Practical Life holds profound significance within the Montessori philosophy, captivating educators and students alike. Here, Montessori beautifully connects these concepts of dignity and independence to the skills children learn in their Montessori classroom. The author has a particular interest in fiber arts and crafts, and in this article, the…

Media arts develop students? digital literacies so they can critically engage in the media-rich Australian lifeworld. However, pre-service teacher education courses often marginalise The Arts subjects, including media arts. In 2014, a pilot study was undertaken to determine first-year Bachelor of Education (Primary) pre-service teachers'…

Instructions are given for making inexpensive plaster face casts and decorating them as masks. This art project was used with a fifth grade class. (SJL)

Images created with copy machines make children feel successful, as their work acquires the authority of being printed. Students can learn advanced processes like electrostatic image-making and can get involved in projects like making collages. They acquire an appreciation of design and of two-dimensional composition. (CS)

Activity described here is an outgrowth of efforts to show student teachers and in-service classroom teachers how they could introduce children to planographic printmaking without printing inks and brayers. (Author)

The work of master artists is an inspiring motivational source for students in their formative years. First and second grade students can create stylized athletes with pipe cleaners after the works of Alberta Giacometti. Fifth grade students can create paper sculptures in the style of Eugene Delacroix. (AM)

Rice can be the basis for mosaics, flower arrangements, games, toys, and many things children would like to make. It can add new dimensions to making candles, coasters, and jewelry. Working with rice can aid in the development of appreciation of texture, symmetry, coordination, imagination and, at the same time, result in hand-made gifts for…

A shadow puppet project for elementary students is described. Making the puppets, the stage, the light source, and the performance are discussed. (RM)

A teacher describes a dollmaking project she used with her coeducational sixth grade class. Pictures of the students' rag and stocking dolls illustrate the article. (SJL)

Two artists skilled in creating concrete sculpture worked with special and regular education elementary students in planning and building a concrete sculpture of a jungle. The shared experience not only resulted in a functional piece of art but also in improved staff and student relations. (CL)

Though every art student should have a chance to do photography, expenses have kept photography out of the art curriculum. Inexpensive pinhole photography can be the answer. Describes the pinhole camera and its construction, setting up the darkroom, using the camera, and print processing. (CS)

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)

Presents simple instructions for 15 mixed media art projects for the elementary grades. Part one of this series, listing 18 other techniques, appeared in the September 1979 issue of Instructor on pages 145-49. (SJL)

The projects in this book were designed to introduce art to children in grades K-6. All of the projects are easy to understand, quick to do, and cost effective. Minimal preparation time is needed and clean up is easy. If finding time for quality art lessons is a problem in the classroom, one of these projects could be included as a supplement to…