Easy Notan Art Lesson for Middle & High School (Step-by-Step + Printable)
- Sophia Buddenhagen
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30
A bold, low-prep art lesson with printable templates and a full teaching guide available for download.
Looking for an art lesson that actually hits?
This Notan project is simple, bold, and gets students thinking about positive and negative space without overcomplicating it.
It works really well with middle and high school minimal prep, strong results.
This post gives you a quick look at the project and some examples.
If you want the full lesson plan, templates, and step-by-step guide, you can grab it below.
What is Notan?
Notan is all about the balance of light and dark. Black and white, positive and negative space, working together to create something visually strong and intentional.
Simple idea, but students get into it fast.
Why This Lesson Works
Low prep, no chaos
Students actually stay engaged
Clear connection to design concepts
Structured, but still creative
Works as a one-day lesson or longer
What’s Included in the Full Lesson
Step-by-step teaching guide
Printable templates
Clear, ready-to-use instructions
Student examples
Clean, easy setup
Lesson Overview
Students start by building simple shapes and cutting into black paper to create mirrored or balanced designs. As they work, they start to understand how positive and negative space interact — and that’s where it clicks.
The full lesson walks you through step-by-step ready to go.
GOOD FOR
Middle school art
High school art
Sub plans
Days when you need something that just works
Homeschool or independent practice
If you want a ready-to-go version of this lesson with everything laid out for you
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