In the evolution of writing in mankind in general and as an individual, art appears to be the bridge between the spoken word and written word. Using art in teaching English Language Learners can help them with language acquisition by providing mental images to help remember vocabulary and improve reading comprehension skills in the target language. Students will be provided a semester long curriculum unit based on a book which is also a piece of art, the Codex Nuttal. The codex tells the story of Lord Eight Deer a Mixtec priest who rose to power in the eleventh century. By comparing scenes from the codex to other pieces of art and literature students will explore the human experience through time and space. The students will study four comprehensive units on the concepts of tradition, power, commerce, and fashion. They will demonstrate competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English and proficiency with technology. The students will engage in a variety of activities including the writing process, reading short stories and a novel, presenting oral projects, video taping for an audience, creating a business plan, and writing a resume. The activities are designed to help them in their content area subjects while they are acquiring English language skills.