Describes an art lesson, inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Seasons" series, in which students construct masks representing one of the four seasons. Discusses the process and lists words and phrases associated with each season. (CMK)

Focuses on a reduction-firing process with an aim of producing high-quality blackware similar to the black-on-black pottery of Maria Martinez and other American Indian potters. Includes a lesson on creating reduction-fired seedpod bowls, lists of instructional resources and materials, and the objectives and evaluation. (CMK)

Recognizes the importance of children's art made at home and focuses on having children express themselves through handmade art. Gives examples of different types of handmade art, such as making room accessories and furnishings, constructing "portable" artworks, and building figures in different mediums. (CMK)

Describes an assignment where students in an advanced art class created ten textured backgrounds for future artworks. Explains that there were different stations with tools and media for creating the backgrounds. Offers examples of what subject matter was used with the backgrounds. (CMK)

Offers an art project that was used as a semester final for a group of mixed-media art students. States that the project was inspired by the shadow boxes created by Joseph Cornell as a metaphor for the world. Explains that students created their own boxes to contain their memories. (CMK)

Introduces the exhibition "Eternal Egypt: Masterworks of Ancient Art from the British Museum" that explores the four major periods of Egyptian history. Provides background information on ancient Egypt and describes the art that was present in each of the four kingdoms. (CMK)

Describes an art project for second-grade students where in over five class periods, they create fired clay dinosaur sculptures with dioramas as the background. States that this project, the culminating activity for a sculpture unit, teaches students many art terms and uses of different media. (CMK)

Presents an activity for fifth-grade students that demonstrates how to research works of art from different points of view and that also introduces them to a variety of art careers. Provides a format for researching and writing about a work of art, a list of materials, and instruction for the activity. (CMK)

Describes felting as the process of making felt using sheep's wool from fibers without weaving or knitting. Explains that teachers can incorporate felting into a lesson exploring the background behind this process, as an extension of collage or textile arts, as a means to studying abstract art, or in a fashion design unit. (CMK)

Discusses a sample puzzle activity called "Thinking Like an Artist" that encourages careful observation of artwork and prompts students to decode the thought processes used by artists. Helps students develop original ideas and strengthens their problem-solving abilities. Provides a list of materials, rules, and the procedure in detail. (CMK)

Describes an art activity in which the students created art-paper collages of salads. Explains that before making the collages there was a discussion on healthy eating habits and the benefits of a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Identifies the materials needed for the collages. (CMK)

Describes an art activity in which Tim Grunwald, a blind member of the community, taught the students to see in a new way. Explains that the students explored how clay feels, smells, and is molded as they closed their eyes; this experience helped the students escape from an intense world of visual images. (CMK)

Focuses on David Bates and his artwork entitled "Blackwater I." Includes background information, activities based on the artwork, and a reproduction of the painting. Describes the painting, focusing on how it is like and unlike folk art. (CMK)

Presents a unit on clay that is centered around sign language in which students explore the slab method of working with clay. States that each student picks a letter of the sign language alphabet and fashions a clay hand to depict the letter. (CMK)

Discusses spirals in nature, man-made objects, and art. Focuses on art that incorporates the spiral, including works by M. C. Escher and Frank Lloyd Wright, an African headdress, and a burial urn. Describes activities to help students make spirals of their own, such as constructing a coil clay pot. (CMK)