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This Art History Workbook takes students through Western Art History from Prehistoric times to Impressionism. It is designed for Grades 5 to 8, in the classroom or at home, and combines art history readings, art activities and critical thinking prompts.
Students connect with 10 key Western art periods by reading, reflecting and creating. Each period is broken into short, accessible lessons for upper elementary and middle school learners, with informational texts, comprehension questions, reflective writing and hands-on art prompts tailored to each art style. Use it as a complete booklet or pick individual lessons to fit into your year.
WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING
★★★★ “These are fantastic worksheets to introduce students to art history in an engaging way. The activities included were really engaging and the information was presented in a really clear way.” Nathalie E.
WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF, AMERICAN ENGLISH)
- Title Page for booklet format
- 10 Western Art Periods: Prehistoric, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Realism and Impressionism
- Rubric for Assessment
- KWL Chart (Know, Wonder, Learn) for Art History
- Why Do We Study Art? writing prompt
- The Value of Art reflection
- Workbook Completion Reflection Page
Each art history period includes 7+ pages: informational reading, comprehension questions, exploration activity, "Let's Dig Deeper" critical thinking questions, Postcard From the Period writing activity, period-specific art activity and an artwork prompt page.
HOW TO USE IT
Print pages individually or as a full booklet using the included title page. They work as interactive sketchbook inserts, handouts, or complete workbooks in duo-tangs or binders. Let students explore mediums freely or guide them through materials you choose, such as oil pastels, watercolor paints, colored pencils, wax crayons, tempera or markers.
Preview the whole workbook first to decide whether to use the lessons individually or as a sequential unit. You can assign one period per week or explore them in thematic clusters. For real-life art examples, show visuals from museum websites or open-access image galleries like the MET or Wikimedia Commons. It suits art teachers building a year-long curriculum, homeschool families, and subs who need grab-and-go lessons.
FAQ
What grade levels is this workbook best suited for?
It is designed for Grades 5 to 8, with readings, questions and art prompts suited to middle-grade learners.
Do students need prior art history knowledge?
No. The informational pages give students the historical background they need to understand each style and make meaningful art.
Can I choose the art materials my students use?
Yes. Use whatever you have on hand, or guide students to try different mediums like wax crayons, pastels or watercolor paints.
Is it editable?
No. It is a non-editable PDF.
ALL TEACHER REVIEWS
★★★★ “Great resource! Concise and engaging. However, there is a typo on the Prehistoric Period introduction page. It says Paleolithic Period (1,500,000 B.C.E - 8000 C.E.) It should be 8000 B.C.E.” sara G.
Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.
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 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 clip art in classroom décor, websites, binder covers or art lessons, use this with appropriate licensing in your classroom, and be creative with how you bring the workbook into your curriculum.
YOU MAY NOT: share this resource across schools, districts or with other educators (each teacher must purchase their own license), upload it to OutSchool, blogs or websites, photocopy it for others or give it away for free.
Sincerely,
Ms Artastic