🎨 📖 ✊🏿

Jacob Lawrence: Storyteller Through Art

Interactive Teacher's Guide for K-5 Educators

Artist: Jacob Armstead Lawrence (1917-2000)

Target Audience: K-5th Grade Educators

Key Themes: Storytelling Through Art, African-American History, Community, Perseverance

Art Style: Dynamic Cubism, Bold Colors, Narrative Series

Connections: Black History Month, Art Education, American History, Social Studies

👨🏿‍🎨 Who Was Jacob Lawrence?
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Jacob Lawrence was one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. He told stories about African-American life and history through his paintings—using bright, bold colors and simple shapes to create powerful images that everyone could understand.

Quick Facts About Jacob Lawrence:

  • Born: September 7, 1917, in Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • Died: June 9, 2000 (age 82)
  • Famous for: The Migration Series (60 paintings about the Great Migration)
  • Art style: "Dynamic Cubism" - bold shapes, vivid colors, strong patterns
  • Teaching: Professor at University of Washington for 16 years
  • Recognition: First African-American artist represented by a major New York gallery

From Harlem to the World

Jacob Lawrence grew up in Harlem, a vibrant African-American neighborhood in New York City. His mother enrolled him in art classes after school to keep him busy and out of trouble. What started as an after-school activity became his life's passion.

At the age of 16, Lawrence worked in a laundromat and printing plant. But he never stopped making art. He studied with famous teachers like Charles Alston and Augusta Savage, who recognized his incredible talent and helped him develop as an artist.

What Made His Art Special?

Lawrence didn't just paint pretty pictures—he told stories. He created series of paintings (sometimes 20, 30, or even 60 paintings!) that worked together like chapters in a book. Each painting showed a different part of the story.

His paintings used:

  • Bright, bold colors: Influenced by the colorful decorations in Harlem homes
  • Simple, strong shapes: Making complex ideas easy to understand
  • Patterns and designs: Inspired by his mother's carpets and the energy of Harlem
  • Dynamic composition: Showing movement and emotion through how he arranged figures
🚂 The Migration Series: Lawrence's Masterpiece
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When Jacob Lawrence was just 23 years old, he created his most famous work: The Migration Series. This collection of 60 paintings tells the story of the Great Migration—when millions of African Americans moved from the rural South to cities in the North.

The Migration Series at a Glance:

  • Created: 1940-1941 (Lawrence was only 23!)
  • Number of paintings: 60 panels
  • Original title: "The Migration of the Negro" or "And the Migrants Kept Coming"
  • Current location: Split between MoMA (New York) and Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.)
  • Impact: Made Lawrence the first African-American artist represented by a major New York gallery

How Lawrence Created the Series

Lawrence used a special technique to keep all 60 paintings looking unified:

  1. He set up all 60 panels at once in his studio
  2. He planned every painting in advance
  3. He painted ONE COLOR across all 60 paintings before moving to the next color
  4. This ensured all the paintings had the same tones and felt like one complete story

Lawrence worked in tempera paint, which dries very quickly. His careful planning and systematic approach created a powerful, cohesive narrative.

What the Series Shows

The Migration Series doesn't just show people moving—it shows WHY they moved and WHAT they faced:

  • The South: Hard work in fields, unfair laws (Jim Crow), violence, and limited opportunities
  • The Journey: Train stations packed with families, suitcases, hope and uncertainty
  • The North: Factory work, new communities, better opportunities—but also discrimination and new challenges
  • The Impact: How migration changed both the South and the North forever

Impact and Recognition:

When the Migration Series was exhibited at the Downtown Gallery in 1941, it was revolutionary. Lawrence became nationally famous almost overnight. Fortune magazine featured the series in 1941, and it's been inspiring people ever since. In 2024, Isabel Wilkerson's book "The Warmth of Other Suns" (which tells the same story in words) was ranked #2 on The New York Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century—showing how Lawrence's subject matter continues to resonate.

🎨 Other Important Series and Works
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Lawrence created many important series throughout his career, always focusing on telling stories about Black people throughout history and heroes.

Toussaint L'Ouverture Series (1938)

About: 41 paintings about the Haitian general who led a successful slave revolution

Created when: Lawrence was only 21 years old

Why it matters: Lawrence's first major series, showing his commitment to telling heroic stories from the African diaspora

Teaching connection: Introduces students to revolutionary leadership and Haiti's independence

Harriet Tubman Series (1938-1939)

About: Paintings showing Harriet Tubman's life and her work with the Underground Railroad

Why it matters: Honored an American hero who risked her life to free others

Later became: A children's book "Harriet and the Promised Land" (1968)

Teaching connection: Perfect for teaching about courage, the Underground Railroad, and the fight against slavery

Frederick Douglass Series (1939-1940)

About: The life of the great abolitionist, writer, and speaker

Why it matters: Showed how one person's voice and words could change history

Teaching connection: Links to literacy, freedom, and the power of education

John Brown Series (1941-1942)

About: 22 paintings about the abolitionist who fought against slavery

Special note: These paintings became too fragile, so Lawrence recreated them as silkscreen prints in 1977

Teaching connection: Raises questions about justice, standing up for what's right, and different methods of resistance

"Struggle: From the History of the American People" (1954-1956)

About: 30 paintings showing American history from 1775-1817

What makes it unique: Shows lesser-known stories, including enslaved people building the wall that protected Americans at the Battle of New Orleans, and Margaret Cochran Corbin fighting in the Revolutionary War

Important: Three panels were lost for decades but have been recently rediscovered (2017, 2020, 2021)

Teaching connection: Shows that American history includes many untold stories

Hospital Series (1949)

About: Paintings Lawrence created while receiving treatment for depression

Why it's different: Focused on emotional states and feelings, unlike his usual narrative style

Teaching connection: Shows that even great artists face challenges; mental health awareness

Hiroshima Series (1983)

About: 8 screen prints illustrating John Hersey's book "Hiroshima"

Why it matters: Used abstract visual language to show the human impact of nuclear weapons

Teaching connection: Art as witness to history; the power of art to process difficult events

Lawrence as a Teacher

Lawrence didn't just create art—he taught others how to make art too. He taught at:

  • Black Mountain College (1946)
  • New School for Social Research
  • Art Students League
  • Pratt Institute
  • Skowhegan School
  • University of Washington (1971-1986 as a full professor)

He believed in sharing his knowledge and helping younger artists find their own voices.

📊 Grade-Level Teaching Approaches
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Jacob Lawrence's art is accessible to all ages, but the depth of discussion and complexity of activities should match your students' developmental level.

Grades K-1: Colors, Shapes, and Simple Stories

Learning Focus:
  • Lawrence used bright colors and bold shapes to tell stories
  • Art can tell stories without words
  • People have different jobs and move to different places
  • Artists can teach us about history
Viewing Activities:
  • Color Hunt: Look at Migration Series panels and identify all the colors Lawrence used
  • Shape Detective: Find triangles, rectangles, and circles in Lawrence's paintings
  • Story Telling: Show one painting and ask "What do you think is happening in this picture?"
  • Feelings: "How do you think these people feel? Happy? Worried? Excited? How can you tell?"
Art Activities:
  • Create a 3-panel story about a journey (home to school, visiting grandparents, etc.)
  • Use tempera paint like Lawrence did—paint simple shapes in bright colors
  • Make a collage using cut paper shapes like Lawrence's geometric style
  • Draw patterns inspired by carpets or fabrics at home
Key Vocabulary:
  • Artist: Someone who makes art
  • Series: Paintings that go together to tell a story
  • Shape: Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles
  • Color: Red, blue, yellow, etc.
  • Journey: Going from one place to another

Grades 2-3: Narratives, Techniques, and Historical Context

Learning Focus:
  • Lawrence created series of paintings to tell complete stories
  • The Migration Series shows the Great Migration (1910s-1970s)
  • Artists use special techniques (tempera paint, working on all panels at once)
  • Lawrence painted heroes from African-American history
  • Art can teach us about difficult times in history
Viewing Activities:
  • Sequence Study: Look at 3-5 panels from Migration Series in order—how does the story unfold?
  • Compare and Contrast: Look at a Migration Series panel and a Harriet Tubman panel—what's similar? Different?
  • Symbol Search: Identify symbols Lawrence used (trains = journey, factories = work, crowds = community)
  • Technique Talk: Discuss how Lawrence painted one color across all paintings to keep them unified
Art Activities:
  • Create a 5-panel series about a historical event or personal story
  • Practice Lawrence's technique: sketch 3 drawings, then paint one color across all 3
  • Study geometric shapes in everyday scenes—sketch a classroom scene using only shapes
  • Create a "hero series"—3 paintings about someone you admire
  • Mix colors to match Lawrence's palette (browns, blues, reds, yellows)
Writing Integration:
  • Write captions for Migration Series panels
  • Write a letter from a migrant's perspective
  • Create a short biography of Jacob Lawrence
  • Write about a time you or your family moved somewhere new
Key Vocabulary:
  • Tempera: A type of paint that dries quickly
  • Panel: One painting in a series
  • Migration: When many people move from one place to another
  • Narrative: A story
  • Composition: How an artist arranges things in a painting
  • Dynamic Cubism: Lawrence's style using bold shapes and angles

Grades 4-5: Historical Analysis, Artistic Methods, and Social Context

Learning Focus:
  • Lawrence's art documented African-American history during the Great Migration
  • Understanding push and pull factors in migration
  • How art can be both beautiful and educational
  • Lawrence's working method and artistic choices
  • The role of artists in preserving and teaching history
  • Lawrence's influence on modern art and African-American representation
Viewing Activities:
  • Visual Analysis: Examine panels closely for historical details (clothing, architecture, tools, expressions)
  • Historical Detective: Research what was happening in 1940 when Lawrence painted the series—connect to current events of that time
  • Artistic Choices: Analyze why Lawrence chose certain colors, compositions, perspectives
  • Primary Source Study: Compare Lawrence's paintings to photographs from the Great Migration
  • Series Comparison: Study panels from different series—what themes repeat?
Art Activities:
  • Create an 8-10 panel series about a historical event or social issue
  • Study and replicate Lawrence's systematic painting method
  • Analyze how composition creates emotion (crowded vs. empty space, upward vs. downward angles)
  • Create art in Lawrence's style about a contemporary issue
  • Design a mural inspired by Lawrence's public works
Cross-Curricular Connections:
  • History: Research the Great Migration, Jim Crow laws, industrial revolution
  • Geography: Map migration routes from Southern states to Northern cities
  • Math: Study population statistics; graph migration data
  • Writing: Write historical fiction from a migrant's perspective; create artist statements
  • Reading: Read "The Warmth of Other Suns" excerpts; read Lawrence's own writings
Critical Thinking Questions:
  • "Why did Lawrence choose to paint series instead of individual paintings?"
  • "How does Lawrence's art differ from photography in telling historical stories?"
  • "What can we learn from Lawrence's paintings that we might not learn from a textbook?"
  • "Why is it important that Lawrence, an African American, told these stories?"
  • "How did Lawrence's childhood in Harlem influence his art?"
Key Vocabulary:
  • Dynamic Cubism: Art style using geometric shapes and bold angles inspired by Cubism and African art
  • Visual narrative: Telling a story through images
  • Social commentary: Art that comments on society and social issues
  • Diaspora: The spread of people from their original homeland
  • Representation: Who gets to tell stories and be seen in art
✏️ Hands-On Art Activities by Grade Level
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These activities help students understand Lawrence's techniques while creating their own meaningful artwork.

K-1: Simple Series and Bold Colors

Activity 1: My Journey in 3 Pictures

Materials: Construction paper, crayons or markers, glue

Instructions:

  1. Fold a large paper into three sections
  2. Draw a simple journey: beginning, middle, end (home→school, morning→afternoon→night)
  3. Use bright colors like Lawrence
  4. Focus on basic shapes (rectangles for buildings, circles for people's heads)

Learning Goal: Understanding that multiple images can tell a story

Activity 2: Shape People

Materials: Colored paper, scissors, glue, background paper

Instructions:

  1. Cut out basic shapes (circles, rectangles, triangles)
  2. Arrange shapes to create people like Lawrence's figures
  3. Glue onto background
  4. Add simple background elements (home, school, playground)

Learning Goal: Understanding how simple shapes combine to create figures

Activity 3: Pattern Painting

Materials: Tempera paint, brushes, paper

Instructions:

  1. Look at patterns in classroom or at home (tiles, carpets, fabric)
  2. Paint repeating patterns using 2-3 colors
  3. Practice painting straight lines and simple shapes

Learning Goal: Appreciating how Lawrence was inspired by everyday patterns

Grades 2-3: Creating Narrative Series

Activity 1: Five-Panel Hero Story

Materials: 5 pieces of paper or cardboard (8×10"), tempera paint, pencils

Instructions:

  1. Choose a hero to celebrate (family member, community helper, historical figure)
  2. Plan 5 scenes showing different moments in their life
  3. Sketch all 5 panels first
  4. Like Lawrence, paint one color across all 5 panels before moving to the next color
  5. Write a caption for each panel

Learning Goal: Understanding Lawrence's systematic working method and narrative structure

Activity 2: Community Life Series

Materials: Paper, paint or colored pencils, viewfinders (cardboard frames)

Instructions:

  1. Observe your school or neighborhood through a viewfinder
  2. Create 3-4 paintings showing daily life (cafeteria, playground, library, arrival)
  3. Use geometric shapes like Lawrence
  4. Focus on showing people doing activities
  5. Display as a series with title

Learning Goal: Observing and documenting everyday life as Lawrence did with Harlem

Activity 3: Migration Map Art

Materials: Large paper, paint, markers, reference maps

Instructions:

  1. Create a stylized map showing migration routes from South to North
  2. Use Lawrence's color palette and geometric style
  3. Add symbols: trains, suitcases, buildings, factories
  4. Include simple labels for cities and states

Learning Goal: Combining geography and art; understanding movement and migration

Grades 4-5: Advanced Techniques and Social Commentary

Activity 1: Modern Migration Series

Materials: Multiple canvas boards or heavy paper (8-10 panels), acrylic or tempera, planning materials

Instructions:

  1. Research a contemporary migration or movement (refugees, immigration, urbanization)
  2. Plan an 8-10 panel series showing: reasons for leaving, the journey, arrival, challenges, community building
  3. Create thumbnail sketches for all panels
  4. Write captions/titles for each panel before painting
  5. Use Lawrence's method: paint one color across all panels at once
  6. Present series with artist statement explaining choices

Learning Goal: Using art to explore contemporary social issues; mastering series creation

Activity 2: Dynamic Cubism Portrait

Materials: Paper, pencils, paint, reference photos

Instructions:

  1. Study Lawrence's figure work—notice angular forms and bold outlines
  2. Choose a subject (self-portrait, family member, historical figure)
  3. Break down the figure into geometric shapes
  4. Use strong diagonal lines and simplified forms
  5. Apply flat areas of color (no blending/shading)
  6. Include background elements that tell about the person

Learning Goal: Understanding and applying Lawrence's unique style

Activity 3: Social Justice Series

Materials: Mixed media (paint, collage, drawing materials), research materials

Instructions:

  1. Identify a social justice issue students care about (environment, equality, education access)
  2. Research the issue thoroughly
  3. Create 5-6 panels showing: the problem, its impact, people affected, solutions, hope
  4. Use Lawrence's bold, accessible style to make the issue understandable
  5. Include text elements (quotes, statistics, statements)
  6. Present to class with explanation of artistic and content choices

Learning Goal: Understanding art as advocacy; combining research, social awareness, and artistic skill

Activity 4: Collaborative Community Mural

Materials: Large paper/canvas, paint, planning materials

Instructions:

  1. As a class, choose a theme (our community, our history, our dreams)
  2. Divide mural into sections (one per student or small group)
  3. Each section should connect to others while telling part of the story
  4. Use Lawrence's style: geometric forms, bold colors, clear narratives
  5. Paint collaboratively, coordinating colors across all sections
  6. Display with collective artist statement

Learning Goal: Collaborative art-making; large-scale project planning; community storytelling

💬 Discussion Questions by Grade Level
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Grades K-1: Simple, Concrete Questions

  • "What colors do you see in this painting?"
  • "What shapes can you find?" (Have students point to triangles, circles, rectangles)
  • "What do you think is happening in this picture?"
  • "How do you think the people in the painting feel? Happy? Sad? Excited? Worried?"
  • "Why do you think Jacob Lawrence became an artist?"
  • "What story would you tell if you were an artist?"
  • "Have you ever gone on a journey? Where did you go?"
  • "What would you pack if you were going on a long trip?"

Grades 2-3: Narrative and Technique Questions

  • "How does Jacob Lawrence tell a story without using words?"
  • "Why did Lawrence paint 60 pictures instead of just one?"
  • "What was the Great Migration? Why did people move?"
  • "Why do you think Lawrence used such bright colors?"
  • "Look at these three panels in order—how does the story change?"
  • "What heroes did Lawrence paint? Why were they important?"
  • "How is Lawrence's art different from a photograph?"
  • "What can we learn from art that we might not learn from a book?"
  • "If you could paint a series about someone important, who would it be?"
  • "Why do you think Lawrence painted one color across all paintings at once?"

Grades 4-5: Analysis, Historical Context, and Critical Thinking

  • "Why was it important that Jacob Lawrence, an African American, told these stories?"
  • "How does Lawrence's art help us understand history differently than a textbook?"
  • "What 'push factors' made African Americans want to leave the South?"
  • "What 'pull factors' attracted people to Northern cities?"
  • "Did moving North solve all the problems African Americans faced? Why or why not?"
  • "How did Lawrence's childhood in Harlem influence his art?"
  • "Why do you think Lawrence chose to focus on everyday people, not just famous leaders?"
  • "What artistic choices did Lawrence make to show movement in his paintings?"
  • "How does Lawrence show emotion through composition, color, and body language?"
  • "Why did Lawrence become the first African-American artist represented by a major New York gallery? Why was that important?"
  • "What modern issues could be explored using Lawrence's series approach?"
  • "How does Lawrence's art help preserve history and memory?"
  • "What responsibility do artists have to their communities and to history?"
📚 Cross-Curricular Connections by Grade Level
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Grades K-1 Connections

Reading/Language Arts:
  • Read picture books about journeys and moving
  • Sequence pictures from Lawrence's series: first, next, last
  • Tell stories about family trips or moves
  • Learn color words and shape names through Lawrence's art
Math:
  • Count colors in a Lawrence painting
  • Sort shapes: "Find all the triangles"
  • Create patterns with shapes inspired by Lawrence
  • Compare sizes: big buildings, small people
Social Studies:
  • Talk about different jobs people have (factory workers, teachers, artists)
  • Discuss why families move (jobs, family, opportunities)
  • Map simple journeys (home to school)
  • Learn about communities and neighborhoods

Grades 2-3 Connections

Reading/Language Arts:
  • Read "Harriet and the Promised Land" by Jacob Lawrence
  • Write captions for Migration Series panels
  • Create narrative sequences with beginning, middle, end
  • Write letters from a migrant's perspective
  • Read biographies of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass
Math:
  • Create bar graphs showing population growth in Northern cities
  • Measure distances on maps (South to North)
  • Calculate how many panels Lawrence painted (add series together)
  • Create timelines with dates
Social Studies:
  • Study the Great Migration (1910s-1970s)
  • Map migration routes from South to North
  • Compare life in rural South vs. urban North
  • Learn about different types of work (farming vs. factory)
  • Discuss push and pull factors in migration
Science:
  • Study how tempera paint is made and how it dries
  • Explore color mixing to match Lawrence's palette
  • Learn about different art materials and their properties

Grades 4-5 Connections

Reading/Language Arts:
  • Read excerpts from "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Write historical fiction from a migrant's perspective
  • Compose artist statements for original series
  • Research and write biographies of figures Lawrence painted
  • Analyze how Lawrence's titles/captions add meaning
  • Create narrative poetry inspired by Migration Series panels
Math:
  • Graph population statistics showing the Great Migration
  • Calculate percentage increases in city populations
  • Map distances using scale
  • Create data visualizations showing migration patterns
  • Budget planning: cost of travel, moving, starting over
Social Studies:
  • Deep study of the Great Migration: causes, patterns, impacts
  • Examine Jim Crow laws and their effects
  • Study industrialization and urbanization
  • Compare Great Migration to other migrations (Dust Bowl, Immigration waves)
  • Research specific cities: Chicago, Detroit, New York, Pittsburgh
  • Connect to present-day issues: gentrification, demographic changes
  • Study the Harlem Renaissance and its cultural impact
Science:
  • Chemistry of paint: how different media work (tempera, acrylic, oil)
  • Light and color: how our eyes see color
  • Environmental factors in migration (boll weevil, floods, climate)
Music:
  • Study how the Great Migration spread blues and jazz northward
  • Listen to music from the migration era
  • Connect to the Harlem Renaissance artistic movement
Technology:
  • Create digital art series inspired by Lawrence
  • Virtual museum tours of Lawrence's work (MoMA, Phillips Collection)
  • Digital storytelling combining images and narration
🫶 Teaching About Jacob Lawrence: Cultural Sensitivity
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✅ DO:

  • Celebrate Lawrence as a brilliant artist and storyteller
  • Emphasize the universal power of storytelling through art
  • Discuss how Lawrence documented important history that might have been forgotten
  • Acknowledge the challenges Lawrence's subjects faced while celebrating their resilience
  • Use correct terminology: African American, Black (capitalized)
  • Connect to present-day: migration still happens, art still tells important stories
  • Invite students to share their own family migration stories (all cultures)
  • Highlight Lawrence's influence on modern art and representation

❌ DON'T:

  • Present African Americans only as victims—emphasize agency and achievement
  • Oversimplify: "They moved North and everything was better"
  • Treat Lawrence's work as only "Black history"—it's American history
  • Focus only on suffering—balance hardship with triumph, joy, and community
  • Assume all students know what slavery or Jim Crow were—teach this context
  • Make assumptions about students' backgrounds or family histories
  • Skip difficult topics—address them age-appropriately with honesty

Age-Appropriate Truth-Telling

Grades K-1:

Focus on the positive: people working together, building communities, creating art. Be honest that people moved because life was unfair where they lived, but they hoped for better opportunities. Use simple language: "Some laws were unfair to Black people, so they moved to places where they could have better jobs and homes."

Grades 2-3:

Introduce the concepts of unfair laws (Jim Crow) and discrimination in age-appropriate terms. Explain push factors (why people left) and pull factors (what attracted them to new places). Emphasize both challenges and successes.

Grades 4-5:

Engage with systemic issues: segregation, economic inequality, discrimination in North and South. Discuss how these historical issues connect to present-day challenges. Encourage critical thinking about justice, fairness, and how change happens.

Centering Joy and Achievement

While Lawrence's work addresses serious historical topics, it also celebrates:

  • Courage and determination of those who sought better lives
  • Community building in new cities
  • Cultural contributions during the Harlem Renaissance
  • Artistic excellence and creative expression
  • Family bonds and mutual support

Balance difficult historical truths with celebration of African-American achievement, creativity, and resilience.

📚 Recommended Books and Resources
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Books by Jacob Lawrence (Perfect for K-5):

  • "Harriet and the Promised Land" by Jacob Lawrence (1968) - Lawrence's paintings tell Harriet Tubman's story
  • "The Great Migration: An American Story" by Jacob Lawrence - Paintings from the Migration Series with explanatory text
  • "John Brown: One Man Against Slavery" - Illustrated with Lawrence's paintings

Books About Jacob Lawrence:

For Younger Students (K-2):

  • "Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, a Young Artist in Harlem" by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
  • "Jacob Lawrence in the City" by Susan Goldman Rubin

For Middle Elementary (3-5):

  • "Jacob Lawrence: American Scenes, American Struggles" by Ellen Harkins Wheat
  • "Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence" by John Duggleby (biography)

Books About the Great Migration (for context):

Picture Books (K-3):

  • "The Great Migration: Journey to the North" by Eloise Greenfield
  • "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome (early chapter book)
  • "Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes" by Floyd Cooper

Chapter Books (3-5):

  • "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper
  • "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Essential Resource for Teachers:

  • ⭐ "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson - Pulitzer Prize winner, ranked #2 on NYT's Best Books of 21st Century. Essential background reading for teaching the Great Migration.

Online Resources:

  • MoMA (Museum of Modern Art): Virtual access to Migration Series even-numbered panels
  • Phillips Collection: Virtual access to Migration Series odd-numbered panels
  • Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation: Searchable archive of nearly 1,000 images of their work
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum: Lawrence works and educational resources
  • PBS Learning Media: Videos and lesson plans about Jacob Lawrence

Museum Collections with Major Lawrence Holdings:

  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
  • Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
  • Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
  • Brooklyn Museum, New York
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
  • Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
⭐ Key Takeaways for Teachers
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  1. Art as Historical Documentation: Lawrence showed that artists can be historians, preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten.
  2. Accessibility Through Style: Lawrence's bold, clear style made complex historical narratives accessible to all audiences—a model for effective visual communication.
  3. Series as Story: Creating series of artworks allows for deeper storytelling than single images—a technique students can apply to their own work.
  4. Representation Matters: Lawrence was the first African-American artist represented by a major New York gallery—his success opened doors for others.
  5. Local Inspiration: Lawrence found his artistic voice by painting what he knew—Harlem, his community, everyday life. Students can do the same.
  6. Systematic Approach: Lawrence's methodical working process (painting one color across all panels) teaches planning and organization.
  7. Art + Education: Lawrence spent decades teaching, showing that creating art and sharing knowledge can go hand in hand.
  8. Truth-Telling: Lawrence didn't shy away from difficult topics—he presented them honestly while celebrating resilience and achievement.

Why Teach Jacob Lawrence?

  • Accessible to all grades: K-1 can enjoy colors and shapes; 4-5 can analyze historical context
  • Cross-curricular connections: Art, history, literature, geography, social justice
  • Representation in art curriculum: Students see an African-American artist celebrated in major museums
  • Technique instruction: Series creation, color theory, composition, narrative structure
  • Historical importance: Direct connection to Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights era
  • Inspiring creativity: Students see that their own stories and communities are worthy subjects for art
📝 Sample Lesson Plans by Grade
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Sample Lesson: Kindergarten-1st Grade

Title: "Stories in Pictures: Introduction to Jacob Lawrence"

Duration: 45 minutes

Objectives:

  • Students will identify colors and shapes in Lawrence's work
  • Students will understand that pictures can tell stories
  • Students will create a simple 3-part visual story

Materials: Images from Migration Series, construction paper, crayons/markers

Procedure:

  1. Introduction (10 min): Show 3-4 Migration Series panels. Ask: "What colors do you see? What shapes? What's happening?"
  2. Discussion (10 min): Tell simple story about Lawrence. Explain he told stories with pictures. Show 3 panels in sequence—discuss how story unfolds.
  3. Activity (20 min): Students create 3-picture story about their day (morning, school, home) using bright colors and simple shapes
  4. Sharing (5 min): Students share their stories with partners

Sample Lesson: Grades 2-3

Title: "Creating a Hero Series Like Jacob Lawrence"

Duration: 3-4 class periods (45 min each)

Objectives:

  • Students will understand how Lawrence created narrative series
  • Students will research a hero or important person
  • Students will plan and create a 5-panel series
  • Students will practice Lawrence's systematic painting method

Materials: 5 pieces of paper/board per student, tempera paint, pencils, research materials

Procedure:

Day 1: Introduction and Planning

  1. View Lawrence's Harriet Tubman or Frederick Douglass series
  2. Discuss how Lawrence chose important moments from their lives
  3. Students choose their hero (family member, community helper, historical figure)
  4. Research and identify 5 key moments to depict

Day 2: Sketching

  1. Review Lawrence's use of shapes and composition
  2. Students create thumbnail sketches for all 5 panels
  3. Peer review and feedback
  4. Transfer sketches to final panels

Day 3-4: Painting

  1. Demonstrate Lawrence's technique: painting one color across all panels
  2. Students paint their series using this method
  3. Write captions for each panel
  4. Gallery walk: view classmates' series

Sample Lesson: Grades 4-5

Title: "Visual History: The Migration Series and Historical Narrative"

Duration: 5-6 class periods (45-60 min each)

Objectives:

  • Students will analyze how Lawrence used art to document history
  • Students will research the Great Migration using multiple sources
  • Students will create an 8-10 panel series about a historical event or social issue
  • Students will write an artist statement explaining their work

Materials: Research materials, 8-10 panels per student, mixed media supplies, planning worksheets

Procedure:

Day 1: Deep Dive into Migration Series

  1. Examine 10-15 panels from Migration Series closely
  2. Analyze artistic choices: composition, color, symbolism, perspective
  3. Discuss historical accuracy vs. artistic interpretation
  4. Read primary sources (letters, oral histories) from migrants
  5. Compare Lawrence's visual narrative to written accounts

Day 2: Planning

  1. Introduce project: create series about historical event or contemporary issue
  2. Brainstorm topics (other migrations, civil rights, environmental changes, etc.)
  3. Begin research using multiple sources
  4. Identify key moments/aspects to depict (8-10 scenes)

Day 3: Composition and Design

  1. Study Lawrence's compositional techniques
  2. Create detailed thumbnails for entire series
  3. Develop color palette
  4. Write draft captions/titles
  5. Peer review and refinement

Day 4-5: Creating

  1. Transfer sketches to final panels
  2. Paint using Lawrence's systematic method
  3. Refine and add details
  4. Finalize captions

Day 6: Presentation and Reflection

  1. Write artist statements explaining choices
  2. Present series to class with explanation
  3. Gallery walk and peer feedback
  4. Reflection: compare their process to Lawrence's
📄 Sources and Further Reading
▼

Primary Biographical Source:

Wikipedia contributors. "Jacob Lawrence." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed February 2025.

Recommended Scholarly Sources:

  • Wheat, Ellen Harkins. Jacob Lawrence: American Painter. University of Washington Press, 1986.
  • Nesbett, Peter T., and Michelle DuBois. Over the Line: The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence. University of Washington Press, 2000.
  • Hills, Patricia. Painting Harlem Modern: The Art of Jacob Lawrence. University of California Press, 2009.

Essential Context - The Great Migration:

  • Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. Random House, 2010. [Winner: National Book Critics Circle Award; Anisfield-Wolf Book Award; #2 on NYT's 100 Best Books of 21st Century]

Museum and Foundation Resources:

  • Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation - www.jacobandgwenlawrence.org
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - Migration Series Collection
  • Phillips Collection - Migration Series Collection
  • Seattle Art Museum - Jacob Lawrence Gallery

About This Guide:

This guide was created to provide K-5 educators with comprehensive, grade-differentiated resources for teaching about Jacob Lawrence. It emphasizes his artistic technique, historical importance, and role as both artist and educator, while providing practical classroom activities and culturally responsive teaching guidance.

This guide was created by This Month™

Interactive Teacher's Guide to Jacob Lawrence

Designed to support culturally responsive, historically accurate, and developmentally appropriate art education

Jacob Lawrence showed us that art can be both beautiful and educational, accessible and profound, personal and universal. May his example inspire your students to tell their own stories through art.