2021 UPDATE

Norman Arts Council has developed sets of curriculum centered around standout pieces from Norman’s public art collections as a resource for Norman Public School teachers and instructors! While delivery of material requests for these projects have been temporarily suspended, we encourage any and all parents, teachers and instructors from across Norman and the greater Oklahoma area to utilize the lessons on science, engineering, math, language arts, art and social studies through the prism of public art, at this time!

Follow through the Prezi presentations or download a PDF to get started, and let us know if you have any questions at publicartissmart@normanarts.org!

We are happy to make this resource available for free for all who can use it, but if you are able, consider giving a gift to Norman Arts so that we can continue developing the Public Art is SmART program!

Public Art is SmART is powered by Armstrong Bank, Norman Arts Council, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Firehouse Art Center with additional support from Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and BancFirst

Classroom Resources

Prezi

Prezi is a dynamic way to present information. Our resources are primarily based on a Prezi format. You can either teach directly from them or peruse them for lessons or inspiration. Follow the path or click to zoom into parts that interest you.

PDF

We also offer PDF versions of each presentation here:

Horses In Motion PDF
Splash PDF
Prairie Wind PDF

VISUAL ARTS GLOSSARY

Download our visual arts glossary here:

Visual Arts Glossary PDF

Outline of our Prezis

Our presentations are all structured in the same way:

• Introduction – Art details, including location, artist information, general description, photographs

• Lesson Ideas (2 ideas per subject) – Art, Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Science, Misc.

• Related books

• Oklahoma Standards

Original Content

We create unique lessons based on the subject, location, appearance, medium, and symbolism of each piece of public art.

Interactive Resources

In our lessons, we also connect you to educational interactive resources. These are perfect for iPads, Smartboard activities or use in media centers or computer labs.

Related Books

Each resource contains a list of picture and chapter books that are appropriate for a variety of grades and reading levels.

How to Use our Resources

Our resources can be used in a variety of ways. There is no limit to how you approach the artwork or the lessons and activities we offer either in your classroom or in partnership with another teacher in your school. You could:

Start with a topic or subject

For example, geometry. The Geometry of Quilts is a lesson from the Horses in Motion resource that relates to piecing together triangles to create a quilt pattern.

Or you could:

Start with the art

Begin with Horses in Motion and teach about the bridge, the artist, and the symbolism of the enhancements.

List of Projects with Resource

Topics and Activities Covered

(HIM) = Horses In Motion
(SP) = Splash
(PW) = Prairie Wind

Art          

About Eadweard Muybridge (SP)

Aztec Sun Stone Art Activity (PW)
Material Request

Background Information on the Aztec Sun Stone (PW)

Clay-mation iPad Art Room Daily Monsters (SP)
Material Request

Explore Art:
Charles Russell (HIM)

Flip Books (SP)
Material Request

Learn About Stop Motion Animation (SP)

Making Claymation/Animation in the Classroom (SP)
Material Request

One Point Perspective Drawing (PW)
Material Request

Saltwater Painting (SP)
Material Request

Splash Art Cards (SP)

Weave a Paper Basket (HIM)
Material Request

ENGINEERING

Lesson Plan for Bridge Building (HIM)
Material Request

Design Lab:
Bridge Break Competition (HIM)
Material Request

Design Lab:
Bridge Break Activity (HIM)
Material Request

Teach Engineering:
Tensile & Compressive Forces Activity (HIM)
Material Request

Teach Engineering:
Straw Bridges Activity (HIM)
Material Request

Teach Engineering:
Load It Up! (HIM)
Material Request

Teach Engineering:
Shallow & Deep Foundations Activity (HIM)

Teach Engineering:
Break the Mold Activity (HIM)
Material Request

Teach Engineering: 
Cost Comparison Activity (HIM)
Material Request

Language Arts

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (PW)
Learning to Take Notes During Oral Reading
Writing A Biography
Learning to Take Notes from Video Sources
TED Talk with author William Kamkwamba
Read Aloud Lesson
Language Arts Unit

Come On, Rain! Complete Lesson Plan (SP)

Come On, Rain! Online Version (SP)

The Great Fuzz Frenzy Figurative Language (SP)

Horse Idioms (HIM)

How Do Quilts Tell Stories? (HIM)
Material Request

How Strong is a Horse? (HIM)
Material Request

Out of the Dust Class Reading Guide:
Lesson Plans focused on Theme, Vocabulary (SP)

Out of the Dust Discussion Guide:
Focused on Plot, Character (SP)

Out of the Dust Novelinks:
Extensive Resources (SP)
Material Request

Paper Wind Mill (PW)
Material Request

Persuasion Mapping (PW)
Planning Sheet
Words and Phrases

Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening & More:
Lesson Ideas for Come On, Rain! (SP)

Symbolism of the Bridge (HIM)

What’s Good and What’s Bad About Wind Energy? (PW)

Why Do Horses Wear Shoes? (HIM)
Material Request

Oklahoma Standards

Our resources correlate standards in Visual Arts, Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. Many standards only change in the depth and breadth as grade levels progress. Generally, standard numbers are given where the base standard applies, although wording might be slightly different amongst grade levels.

Public Art is smART - How It Works

Materials

We want to provide you with the materials your students need for doing the activities included in our resources!   You can order them from us and we will deliver them to you.

Following each activity you will find a form to request materials for that project.  This form includes the activity name, a list of the supplies so you can indicate which of those you need, number of students, to whom and where they should be delivered, by what date, and contact information for any questions.

Complete the form, send it to Cher at the Norman Arts Council, and when she receives your request, she will send confirmation to you. We must have at least two weeks’ notice before the materials are needed. Please allow for holidays when planning for delivery of materials.

*NOTE - Material requests have been temporarily suspended at this time*

Posters

You will receive a color 22 x 28” poster of the subject work of public art when you order materials for projects in our resources.

BOOKS

Each of our resources includes a Related Books section. We have sets of each title at the Norman Arts Council that are available for you to borrow for a 1 month period of time. Call Cher at the NAC (405.360.1162) to check availability of the books and schedule when you would like to check them out. Availability is limited, so please plan accordingly.

When we deliver your book order, we ask that you are prepared to schedule an appointment in 1 month for us to pick-up the books.

*NOTE - BOOK requests have been temporarily suspended at this time*

OUTCOME SURVEYS

We need your input! It is vital for the effectiveness of Public Art is SmART that we can properly assess its impact on teachers and students. In order to make certain that it is always beneficial for you and to enable us to qualify and quantify our results; we ask that you complete the program survey that you will find here.

In that survey, you will find a place for you to tell us about any positive, meaningful stories related to the impact of our program on you, your students, or perhaps a member of a student’s family. Please take the time to relate those stories to us.

 We want to be able to continue to use Norman’s public art to help you and your students in the best possible manner. 

Involving Artists in Residency 

If you would like to complement your lessons by having a creative, teaching artist work with your students, the Norman Arts Council can help you find the right artist and Sudden Opportunity Support grants are available to provide help with the funding.

Additionally, the following organizations have artists in residence programs and possible funding opportunities:

• Norman Public Schools at www.normanpublicschools.org/Page/106

• Firehouse Art Center at normanfirehouse.com

• Oklahoma Arts Council at www.arts.ok.gov

Reporting

If you have any technical difficulties or problems with our resources, we want to solve them as quickly as possible. Contact Norman Arts Council by phone (405.360.1162), email at publicartissmart@normanarts.org or fill out the form below.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you have any additional comments at publicartissmart@normanarts.org or by filling out the form below.