Our lesson plans are a great way to bring the National Gallery of Canada's collection into the classroom. All resources and tools in this section can be used in conjunction with class activities or can be customised to meet the individual needs of your students. There are five themes, they are:


Drawing With Light
This lesson uses a selection of photographs to illustrate the origins of, and technical and stylistic developments in, photography. The importance of light is emphasized.

An Introduction to Pictorial Space
This lesson plan provides an introduction to the paintings in the National Gallery of Canada’s collection of European art by means of a study of pictorial space.

People of African Descent
This lesson plan introduces a selection of historical works by artists' of African descent and portraits of individuals of African descent.

Prints and Drawings in Contemporary Inuit Art
This lesson plan provides an introduction to the contemporary Inuit art prints and drawings.

M.C. Escher
This lesson introduces some M.C. Escher's preferred themes through ten prints from the collection of the National Gallery of Canada.

New Ideas New Materials
This lesson plan provides an introduction to the works of American artists of the 1960s and 1970s.

Aboriginal Voices in Canadian Contemporary Art
This lesson plan presents Canadian contemporary art by artists of Aboriginal ancestry.

Contemporary Inuit Sculpture
This lesson presents 10 Inuit artists whose work reflects traditions that are thousands of years old.

Photographic Links
This lesson plan explores photography as a means of a visual memory of humankind, a storehouse of information, and a witness to past events.

The Group of Seven
This lesson offers a general introduction to the original members of the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson.

Cityscapes
This lesson plan introduces you to the theme of the city in art, using works by Canadian artists from various backgrounds.