Chinese New Year Art Project: Chinese Ming Dynasty Vase Art Lesson & Sub Plan

Ready to liven up your middle school art curriculum with engaging, no prep Chinese New Year art projects? This Ming Dynasty vase lesson will boost student confidence and creativity. Kids will be intrigued by production of the cobalt blue porcelain ceramics. Moreover, they’ll enjoy playing a roll a dice game to make a vase of their own!

And, it’ll help time-starved teachers like you create art lesson plans based on ancient China.

During this art project, your class will learn about pottery, earthenware, stoneware, underglazes, and the ancient city of Jingdezhen. Use it to discuss the coil method versus the potter’s wheel. Students will draw a Chinese Ming vase with monochromatic colors using the step-by-step guide and PowerPoint.

Plan lessons for students about Chinese art history and art appreciation in a way that excites them. Finally feel confident in your art curriculum and be organized and prepared to teach art!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring for kids. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesn’t have to be a snoozer, though!

I’ve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this Ming vase art project. All will engage kids to create! Choose which way works best for your classes:

• Roll a dice game to add randomness to your student’s artwork
• “You Pick” idea worksheet for kids to choose their own elements
• Digital spinner wheels, so kids can randomly pick elements and you can integrate technology in the art room
• Printable dice template in case you have no dice
• 6 Printable Vase Templates, with descriptions on what each vase shape was used for, to make setting up the drawing easier
• Step-by-step picture directions to guide students through the art process
• Drawing practice worksheet, for kids who want to sketch out their ideas
• Ming Dynasty Pottery handout about the rise of Chinese pottery beginning in the Neolithic Age until modern day
• “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet where students write about their art process
• Art rubric, a self-assessment tool to get students thinking about things like craftsmanship and art project goals
• 8 “I CAN” Statements aligned to the Studio Habits of Mind to use during instruction or post on your bulletin board
• 4 Art exit tickets with quick, thought-provoking prompts
• Art history coloring pages to keep kids inspired by ancient Chinese art history outside of the art room

YOU WILL RECEIVE

• 1 Non-Editable Printable PDF (Chinese Vase Drawing Project)
• 1 Non-Editable PowerPoint
• 5 Digital Spinner Videos (downloadable, and links to them on Google Slides and YouTube)
• Paperless Google Drive Digital Resource

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My students absolutely enjoyed learning about the history of Ming Vases from China. They were very excited to use the dice as some have trouble deciding on which animal and patterns to make. This ensured that everybody could get to the task on time and helped with classroom planning and management. The vases turned out great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My fourth and fifth-grade students are studying art history. As a catch-up day activity, I gave students the option of creating artwork with these roll-an-art worksheets. The Chinese vases the students made using this worksheet came out beautifully! Thank you for the great resource!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my favorite art assignments for students. It allows them to be creative while still using and applying knowledge that they have learned about the Chinese Ming Dynasty.

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Created by Amie Bentley, © Glitter Meets Glue Designs, LLC