Artists and Thinkers
Take note of the many great artists and inventors of the Renaissance.
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About
About
The Renaissance fostered creativity in countless ways. Artists, sculptors, inventors, and architects were given resources by wealthy families to explore their craft. Many of them, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, continue to influence today's artists.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
Who were the prominent and influential artists of the Renaissance?
What scientific advances were made during this time?
How have the artists and thinkers of the Renaissance impacted modern society?
Choose a Focus
Choose a Focus
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Leonardo da Vinci ⚒️
Leonardo da Vinci ⚒️
Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, architect, inventor, scientist, and engineer who created some of the most famous paintings in the world.
Essential questions:
What were Leonardo da Vinci's notable inventions?
How did Leonardo’s influence spread throughout Europe and the world?
Suggested Activity: Picture It!
Michelangelo ⚒️
Michelangelo ⚒️
Today, people come to Florence, Italy, from all around the world to see the Statue of David. This famous statue is only one of Michelangelo's many works.
Essential questions:
How did Michelangelo’s work get discovered?
Why is his work still loved today?
What were Michelangelo's notable works?
Suggested Activity: Social Media Post
Galileo Galilei ⚒️
Galileo Galilei ⚒️
*This great idea was suggested by Tracy Surrett, an Arizona Guide.
Galileo was interested in learning more about the world and why things worked as they did. But his observations and questions led to discoveries that went against the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Essential questions:
What new discoveries did Galileo make?
How did he discover these things?
Why were his findings so unpopular?
Suggested Activity: A Different Point of View
A Famous Dome
A Famous Dome
Brunelleschi lost a sculpting competition to his rival. Yet he came to build a dome for a cathedral in Florence that is still the largest one built out of bricks in the world.
Essential questions:
How did Brunelleschi build it? (It’s still a bit of a mystery.)
Why was he chosen to build this dome?
Why is it so famous?
Suggested Activity: Be The Teacher
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Related Social Studies Topics
Timeline Challenge
Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important events from Renaissance artists and thinkers.
Socratic Discussion
Discuss: Is it more valuable to society for someone to be an artist, an inventor, or a scientist?
Discuss: Was it good or bad for Galileo to point out that science and religion are sometimes in conflict?
Debate
Statement: Artists play a valuable role in society.
Statement: Jupiter should not be considered a planet.
Science
Spaceship Earth (Mystery Science)
Create
Build a Dome (in Prenda World)
Create a Self Portrait (in Prenda World)
Design a Solar System (in Prenda World)
Draw an Outline, Edges, and Shading (in Prenda World)
Imitate Art (in Prenda World)
Sketch a Still Life (in Prenda World)
(Not sure what to do? Create a talk show and interview Renaissance thinkers and artists!)
STEM
Simple Machines (Generation Genius)
Just for Fun
Image Attributions
Artists and Thinkers banner: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsLeonardo da Vinci: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsMichelangelo: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Galileo Galilei: Justus Sustermans, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsA Famous Dome: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Galileo Galilei: Justus Sustermans, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsA Famous Dome: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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