Lesson Plan Toolkit
Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence with the “My Nebraska, Our America: Public Art Design Challenge.” The My Nebraska: Our America Lesson Toolkit is a collection of public art–focused lesson plans designed to celebrate Nebraska’s story as part of America’s 250th anniversary. These lessons invite students to explore how Nebraska’s people, landscapes, and history have shaped, and continue to shape, the American experience. Teachers may utilize all six lesson plans or select the ones that best meet your student's needs when designing public art. Share your student artists’ public art designs with a statewide challenge and digital exhibition. Selected works will appear in a traveling exhibit throughout Nebraska.
Through the lens of public art, students engage with themes central to the U.S. Semiquincentennial: community, innovation, resilience, and civic identity. Each lesson offers ready-to-use resources that help teachers bring Nebraska’s heritage to life through creative, arts-integrated learning.
Developed with Nebraska educators and cultural partners, My Nebraska: Our America encourages students not only to understand the past, but also to imagine their role in the nation’s future.
Lesson Plan #4: Design, Refine, and Dream Big
In this lesson, it’s time for students to start really thinking about their design and how the art responds to community interests and reflects community members. Often community stakeholders ask artists to address and commemorate a particular theme, person, or event that is to be expressed in the artwork. How will artists bring together their personal voice along with the voices of the community?
It’s time for kids to really get imaginative. How will their public art interact with the surroundings? How will those who come into contact be drawn in to explore the art, maybe even touch it, perhaps notice other things around it?
Start by learning about Calder’s "Three Discs One Lacking” and then engage students in collaborative discussions and design trials. Explore the public design process. Be sure the students are collaborative as they develop their designs.
Lesson #2: Analyze Materials & Art Ideas
Public art is intended to be enjoyed by everyone in the community. Public artworks can be both inside or outside. When public artworks are outside, they must endure the elements of extreme heat and sun, the harshness of snow and ice, or the variability of wind or rain. Safety and security of the work should be considered, too, as individuals may interact or come into contact with the work. Artists must consider what materials to use based on the location of the artwork and whether it is 2D or 3D. In this lesson, students and teachers alike will investigate public art artworks, paying attention to where they are located, as well as the materials used. Having gathered that data, students will begin to sketch their ideas for a public artwork and talk about where art work could be placed in their community.
Lesson #5: Presenting: Make It Public!
Now, it’s time to think about presenting the student’s artwork. Students think about what it would be like to present their original design for public art to the community. Artists often write narrative statements that help to explain what inspired them, what their artwork will express, the process to create the final artwork, and where it will be located. Students will create an artist statement that helps others understand their design.
Lesson #3: Personal Voice: Art That Speaks
Personal Voice - Art that Speaks” dives into the stories that are told through art! How does an artist use his or her voice and express ideas to the viewer? What message is the artist attempting to say and invite the viewer into? Explore a variety of public art, taking time to learn about the messages of artwork, then encourage students to think about what message they would want to tell about Nebraska or being American.