The purpose of this article is to explore integrating nontraditional classroom art materials and allowing students to make art for nonart spaces. Art programs must stimulate creativity, innovation, and imagination; provide tools the students can use; identify a context the students can experiment within (Chang, 2015; Gude, 2010); and offer the…

It's easy to see the connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) in daily life, but they may not be so obvious in the classroom. This month's lessons allow students to explore the components of STEAM through a favorite art supply, the crayon, and a beloved American tradition, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day…

Presents a printmaking project that enables students to work with lines and shapes by having them create tile designs on Scratch-Foam Board. Explains that the shape of the combined four tiles should be a pinwheel while the design on one corner of each tile should connect forming a design within itself. (CMK)

Reports the results of a two-year case study of 144 third and fourth graders' art materials preferences. Results indicate that the students preferred different media for different reasons, with favorites being clay, craypas, felt-tipped pens, and cardboard or wood. Maintains that art educators should take into account students' perceptions about…

Provides a lesson to familiarize students in grades four-six with the many ways that artists use the technique of collage. Students observe and discuss ways artists make use of materials other than paint on canvas. Examines how the introduction of foreign materials to a surface affects the illusion of space. (LS)

Describes two art projects that use "gadgets" objects, such as used-up pens, empty thread spools, and cardboard strips. Explains that in these projects, "Gadget Print Fish" and "Imprinted Clay Fish, students use gadgets to make designs for creating paper fish and clay fish. (CMK)

Presents a block printmaking lesson in which students learn about Pop Art and artists in the movement. Students create artwork using something from popular culture for the subject matter. Describes how to create the prints. Lists the objectives and materials. (CMK)

Presents an activity for fourth-grade students where they learn about the French artist Edgar Degas through visualization and role-playing in which the students "visit" Degas' studio in 19th century Paris (France). Includes the objectives and goals of the lesson, materials needed, and helpful hints. (CMK)

Presents a lesson that teaches students about abstract art in a fun way. Explains that students draw cats, learn about the work of Pablo Picasso, and, in the style of Picasso, combine the parts of the cats (tail, legs, head, body) together in unconventional ways. (CMK)

Presents a project where fourth-grade students depicted images on coins to reflect important conflicts in Canadian history, such as September 11, 2001. Explains how to create the coins in detail. States that the students each wrote a "proclamation" that described their time period depicted on the coins. (CMK)

Describes an interdisciplinary art and music lesson for third- and fourth-grade students where students learned about maracas from the music teacher and then created their own maracas. Explains the process for creating the maracas in detail and includes a list of materials needed, the learning objectives, and a bibliography. (CMK)

Describes an art project in which fourth-grade students create three-dimensional castles out of papier-mache. Explains that the students created paintings of their castles before they created the three-dimensional castles. Discusses in detail the process of creating the castles. (CMK)

Presents an art lesson used when teaching about North American Indians to fourth- and fifth-grade students. Explains that the students learn how to make baskets using a coil-wrap technique with colored yarns and beads. Provides a step-by-step explanation of how to create the baskets. (CMK)

Describes an activity in which fourth grade students created a three-dimensional representation of Vincent Van Gogh's room in Arles (France). Expounds that the students had to invent their own strategies for three-dimensional construction and two-dimensional embellishment. Provides directions for creating the room and bed. (CMK)

Provides information on John Singer Sargent, a portrait artist known for his artwork of rich and famous people. Describes an art activity for fourth-grade students that incorporates the techniques of Sargent into full-bodied student self-portraits. Enables students to consider career aspirations. (CMK)