Onfim's drawings, discovered in a medieval town in northern Russia in 1951, are the earliest known child drawings in existence. The history of these early 11th century drawings is described here by a Russian archaeologist. (RM)

An art activity which involved elementary students in making coiled clay constructions is described. (RM)

In this art activity elementary students are asked to design their own alphabet, not just by streamlining the letters they regularly use, but by inventing new letters. (RM)

A first-grade teacher describes how she taught her students to weave using real yarn. (RM)

Pictograms--assemblages of geometrical shapes that represent parts of the body--simply and vividly show how the body moves. They can be used to help elementary students draw larger figures and have confidence in drawing people. The pictograms also encourage children to look at shapes and details that artists use. (RM)

Many students find it difficult to draw complex subjects. Suggested to help elementary students is a method in which they draw eyes from the center out. Observing detail, breaking an area down into small parts, and then connecting them to complete the whole also facilitates reproduction of a variety of objects. (IS)

Described is an art course in which fifth-grade students made masks using low fire whiteware as the medium. (RM)

Art activities, three for elementary students and one for secondary students, are described. Elementary students develop an autobiobox (a visual autobiography in a container), learn to draw trees in a meaningful way, and do human figure drawing; secondary students study and duplicate cast shadows. (RM)

Clay is an incredible medium and can well serve any curriculum. Strategies that elementary teachers can use to help children interpret their ideas into finished clay pieces are discussed. (RM)

Describes a design exercise for college education majors. Five paper scissor shapes are used to illustrate the role of balance, variation, repetition, and unity in design. After comparing their own designs to Indian molas, students explore how color and shape affect design by elaborating their work with oil crayons. (AM)

Following a "building code" specified by their art teacher, sixth-graders designed and built cardboard townhouses to serve as permanent hallway decorations in their school. This article is one of four in this issue describing elementary level mural projects. (SJL)

Young Artists is the annual exhibition of student art work from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, public schools, which is displayed from late May to early September in the museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center. The program is described and some of the winning artwork is reproduced. (RM)

Working in small groups, fifth graders designed and made a ceramic title mural that became a permanent display in the school entryway. The project is described. (RM)

Too much stress on technical procedure in a ceramics class can inhibit elementary students' free inquiry. It should be remembered that ceramics is a form of visual art and that art is a form of expression. Teachers must help students express themselves. (RM)

A teacher or art specialist who would like to initiate kite activities will draw confidence from beginning with proven, class-tested designs, easy to make and decorate, sure to fly, using inexpensive materials. Instructions for making a Vietnamese kite and a stapled sled kite are provided. (RM)