The Sistine Chapel

Although I don’t put the same amount of effort into every lesson, I believe that one of the most engaging lessons I have taught in the past four years was during the Renaissance unit. In this lesson, I introduced my students to Michelangelo, one of the world’s most famous painters who spent four years painting the Sistine Chapel. Despite the fact that he had to paint upside down for such a long time, he was able to create one of the most stunning pieces of artwork in human history.

To help my students understand what Michelangelo went through, I had them go under their desks and draw four images while lying on the floor. They were surprised to find paper taped under their desks, which they could use to create their artwork.

This brief activity allowed my students to experience a small part of what Michelangelo must have felt while painting the Sistine Chapel. Although they may not remember the specific details of the lesson, I believe that giving students a creative outlet to express themselves is important, and I think they enjoyed the experience.