Laolu Senbanjo Sneakers Art Project
Ready to teach a drawing lesson for Black History Month that’ll keep middle school art kids engaged? My Laolu Senbanjo sneakers art project will boost confidence and creativity. Kids will connect with his story and style. Moreover, they’ll enjoying playing a roll a dice game to draw their own sneaker design!
And, it’ll help time-starved teachers like you create art lesson plans for middle school based on Black artist, Laolu Senbango from Nigeria.
During this Black History Month art project, your class will learn how Laolu’s Yoruba heritage inspired his Afromysterics art style. Use it to discuss pattern, symbolism, and storytelling in art. Students will create a drawing of a sneaker using the step-by-step guide and PowerPoint.
Plan lessons for middle school students about modern art history and art appreciation in a way that excites them. Finally feel confident in your art curriculum and be organized and prepared to teach art!
What’s Included in My Laolu Senbanjo Art Project
Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesn’t have to be a snoozer, though!
I’ve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this drawing project based on Laolu Senbanjo. All will engage kids to create! Choose which way works best for your classes:
- Roll a dice game to add randomness to your student’s artwork
- “You Pick” idea worksheet for kids to choose their own patterns
- Digital spinner wheels, so kids can randomly pick symbols and designs and you can integrate technology in the art room
- Printable dice template in case you have no dice
- Step-by-step picture directions to guide students through the art process
- Drawing practice worksheet, for kids who want to sketch out their ideas
- How to Draw a Sneaker worksheet, with style variations
- Laolu Senbanjo artist biography about the life and work of this Nigerian-born Black artist and musician, so you don’t need to research
- “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet where students write about their art process
- Self-assessment worksheet so kids can think about how they performed during the project
- Art grading rubric which assesses expectations, craftsmanship, work habits, creativity, and clean-up
- 8 “I CAN” Statements aligned to the Studio Habits of Mind to use during instruction or post on your bulletin board
- 4 Art exit tickets with quick, thought-provoking prompts
- Art history coloring page to keep kids inspired by Laolu Senbanjo’s sneaker designs outside of the art room
Ways to Use This Middle School Art Project During Black History Month
My Laolu Senbanjo art lesson is flexible and can be used in many ways throughout your art room and beyond. It’s great for maternity or emergency art sub plans, and even for virtual art class or an after-school art club.
You Will Receive
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1 Non-Editable Printable PDF (Laolu Senbanjo Art Project)
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1 Non-Editable PowerPoint
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5 Digital Spinner Videos (downloadable, and links to them on Google Slides and YouTube)
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Paperless Google Drive Digital Resource
Terms of Use
Please refer to my complete terms of use prior to purchasing.
The Teacher Chelly (Teacher-Author) –
Great art activity aligned with BHM. The students were engaged and really took pride in completing this project. It made a great art display in the hall. It was also lovely that each project was unique and looked different than the other students.
Isabelle R. –
My students were stoked about this activity. I was a great culminating activity to our unit on Nigeria.
Lisa Flanagan –
This was a beginning point for our learning about Laolu NYC. We took these ideas and “ran” with them to create amazing art pieces. Our special education students were able to use this resource directly as it came.
Nicole C. –
My students loved coloring these and personalizing them with how they chose to color them to decorate our bulletin board for the African American that we chose for our school Black History craft activity.