Georgia O Keeffe Cow Skull Art Project Art History Lesson Middle School Art

This Georgia O'Keeffe Cow Skull Art Project is an art history lesson where students explore symbolism, composition, line, color and mood. They create a cow skull inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe with oil pastels, watercolor paint and strong line work, set against a bold red, blue and black background.

It is made for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers working with older students, especially middle school and Grades 6 to 9. Students practice observation, central composition, value, shading and artist-inspired symbolism, and the finished pieces stand out on bulletin boards, in hallways and in art shows.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• About the Resource page
• Critical Thinking Questions page
• 3 lesson plan pages
• Georgia O'Keeffe poem hook page
• Student reading page: Georgia O'Keeffe's Legacy
• Rubric page
• How to Draw the Cow Skull page
• KWL chart page
• Reflection pages: The Message, Analyze: Elements and Principles, Compare and Contrast, Questions and Wonders, Goal Setting and Artwork Reflection
• Peer Feedback page and Artist's Statement pages
• Full-page example artwork
• PDF step-by-step tutorial pages: drawing the cow skull, adding skull details, creating the background sections, shading with oil pastel and layering watercolor

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The poem and the Georgia O'Keeffe's Legacy reading introduce her connection to nature, her New Mexico landscapes, her close-up views of objects, and the way she turned ordinary forms into extraordinary art.

Students then build a centered composition with the skull stretching down the page, add subtle bone shading with oil pastel, and layer watercolor for the background. Reflection, compare and contrast, and peer feedback pages help them think about symbolism and mood in their own work.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers looking for a Georgia O'Keeffe project, cow skull art lesson or art history activity for older students.

How long does it take?

Most classes finish in about 2 to 3 art classes, depending on student age and skill level, class behavior, teaching style and class length.

What materials are used?

Oil pastels, a fine tip permanent black marker or black colored pencil, watercolor paint, card stock or thicker paper, paint brushes and water.

Is it editable?

No. The resource is non-editable.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine for October 2025. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this resource as a single educator. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell this resource in any form.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic