Da Vinci — Teaching Tips
This site contains several interactive components and suggested classroom activities to aid your explorations of two thematic areas: perspective and inventions.
Learning Activities >Letter to Teachers
Leonardo da Vinci may seem an unusual topic to study in science. But the more you learn about this remarkable Renaissance man, the more you will realize that he was a terrific role model for applying the scientific method creatively in every aspect of life including art and music. Although he is best known for his dramatic and expressive artwork, Leonardo also conducted dozens of carefully thought out experiments and created futuristic inventions in a time before modern science and invention had really begun.
Though this site was designed to be most appropriate for students in grades four through eight, many of the activities can be adapted for younger or older students as needed.
We suggest you begin your classroom investigation of Leonardo da Vinci by asking your students what they have read or heard about him: Where did he live? When did he live? Why is he famous? You may want to have them make a written list of their initial ideas for comparison at the end of their study of Leonardo.
Next, schedule time for your students to investigate this web site on their own to find out more about Leonardo. After a while, hold a discussion to let them share what they have learned and generate their own questions about Leonardo. More time exploring this site, or using the additional resources, will allow them to answer many of their questions and generate others to investigate.
Eventually you will probably want steer your class towards investigating one or more of the areas in which Leonardo experimented and explored. To help you, this site contains several interactive components and suggested classroom activities to aid your explorations of two thematic areas: perspective and inventions.