Smithsonian American Art Museumis a museum in Washington, D.C., with an extensive collection of

American art.

Part of the Smithsonian Institution has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in

the United States.

The museum describes

itself as being "dedicated

to collecting,

understanding, and

enjoying American art.

The museum celebrates

the extraordinary creativity

of artists whose works

reflect the American

experience and global

connections.

One of the objectives of the program is to enhance culture knowledge about Art through the Smithsonian American Art

Museum connection they make with the topics of the units. Keystone’s books

include two pages at the end of each unit with this link.

For instance: See next slide

KEYSTONE D

Keystone Theme Concepts

Learn about Art with the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Unit 1 What is light?

Capturing the Power of Contrasts: black or white, light or shadow, good or evil. The effects reflected on pieces of art.

Unit 2 How are growth and change related?

Cycles of Nature: Artists explore our natural world and life cycles in their own particular way of facing change and physical growth, through sculptures and paintings and more.

Unit 3 How can we tell what’s right?

That’s Art ?: What is art? Is it right to go beyond traditional paintings or sculptures ? Artists question themselves about art itself.

Unit 4 Can we think with the heart?

Bonding or Braking? Feelings. Drama, human emotions through paintings, sculpture and other media

Unit 5 What can we learn from times of war?

Citizens on the Home Front. War involves deep emotions and harsh consequences, artists use their work to try to make sense of it all through lithographs, paintings, acrylics and more.

Unit 6 What makes animals so amazing?

Animals in Human Society. Artists have captured the animal world in many different ways of expression.

As you can see, the teacher’s sensitivity will help him/her find the way to awake a sense of appreciation. Taking into consideration students’ profile, the teacher will decide length and depth of this learning aspect.

"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist, and that there

are as few as there are other great artists. Teaching might even be the

greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit." 

--John Steinbeck