Shop Subscribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Schoolyard Blog | Teacher Resources | School Specialty

Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

schoolyard-logo
  • Education Essentials
  • Inspiration & Planning
  • Learning Spaces
  • Podcasts
  • Topics
  • Search
  • < Previous post
    Next post >
    finished city skyline silhouette art piece created from lesson plan

    Arts & Crafts

    Art Lesson Plan: City Skyline Silhouette

    From the famed Manhattan skyline with its iconic Brooklyn Bridge to the Opera House and Harbor Bridge of Sydney, Australia, city skylines are some of the most recognizable sights in the world. Towering high-rise buildings, amazing architectural shapes, and distant, natural wonders, make them an exciting muse for artists and photographers. And never more so than at sunrise or sunset, when the light illuminates these scenes in a bold way. This is a perfect time to channel that muse into beautiful art by following our lesson plan to create a magical city skyline silhouette!

    Ceramics Art Lesson Plan: City Skyline Silhouette

    We learn early in art education that the horizon line is an imaginary line where the sky meets the ground. A skyline is an imaginary line in a city where the sky meets the tops of buildings. We can see this division of space even more dramatically when the sky is light and buildings darken, such as at sunset or sunrise. This is called a silhouette.

    Creating a 3D skyline in silhouette is a great way to help your students grasp the concepts of the horizon line, skyline, and silhouette. With this project, students will observe and identify city skylines, identify and name basic building shapes and forms (geometry!), and use various tools to design, texture, and paint their own silhouetted, 3D city skylines.

    Share images of some spectacular city skylines with your students before they get started, like:

    • San Francisco, CA
    • Chicago, IL
    • Seattle, WA
    • Tokyo, Japan

    Once your study is complete, students will begin the construction of their own skylines. Start in sketch form and include a variety of geometrically-shaped buildings and natural elements. Then carve the skyline into clay and add details like windows, birds, and clouds. Finally, glaze and fire the city skylines, cementing an understanding of horizon and skylines forever.

    See the Full Art Lesson Plan: City Skyline Silhouette

    Follow the link above for the full City Skyline Silhouette Art Lesson plan, including images, step-by-step directions, and a materials list. Suitable for grades 4 through 12.

    Looking for more inspiration? Check out all our art lesson plans!

    Read More Art Lesson Plans

    Tagged With: Art Lesson Plans

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Recommended

    Art Lesson Plan: A Perfect Match

    Arts & Crafts

    Art Lesson Plan: A Perfect Match

    Sharpie “Stained Glass” Literary Activity

    Reading & Literacy

    Sharpie “Stained Glass” Literary Activity

    Flag Day History and a Craft

    Celebrations & Themes

    Flag Day History and a Craft

    Plan Now for Success Next Year

    Inspiration & Planning

    Plan Now for Success Next Year

    Explore The Schoolyard

    Education Essentials

    Inspiration & Planning

    Learning Spaces

     

    TopicsShop Subscribe

    Copyright © 2025 School Specialty, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement · Do Not Sell My Personal Information - CA Resident Only

  • CATEGORIES

    • Education Essentials
    • Inspiration & Planning
    • Learning Spaces
  • TOPICS

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Early Childhood
    • Special Needs
    • Physical Education
    • Educational Technology
    • Student Resources
    • Organization & Storage
    • Classroom Management
    • STEAM & STEM
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Healthy Students
    • Teacher Life
    • Back to School
    • Celebrations & Seasons
    • Out of School
    • News
    • Math
    • Science
    • Podcasts
    • Topics
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube