Historical, Culturally Diverse, Standards-Based Art Lessons to Inspire Young Artists

(949) 215-1064

Meet the Masters
  • 35 Artist Units
  • How It Works
  • 🖼️ Gallery
  • Jobs
  • About Us
    • About Meet The Masters
    • 😊 Testimonials
    • Standards-Based
    • News / Tips / Blog
    • FAQ’s / Help
    • Job Openings
    • Value-Based Art Lessons
  • Contact
Get Pricing

More results...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

History lessons are better with scissors and glue (Jacob Lawrence)

Posted on 26 Feb at 12:10 pm

Meet Jacob Lawrence – a trailblazing African-American artist who captured history with bold colors and abstract shapes. 

He’s known for his Migration Series, vivid depictions of Harlem, and even a commissioned Olympic poster! 

What makes Lawrence stand out?

  • He turned simple tools into stunning works of art.
  • His use of flat, overlapping shapes created depth without shading.
  • He painted entire series on themes like Black history and everyday life.
Jacob Lawrence Art Lesson
Beginning and intermediate student artists explore tool shapes and the advanced artists create a cityscape. Lessons build and progress by grade level.


What will your students gain from studying Jacob Lawrence?

  • An appreciation for how art can tell stories and evoke emotions.
  • A hands-on understanding of abstract art and balanced composition.
  • Confidence to create their own bold, colorful designs inspired by Lawrence’s style.

In your classroom, students can:

  • Cut out abstract shapes to design unique tool-themed collages.
  • Experiment with patterns, repetition, and overlapping techniques.
  • Learn to see beauty in everyday objects like hammers, saws, and pliers.

Not sure where to start? 

We’ve got step-by-step lessons, materials lists, and volunteer guides to make it easy. You’ll help your students bring history to life while improving their creativity.

Want to see the magic for yourself? 

Check out what other students have created after studying Jacob Lawrence.

Creatively yours,

Meet the Masters
Inspire – Educate – Create


Dig Deeper:

  • 35 Master Artists – Easy to Implement
  • Importance of Standards-Based Lessons
  • Why Our Founder Started MTM in 1985
  • Hear from Happy Students, Parents and Teachers
  • Get a Custom Quote for Your School
Previous Post
This Simple Foil Project Turns Your Classroom Into a Gallery (Klimt)
Next Post
Who needs a paintbrush when you have scissors? (Henri Matisse)

Recent Posts

  • Can a right-brain drawing unlock your students’ creativity? (Picasso)
  • This lesson teaches how to see, not just paint (Georgia O’Keeffe)
  • Inspiring Art Education: The Meet the Masters Approach
  • Incorporate Art Learning in Student’s Education and See the Difference
  • What do haystacks and fireworks have in common? (Claude Monet)

Categories

  • Artists (52)
  • Blog (188)
  • Fun (6)
  • Funding (15)
  • General (31)
  • History (3)
  • In the News (74)
  • Newsletter (29)
  • People (9)
  • Research (17)
  • Testimonials (1)

Add your email to get special savings, art tips and MTM news!

Sign Up

About Meet the Masters

Meet the Masters has 40 years of experience providing interactive, multi-media art education to elementary school students worldwide. Learn more.

Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Pinterest
X
YouTube
LinkedIn
MTM Homeschool Version
MTM Virtual Learning

Everyone Loves MTM!

Working as a volunteer with the Meet the Masters program at my son’s school this past year has been such a great experience. I believe art programs help children build confidence and instill a sense of wonder and curiosity that helps foster creativity. Meet the Masters is so wonderful because it gives young children a taste of art fundamentals while teaching them about the many styles and techniques of artists from around the world and from different time periods. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing each child in my son’s first grade class create their own unique masterpiece!

Online Elementary Art Curriculum
Kim Aish
Harbour View Elementary School, Huntington Beach, CA
More MTM Testimonials

Contact Us

We would be honored to talk to you about bringing Meet the Masters to your school. There is a live person excited to give you more details about our curriculum. Contact us today!

Contact us

© Copyright 1985-2025 Meet the Masters. All Rights Reserved.

  • 35 Artist Units
  • How It Works
  • 🖼️ Gallery
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact

Sitemap