Three independently developed educational leadership courses used the arts to depart from lecture and passive learning, prime students to solve school problems creatively, and build social justice awareness. Photo captioning was used to promote intrapersonal leadership development around professional identity formation and social justice awareness…

Seizing ideas from chance encounters and combining them in new ways produces innovative and exciting art experiences for students and teachers alike. Such was the case when the author received a book of postcards with photographs of original art made from discarded computer mice by San Francisco artists. In this article, the author describes an…

In an attempt to incorporate sculptural elements into her ceramics program, the author decided to try direct plaster casting of the face to make a plaster mold for clay. In this article, the author shares an innovative ceramics lesson that teaches students in making plaster casts and casting the face in clay. This project gives students the…

In Kathleen Loomis's preschool classroom at the Bennington College Early Childhood Center, the goal for children is not to produce beautiful and expressive artworks or to learn specific methods of working with art media--although those things do happen. Here, the curriculum is built around the philosophy that learning to think and create with art…

Mead Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia, displays private art collection at two elementary schools in Palo Alto, California, to provide children with an exposure to high quality painting. (DS)

This issue of School Arts is devoted entirely to young artists around the world, grades K-12. (Editor)

Describes how the author, influenced by Celtic, Trajan, and contemporary alphabets, created his own alphabet. Discusses the developmental drawing process, color determinations, and how he created his final large scale letter forms in plywood. Outlines how students can adopt these ideas to develop their own alphabet. (KM)

This paper discusses the use of different media for art instruction and creative activities with preschoolers at the Reggio Emilia preschools in Italy. Drawing made with markers, paper constructions, clay sculpture, and wooden constructions are all used to deepen children's understanding of a particular theme or concept. Typically, a small group…

Recognition of the handicapped child's isolation from the environment is the basis for creative art therapy across handicapping conditions (physical disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, deafness, Blindness, speech impairment, cerebral palsy). Detachment may be overcome by self expression through drawings, paintings, and…

Portrays the spiritual and natural content of Haitian art, illustrates a characteristic cut-metal sculpture, and lists highlights of Haitian art history. Suggests activities for elementary and secondary students designed to help them understand art forms that provide insights into the myths and mysteries of other cultures. (KM)

Written to describe successful projects which have been used in special education art classes, and to assist teachers in planning a worthwhile program, the booklet makes suggestions for arranging the long-range program in blocks or units, planning projects around changing seasons and established celebrations, using materials with definite weight…