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  • Grades 3-5
  • Visual Arts
  • English & Literature
  • Social Studies & Civics
  • Visual Artists
  • Fashion & Textiles

Visual Arts Careers
What does it take to have a career in the visual arts?

In this 3-5 lesson, students will make a book about careers in visual arts and create original art for each medium. Students will research and gather information about careers in fashion design, architecture, and graphic design, then present their work in a class “Gallery Walk.”

 

Lesson Content

Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

  • Research and gather information about careers in the visual arts. 
  • Analyze the relationship between art forms and careers. 
  • Describe the impact visual artists have in many areas of daily life and our community.
  • Create a visual arts career book containing work samples and career descriptions.

 

Standards Alignment

Recommended Student Materials

Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.

Videos

Websites

Additional Materials

  • Blank paper, construction paper, cardstock 
  • Optional: scrapbook paper with patterns
  • Pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils
  • Constructing materials (Legos, cardboard, building blocks, or woodcraft sticks)
  • Glue

 

Teacher Background

Teachers should have a basic understanding of visual arts job descriptions, activities, and education required for each of the careers (ex. fashion designer, architect, and graphic designer). Teachers can substitute the careers for other options such as exhibit designer, historic preservation specialist, urban designer, artist-in-residence, art critic, art therapist, book illustrator, web designer, landscape architect, furniture designer, or greeting card designer. 

 

Student Prerequisites 

Students should have an understanding of visual arts as a category within the arts, as well as familiarity with some of the disciplines of visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.).

 

Accessibility Notes

Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies as needed. Allow extra time for task completion. 

  • Adaptation

    Amy Heathcott

  • Original Writer

    Helen Robertson

  • Editor

    JoDee Scissors

  • Updated

    July 23, 2021

  • Sources

     

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Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning

Eric Friedman 
Director, Digital Learning

Kenny Neal 
Manager, Digital Education Resources

Tiffany A. Bryant 
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement

JoDee Scissors 
Content Specialist, Digital Learning

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Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

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