The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in older buildings often do not adequately handle air-borne contaminants. Outlines a three-stage Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) assessment and describes a case in point at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, school. (MLF)

Illustrates imaginative approaches to drawing that encourages children's line interests, line collections, and line markings, and helps children to see art everywhere with drawing possibilities in everything. Includes ideas for inventing line making tools and drawing machines, for using new approaches, or treating drawing surfaces and tools in…

Discusses ways in which block building represents the young child's art world, the use of blocks as an art medium, and art concepts that can be developed with the use of blocks. Suggests a methodology of block building that is designed to enhance artistic ability. (RJC)

Provides classroom examples of appropriate methods for extending art understanding through discussion. Suggests that teachers can easily foster art appreciation through nondirective means; the children can then select what is important to them and thereby begin to build their own personal store of imagery, which can lead to enhanced learning in…

Describes a schoolwide parade that was the culminating event of a three-week unit of study into the world of masks by elementary students. Unit emphasized the use of exaggeration, repetition, and symmetry in maskmaking. Provides examples of student work. (DB)

Presents a high school art teacher's views of and experiences with masks. Outlines a maskmaking activity in which students were required to create variations on existing masks. Emphasizes use of experimental materials. Displays examples of student-created masks. (DB)

Describes how a teacher can motivate students to be creative by dressing up, performing for them, hiding things, and designing visual experiments. Advocates that art teachers demonstrate that art class is a playful and exciting place to be. Suggests methods to encourage teachers and students to perform. (KM)

Describes the types of classroom art experiences that should be provided for young children and discusses reasons teachers continue to rely on recipe art lessons. Suggests learning center activities and materials, as well as ways that teachers can facilitate creativity. Considers how coloring books dampen children's motivation to draw. (KB)

Offers a fifth-grade art lesson on lighthouses prompted by reading Arielle North Olson's "The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter" during a language-arts lesson. Reports that the students made a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional project. States that the students were excited about conveying their ideas using two different media. Explains…

Describes an art lesson for fifth- and sixth-grade students where they learn about the cold colors on the color wheel and apply that knowledge as they create a picture of a snowstorm. Explains that the students depict a snowstorm by layering the colors and drawings of snowflakes to make a three-dimensional effect. (CMK)

Offers an art activity for students in the primary grades that focuses on the effect a sneezing motion has on the individual features of the face. Expounds that the students draw an expressive self-portrait of themselves sneezing using a marker to encourage freer linear expression. (CMK)

Describes a four-week art project for middle school students in which they gain an understanding of the sculptural process and how to carve wood in the Oaxacan (Mexico) folk art style. Explains that an artist-in-residence visited the students to demonstrate tools and types of wood cutting. (CMK)

Describes a self-portrait assignment inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo. Discusses Frida Kahlo's artwork and use of surrealist and symbolist views. States that each student had to incorporate personal symbolism in the portrait to convey a message about him or herself in a subtle manner. (CMK)

Discusses the Surrealist art movement, focusing on creative variations characteristic of Surrealism. Describes the process for a Surrealist portrait lesson, stemming from Rembrandt's "Saskia as Flora," in which students use the technique of oil pastel over a dark tempera-painted ground. (CMK)

Explains that creating color wheels is an appropriate assignment in the art classroom for students of all ages, including high school students, because it still offers older students a challenge. Discusses how students can create color wheels and lists the materials that are needed. (CMK)