You can teach elementary students basic information about some of history's great masters and their best-known works of art. For example, you could teach Vincent van Gogh and use some of his paintings as the basis for art history projects. Using van Gogh's "Starry Night Over the Rhone" as a guide, have elementary students create their own paintings or drawings in a similar style.
Many students in middle school may be inspired by modern artists more than by those who lived a hundred years ago or more. The well-known modern sculptor Claes Oldenburg, born in Sweden in 1929, is famous for creations that mirror everyday objects on a giant scale; these include umbrellas, clothes pins, spoons, buttons, etc. Middle school students may enjoy doing similar projects with simple materials such as cardboard, creating oversized pencils, keys and similar items.
The American artist Keith Haring (1958-1990) was a modern painter whose work appeared on toys, T-shirts and life-sized murals in major cities around the world. High school students have probably seen his work, so learning about Haring would be an excellent project for art history class. He was famous for his graffiti projects, and students can replicate Haring's style by painting wooden desktops. Students need to study Haring's work and then take time to plan and design exactly what they will paint. Desktops must be sanded prior to painting and acrylic paint works well on them. Upon completion, the desktops will be an art history tribute to Haring's work. (See Resource 3.)
College students, especially those seeking degrees and careers in art history and related fields, would find great educational value in doing research into the lives and works of artists. They may choose to study the history of some of the world's great artists or they may delve into lesser-known or more current artists. Research papers from these art history projects would add to the base of knowledge for all who are interested in art and art history.