Every year, the Parent-Teacher Association of Ferndale Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia sponsors a fun road race for the students, teachers, families, and community. This annual event has inspired the author to develop the Running and Art project to show off her students' art and squeeze in a little art history, too. In this article, the…

A focus on school reform within the field of elementary education has brought an arts-integrated approach to teaching and learning to the forefront. This is not a new approach, as integrating what many call "hands-on activities" in the classroom is quite common. The difference lies in the quality and depth of the approach to teaching and learning,…

This lesson resource focuses on simple elements of design and composition and encourages uses of a variety of drawing techniques in the production of a one-color lithograph print. Materials suggested for use are simple and commercially available. The lesson incorporates a brief historic overview of the printmaking art. The prints of famous artists…

Plainfield, New Jersey has been a pathway from the Hudson to the Delaware Rivers for Native Americans, a settlement for early settlers, a source for industrial workers, and a residence for homeowners of a wide variety of incomes. The town's architecture recalls its social history. A need was seen to build community through recognition of the…

About 15,000 BC, the bison and other animals roamed the land and cave people, in their spare time, found colorful, chalky rocks with which to play. Over the course of time, they found that the chalky rocks would rub off on the cave walls, thus cave paintings and the pursuit of art was born. This article describes one fourth-grade classroom's…

In many school districts, teachers of all subjects are asked to incorporate teaching values. In trying to incorporate Character Education into the art classroom, this teacher chose three areas to work with: art history, art production, and classroom procedures. These three areas are described in this article.

Integrated art history and language arts activities are presented in this curriculum guide. The art history content is chronologically organized by units: (1) "Art of the Ancient World"; (2) "Arts of the East and Africa"; (3) "Art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance"; (4) "Five European Masters"; (5) "Impressionism and Post-Impressionism"; (6)…

Describes how art activities can create a comfortable atmosphere of valuing diversity without spotlighting the culturally different child. Guidelines are offered for using folk arts, art history, children's literature, and small-group activities. (RH)

Maintains that the study of art history should be learning about all forms of art work from every culture and relating it to the present. Describes how one art teacher uses puppetry to actively involve students in art history. Recommends that teachers look to the great teachers and their own teaching for such lessons. (KM)

Based on concepts of discipline-based art education, this instructional resource presents art experiences which use a variety of media to integrate art across the curriculum. Basic concepts of art are introduced in the first five lessons. The remaining 14 lessons are aimed at developing knowledge and skill bases in art processes, skills, media,…

These activity/workbooks use drawings done in the style of great women artists in order to promote a knowledge of female art history through a variety of educational experiences. Volume 1 and 2 present 26 women artists (one for each letter of the alphabet) that can be used as an entire year's curriculum. Volume 1 features artists whose names begin…

Teaching art at the elementary level provides the student and the teacher with the opportunity to develop artistic skills and enhance awareness of the world and its varied cultures. Art provides the chance to gain an appreciation of the various styles of art and artists. Art education allows for students' individual growth; unique, valuable…

Explains how proper preparation, including giving students specific tasks to accomplish, helps focus a museum or sculpture garden visit. Outlines two basic ways that a teacher might organize a tour: (1) by showing a progression from figurative to abstract sculpture, and (2) by discussing design concepts. Includes pictures of four sculptures,…

Explains how teachers can use graphs and graphing concepts when teaching art, language arts, history, social studies, and science. Students can graph the lifespans of the Ninja Turtles' Renaissance namesakes (Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci) or world population growth. (MDM)

Examines studies, especially those of Viktor Lowenfeld, which suggest that coloring books are harmful to the creative expression of children. Proposes an alternative hypothesis that views coloring books as useful teaching tools to help children understand and appreciate art. Calls for further research into the issue. (KM)