Jean Michel Basquiat Art Project Black History Month Art Lesson Art History

Bring bold color, expressive mark-making, and powerful artistic voice into your classroom with this Jean-Michel Basquiat Inspired Art Project Video Lesson — a complete art education experience that blends art history, contemporary art exploration, critical thinking, and hands-on artmaking.

VIDEO ART LESSON

This is a video art lesson. Your download includes the lesson plan and printable pages, plus a "Watch the Video" page with a clickable link and QR code to the step-by-step video tutorial, so you can watch it anytime and show your class again later.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★ “A great resource for students. The videos are wonderful. Great pictures to accompany the lesson.” sherry cooper

★★★ “Our Basquiat projects turned out amazingly well. Great resource” Colleen C.

Are you looking for:

• A strong middle school art project that connects to modern art history?

• A structured yet expressive painting lesson?

• A video-led option for sub plans, hybrid learning, or demonstration support?

• A Basquiat-inspired lesson that goes beyond copying and focuses on creative risk-taking?

This resource delivers ALL of that.

All printable lesson plans and supporting documents are included as downloadable PDFs.

WHAT THIS RESOURCE INCLUDES (SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DOWNLOADABLE PDF, Non-Editable):

• 2-Page Detailed Lesson Plan (overview, big ideas, materials, learning outcomes, competencies)

• National Art Standards alignment page

• Critical Thinking Questions (full page of higher-level discussion prompts)

• Art Project Rubric (4-level assessment tool with craftsmanship, creativity, effort criteria)

• Questions & Wonders worksheet (student inquiry page about Basquiat)

• Art Viewing & Elements of Art analysis page

• Journal: Creating My Artwork reflection page

• Artist Statement template (2 versions included)

• Full-Color Example Artwork page

• How-To Create Visual Instruction Sheet (4-step printable guide with images)

• Copyright & Terms page

WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO IN THIS BASQUIAT INSPIRED ART LESSON:

Students will:

• Explore neo-expressionism and modern art movements

• Experiment with layering paint and oil pastels

• Create expressive abstract backgrounds

• Develop symbolic figures inspired by Basquiat’s bold style

• Use texture, line, color, and mark-making intentionally

• Write reflections and artist statements

• Engage in critical thinking about art, culture, identity, and creative risk

Mediums Suggested:

Acrylic or tempera paint

Oil pastels

Cardstock or thick paper

Black paint or black felt marker

This lesson supports experimentation, voice, and artistic courage — not perfection.

WHY THIS VIDEO ART LESSON WORKS SO WELL IN CLASSROOMS

• Perfect for Grades 4–8 art

• Excellent for middle school art curriculum

• Strong connection to art history and modern artists

• Great for distance learning or hybrid classrooms

• Encourages risk-taking and creative expression

• Includes built-in assessment and reflection tools

• Aligns with National Art Standards

You get structure AND creative freedom.

ABOUT MS ARTASTIC

I’m Kathleen McGiveron — artist, educator, entrepreneur, and the creative mind behind Ms Artastic. I’ve been featured on NBCLX and was the Featured Educator on the cover of OCO Magazine. I create classroom-tested, original art lessons designed to build confident, creative students.

Every resource is built with real classroom experience and intentional pedagogy behind it.

I work hard for 5-star reviews and truly value your feedback. Your reviews help me continue creating high-quality, artastic resources for teachers like you!

FAQ

Q: What grade level is this best for?

A: Ideal for Grades 4–8, especially middle school art. It can be scaffolded up or down depending on ability level.

Q: How long does this lesson take?

A: Typically 2–3 class periods depending on drying time, depth of reflection, and student pacing.

Q: What materials do I need?

A: Acrylic or tempera paint, oil pastels, thick paper/cardstock, brushes, and optional black paint or marker for outlines.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

You may not share, distribute, upload, or post this resource online (including Outschool, blogs, or shared drives).

Additional licensing is required for school-wide use.

© Ms Artastic

FILES YOU WILL DOWNLOAD

• Jean-Michel Basquiat Art Lesson - Video Lesson + Lesson Plan - Ms Artastic.zip: the lesson plan and printable pages (PDF), plus a "Watch the Video" page (PDF) with a clickable link and QR code to the step-by-step video tutorial

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