This ethnographic study examines how one first grade teacher uses an alternative, artist-focused curriculum to develop a critical consciousness in her students to work toward social change. A framework incorporating critical multicultural education and Lewin's theory of small groups is applied to assess how the use of a multicultural curriculum…

The students in the author's first grade class looked at Picasso's painting, "The Three Musicians," and observed how Picasso made the objects and people appear squared or "cubed." This style of art is called Cubism. In this article, the author describes a painting project that required her students to paint a Cubist snowman. This project helped…

First grade students enthusiastically explore the workability of foam rubber in art class. (G.B.)

Describes how first grade children used rug samples as tails for the animals they drew. Maintains that unusual scrap material can be the starting point of imaginative artworks. (KM)

The elementary art program level 1 (grades 1 and 2), level 2 (grades 3 and 4), and level 3 (grades 5 and 6) is a unified, sequential course which focuses on 4 major concepts of visual learning. The concepts are: reflection--the response to visual forms in nature, designed objects and artworks; depiction--the development of imagery based on…

A study investigated the effects of art expression on self-concept of low-reading first-grade students. Subjects, five low-readers and five on- or above-grade-level first graders from central Virginia, were pretested for self-concept, instructed in a two-week art-book making intervention, and posttested with the same instrument. Results indicated…

Imagination is central to our ability to understand reality. Parents and teachers should foster creative processes which facilitate the development of imagination in children. Expensive equipment or artistic expertise is not necessary to help children develop their imaginations. Instead, it is more important for teachers to allow children the time…

GRADES OR AGES: K-6. SUBJECT MATTER: Art. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The guide, which is intended as a basic sequential program, has three main sections: 1) Kaleidoscope, described as a frame of reference for creative experiences and outlining the aims of the program, types of art experiences, art appreciation, and guidelines for the…

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) what effects a teacher who was helped to understand basic art ideas would have on the development of these ideas in culturally deprived 6-year-olds, as expressed in their verbal language and in their art products in clay, and (2) whether or not there would be a difference in the development of these…

Designed to accompany the "Elementary Art Curriculum Guide," this resource is divided into 3 levels: level 1 grades 1-2, level 2 grades 3-4, and level 3 grades 5-6. The material is presented in a standardized format which includes four major components: reflection, depiction, composition, and expression. Once a concept has been chosen,…