Product Description
Explore symbolism, identity, and storytelling through sculpture with this Black History Month Art Project, a step-by-step assemblage art lesson designed for middle school and high school art students. In this engaging found object sculpture project, students create a three-dimensional assemblage inspired by the work of Betye Saar, making it a meaningful and relevant Black History Month art project.
This lesson is ideal for teachers looking for a no-prep Black History Month art project that encourages personal expression while still providing clear structure and guidance. Students use everyday found objects to represent their past, present, and future, learning how artists use symbolism to communicate ideas, experiences, and values through art.
Whether you’re teaching an artist study, a mixed media sculpture unit, or need a reliable Black History Month art project, this lesson helps students think deeply while creating visually striking, display-worthy artwork.
Why Teachers Love This Black History Month Art Project
- Clear, scaffolded instructions for student success
- Focuses on About Me symbolism, identity, and personal storytelling
- Works well for middle school and high school art
- Perfect for Black History Month art projects or artist study units
- Encourages meaningful reflection without overwhelming students
- No prep and easy to implement
- Creates unique, engaging 3D assemblage sculptures
This project works especially well for intro to art classes, mixed media units, and symbolism-focused art lessons.
What’s Included in This Black History Month Art Project
This resource includes everything you need to teach the project with confidence:
- Editable Canva slideshow (teacher version)
- View-only slideshow link for students
- Student handout PDF with step-by-step project instructions
- Symbolism & reflection worksheet (past, present, future focus)
- Printable grading rubric with student self-check
- Teacher instructions and terms of use
All materials are ready to teach and easy to customize.
Skills & Concepts Covered in This Black History Month Art Project
- Assemblage and found object art
- Symbolism in art
- Identity and personal narrative
- Mixed media sculpture techniques
- Texture, layering, and composition
- Reflection and visual storytelling
Students learn how everyday objects can become powerful symbols when used intentionally.
How Teachers Use This Black History Month Art Project
- Black History Month art projects
- Betye Saar artist study
- Assemblage or sculpture units
- Mixed media art lessons
- Identity and symbolism projects
- No-prep sub plans (with slideshow + handouts)
- Multi-day or short-term projects
Grade Levels
✔ Middle School Art
✔ High School Art
Materials Needed
- Container (bottle, jar, can, or similar)
- Found objects (keys, jewelry, chains, bolts, etc.)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Black or dark metallic paint
- Metallic acrylic paint (gold, copper, silver)
Why This Black History Month Art Project Works
This assemblage art project balances structure and creative freedom, making it accessible for all students while still allowing for deep personal expression. The built-in reflection prompts help students connect their artwork to meaning, identity, and experience—resulting in thoughtful, authentic student work that goes far beyond decoration.
If you’re looking for a high-engagement Black History Month art lesson that combines sculpture, symbolism, and storytelling, this assemblage project is a strong addition to your art curriculum.
All of my lessons can be shared with your students through Google Classroom or any digital platform and are formatted to work for distance learning or in the classroom. They are designed to save you time and help your students access the tutorials, presentations, videos, or worksheets as easily as possible. You can find more ready-to-go, easy-to-follow, time-saving art lessons in my RESOURCE SHOP.
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