Reports a study which assessed childrens' ability to depict in their drawings the occlusion of a farther object by a nearer one. Results showed that the ability to represent occlusions increased with maturity and instruction. (BSR)

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)

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)

This book collects the thoughts of some of the world's most astute observers of child art. Essays in the book include: (1) "Art as a Unifying Principle in Education" (Sir Herbert Read); (2) "Stages of Development in Preschool Art" (Rhoda Kellogg); (3) "Child Art and Visual Thinking" (Rudolf Arnheim); (4) "The Mental Foundation of Art Education in…

Five different art activities, using different media, are described: (1) "mystery molds," using plaster and discarded packaging materials; (2) "calico cottages," using boxes and fabric; (3) "foam friends," using plastic foam packing pieces; (4) "bauble boxes," using spray can tops and papier mache; and (5) "soft stuff," using old clothing. (CJ)

Suggests that in contrast to art as "recess" creating a collective mural is a process of self-exposion and conquest. The child's image expands not only to arm's reach size, but to the size of the whole wall. For once the child is acting on his own environment rather than being acted on. (Author/AM)

Creating a collage can be an effective way to help elementary children develop good compositional habits, drawing skills, and confidence. Students first gather pictures and photographs and create a collage. They then create a work of art from the collage, by drawing and painting it. (RM)

Techniques are presented to get children thinking about their body motions, thereby increasing the expressiveness of their drawings. (RM)

How second graders made three-dimensional forms using construction paper scraps is described. (RM)

Described is a method of tapping students' creative potential in art: the Spontaneous Response Drawing. SRD consists of drawing with a single line, usually with crayons or colored felt tip pens on a large sheet of paper. (KC)

Describes Kaleidoscope, a participatory arts program created by Hallmark Cards. Designed as a supplement to classroom art instruction, the program provides children of 6 to 12 years with positive experiences in exploring art. The program is designed to foster originality, imaginative thinking, and creative self-expression. (Author/BB)

In this interdisciplinary art and science program elementary school children visited a planetarium, learned about astronomy, and created cosmic art. Integrating art and science allows students to take a more unified look at the many parts of the world. (RM)

This book gives detailed information concerning the use of tools and media of paint. It aims at developing skills and knowledge that will allow young students to express themselves by painting. The book is organized into five sections with subheadings, including: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Exploring Paint As We Use..." with…

The monotype is a singular work of art created by transferring an image from one surface to another. Methods and suggestions to help elementary and secondary students make watercolor monotypes are discussed. (RM)

In order to examine the role of aesthetic knowledge in the early socialization of children into art, the authors observed two preschool classrooms for evidence of teacher- and child-initiated aesthetic experiences. This article describes the study's background, reference model, methodological approach, and findings. (Author/SJL)