American History through Art

American History through Art Tour Description

5th grade, 8th grade, and HS American History classes

Reynolda’s collection of American art spans the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with some recent 21st-century additions. This tour looks at American history through the portraits, landscapes, still-life and everyday scenes that can be “read” in the context of changing lifestyles over time. Students will also learn about the Reynolds family and historic Reynolda Estate. 

Location: Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Available: year-round (Museum closed in January)

Accommodates: 8-48 people

90 minutes

$5 + tax per student

Learning objectives: Students who experience an American History through Art tour will be able to

• analyze works of art, through interactive discussion, written expression, and/or games
• determine and discuss intersections between the art collection and eras, key moments, and themes in American History
• discuss how artists create works in response to the world around them, and as part of the cultural conversation of the time and consider how art can be a primary source document
• practice visual literacy skills of observation and interpretation
• entertain and express different viewpoints, grounded in their observations in the works of art
• name ways art can express ideas of American identity

NC Standard Course of Study Connections 5th Grade: 

• ELA: 5.CW.1 Engage effectively in collaborative discussions about texts, building on others’ ideas and clearly expressing their own.

• ELA: 5.CW.5.2 Integrate and paraphrase or summarize relevant information when drawing on a variety of sources.

• ELA: 5.CT.1.2 Use self-monitoring, repeated reading, summarizing, writing in response to texts, and discussions with peers and adults to strengthen comprehension.

• ELA: 5.CD.1.1 Determine the themes or main ideas in a text.

• Social Studies: 5.B.1 Understand ways in which values and beliefs have influenced the development of the United States.
• Social Studies: 5.B.1.1 Explain how traditions, social structure, and artistic expression have contributed to the unique identity of the United States.
• Social Studies: 5.B.1.2 Explain how the values and beliefs of various indigenous, religious, and racial groups have contributed to the development of American identity

• Social Studies: 5.G.1.1 Understand the ways in which geographic factors and features have influenced development of the United States.

• Social Studies: 5.G.1.4 Explain the reasons for forced and voluntary migration to, from, and within the United States.

• Social Studies: 5.H.1.1 Explain how the experiences and achievements of women, minorities, indigenous groups, and marginalized people have contributed to change and innovation in the United States

• Social Studies: 5.H.1.3 Explain the ways in which revolution, reform, and resistance have shaped the United States.

• Social Studies: 5.H.1.4 Explain the impact of major conflicts and events on the development of the United States.

• Visual Arts: 5.CN.1.1 Describe how the visual arts has affected, and been affected by, the customs, traditions, and history of indigenous and other cultural groups in the United States.

• Visual Arts: 5.CN.2.2 Give examples of visual artworks or artists that were innovative for their time.

• Visual Arts: 5.RE.1.1 Classify American artists in terms of style, genre, or movements.

• Visual Arts: 5.RE.1.2 Compare a personal interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of peers.

• Visual Arts: 5.RE.2.1 Defend personal preferences for particular works of art.

• Visual Arts: 5.RE.2.2 Identify appropriate criteria for evaluating works of art depending on styles, genres, and media in historical and cultural contexts.

NC Standard Course of Study Connections 8th Grade: 

• ELA 2026: 8.CT.1.2 Use self-monitoring, repeated reading, objective summarizing, writing in response to texts, and discussions with peers and adults to strengthen comprehension.

• ELA 2026: 8.CW.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions about texts, building on others’ perspectives and clearly expressing their own.

• ELA 2026: 8.CD.1.1 Determine the themes or main ideas in a text.

• Social Studies: 8.B.1.1 Determine how the relationship between different regional, social, ethnic, and racial groups have contributed to the development of North Carolina and the nation.

• Social Studies: 8.G.1.1 Summarize the human and physical characteristics of North Carolina and the nation.

• Social Studies: 8.G.1.2 Explain how location, resources, and human geography have influenced the development of North Carolina and the nation.

• Social Studies: 8.G.1.4 Explain the reasons for and effects of forced and voluntary migration on various groups in North Carolina and the nation.

• Social Studies: 8.G.1.5 Explain how geographic expansion has impacted the development of North Carolina and the nation.

• Visual Arts: 8.RE.1.1 Identify how the Elements of Art and Principles of Design are used to differentiate movements, styles, and themes in art.

• Visual Arts: 8.RE.1.2 Explain how a visual artist’s artistic choices are influenced by personal experience, culture, and environment.

• Visual Arts: 8.RE.2.1 Describe personal responses to visual qualities in works of art.

NC Standard Course of Study Connections High School: 

• Social Studies: AH.B.1.5  Explain how various immigrant experiences have influenced American identity.

• Social Studies: AH.B.1.6 Explain how the experiences and achievements of minorities and marginalized peoples have contributed to American identity over time in terms of the struggle against bias, racism, oppression, and discrimination.

• Social Studies: AH.G.1.4 Explain how slavery, forced migration, immigration, reconcentration and other discriminatory practices have changed population distributions and regional culture.

Questions? Contact Julia Tanner, julia@reynolda.org

Optional art workshops ($8 plus tax per student for tour + workshop)

• Chalk prints
• Tissue paper landscape collage