Young children benefit greatly from freedom and flexibility in the arts, as they tend to not place restrictions on themselves. Set up art stations around the room, such as a station for painting and a station for clay arts. Introduce themes, such as "insects" or "your family," and show examples. Children at this age are learning how to use their hands to create and finding out what they are capable of, so lesson plans do not need to be any more elaborate.
Older elementary school students can absorb explanations of different techniques. Group lessons by media, such as a few weeks of painting followed by a few weeks of ceramics. Introduce each art form with famous examples, and discuss students' reactions to the pieces. Group projects, such as classroom murals or "quilts" made of different pieces of art, are good for this age group, as they learn how to collaborate with others.
Middle school students are able to differentiate between media, and might have developed a preference for one art technique over others. Some lesson plans may allow students to create a piece in their favored media, all based on a common idea; other lesson plans can have all students try the same media, so as to allow the entire class to experiment in and appreciate other art forms. Students at this age can benefit from technical instruction in concepts, such as perspective, so lesson plans should allow for adequate time for explaining techniques.
High school art classes are often filled with students who have demonstrated proficiency in one of the arts. Most high school students are capable of learning about art in context, connecting information about history, sociology and art history. Cross-curricular lesson plans increase teenagers' appreciation for the role of art in society and can inspire them to create work that expresses their own understanding of the world. Give students background information for themes such as different movements in art, social upheaval, technological advances and the forging of identity. Show examples of how different artists were influenced by these topics, and allow students freedom to show their own interpretations.