South American Art |
| African American Masters | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, Kindergarten | Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art, North American Art |
| Mesoamerican Art | 10th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Anthropology, Art History, Language Arts, Physical Education, Social Studies | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Mexican and Central and South American Art |
| Abstract Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, Art History, Fine Arts, Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Global Contemporary Art, North American Art |
| Beyond the Macaroni Necklace | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Anthropology, Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | European Art, Japanese Art, North American Art |
| Greek and Roman Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art History, Geography, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Ancient Mediterranean Art |
| Photos of Great Salt Lake | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Environmental Art, History, Land Art, Literary Arts, Science, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | European Art, North American Art |
| Art as Storyteller | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Visual Arts | 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art, Ancient Mediterranean Art, East and West Asian Art, European Art, Global Contemporary Art, Japanese Art, Mexican and Central and South American Art, North American Art, Pacific Art, South Asian Art |
| Art of the Book | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art, History | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | Global Contemporary Art, North American Art |
| Beta Lessons | 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, Elementary, Kindergarten | Art, Theater, Visual Arts, Writing | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes | European Art |
| Traditional Utah Landscapes | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | History, Social Studies | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | North American Art |
| African Art 2 | 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art, Art History, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60+ minutes | African Art |
| Early Utah Women Artists | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art, Art History | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes | North American Art |
| Ancient Egyptian Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art History | 20 minutes | Ancient Mediterranean Art |
| Women Artists | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art History, Music, Science, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes | European Art, North American Art |
| Materials of Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art, Art History, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | North American Art |
| Medieval Manuscripts | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Middle School | Art, Art History, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts | 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 60+ minutes | Ancient Mediterranean Art, European Art |
| Modern Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, Art History, Literary Arts, Music, Visual Arts | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes | European Art, Global Contemporary Art, North American Art |
| Subjects of Art | 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, Elementary, High School, Junior High, Kindergarten, Middle School | Art, Art History, English Language Arts, Geography, History, Mathematics, Science | 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes | European Art |
K-12 STEAM Resources
You’ve probably heard of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) the acronym for disciplines that share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Integrating art into this key combo can help build many more 21st Century Skills and encourage students to find new and fun ways to engage with these important subjects.
STEAM crosses the boundaries of individual subjects to make learning more holistic and dynamic. Using critical thinking and creative problem solving, students prepare themselves for a world that needs leaders and changemakers, especially with the increasing ability of computers and technology.

STEM + Art = STEAM
Below is a list of STEAM-base lesson plans you can download to begin teaching these principles to your students.
- Classroom Shapes Quilt
- Map of Us
- Making Connections Between Art, the Natural Environment and Mindfulness
- Wind Detectors
- Cultural and Ecological Importance of Native Seed Bombs
- Reclaimed Art, Reclaimed Land
- Accidental Art Warm Up
- Research and the Artivist
- Lava Lamps
- Precipitation
- Watercolor Raindrops
Land Art Educator Resources:
- Evening for Educators Inspired by Great Salt Lake
- Earthworks Ecosystems
- Portrait of Place
- Spirals in Nature
- Framing the Landscape
- Tunnel Vision Diorama

More Learning Content
Careeers in art
Explore a variety of career paths both in and out of the museum.


Storytelling in Art
Experience different storytelling methods through art and make a book to create an incredible story of your own.
UMFA in the Wild Online
UMFA in the Wild is a program that aims to show how art and nature are intertwined. If you can’t meet us in the wild places around Utah to experience creating art with inspiration from nature, follow along with these online activities at home.
View the Curriculum and Lesson Plan Archive
Thank You to Our Sponsors



S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney Foundation
Kathie Zumbro
With generous In-Kind support from the UMFA Docents



