Third in the Mighty Easy Motivators series, this book is a hands-on guide to crafts for pre-school and grade school children to engage in during the literature program, after-school activities, or playtime. The programs in the book meet two objectives: introducing children to exciting new stories and poems and helping them create a story-related…

An art teacher believes in implementing a hands-on approach to learning. Whenever possible, the instructor encourages students to learn from or experience through some form of art activity. Teachers can exercise the imaginations of their students while providing the impetus they need to understand the world and each other better. Whether a…

Describes a 10-week art unit for upper- and middle-elementary students based on the theme of the sky. Students watched movies, drew sky-scapes, depicted fanciful flying people in drawings and sculptures, made a class soft-sculpture banner of flying creatures, and did abstract paintings based on aerial perspectives. (AM)

The author describes the basic materials and processes needed for a student project in planographic and incised relief printing with plasticine, and gives some hints for adapting this project to different elementary grade levels. (SJL)

The author gives step-by-step procedures for a screen printing project that teaches color mixing to young children. (SJL)

The author designed three art lessons to provide elementary-aged learning disabled student with concrete experiences which would help them to grasp some abstract mathematical concepts. Each lesson is briefly described and students' reactions to it discussed. (SJL)

Under the guidance of an artist-in-residence, students at Stuckey Elementary transformed a corner of their library/media center into a fantasy reading nook with soft sculpture fabric landscapes, and foam furniture designed to look like clouds. (Author/SJL)

Describes a games-based instructional kit for elementary students on visual literacy, art vocabulary, and environmental design called "The Art Connection." The kit utilizes a teaching strategy called "See-Imagine-Do" which is further described in an article on pp13-17 of this issue. (SJL)

Maintains that expense and lack of experience with glazes and firing the kiln need not prevent teachers from using clay in the classroom. Describes how author experimented with clay and fibers and subsequently devised numerous art activities for elementary school students. (KM)

Recounts a personal experience as a first grader to illustrate the point that teachers must remember to encourage rather than stifle students' creativity. (NH)

Describes the "Private Eye Project" developed by Seattle artist and writer Kerry Ruef and piloted by the Seattle Public Schools. Program materials include a loupe (a jeweler's magnifying glass) and a kit of specimens. Transformed by the loupe, the most ordinary objects present new, analogous worlds leading to poetic and artistic…

Understanding and creating art can teach students to work cooperatively and strive to achieve goals. Parents can encourage students' participation in art by supporting community art programs and helping to decide how art will be taught in school. The paper describes how to plan and conduct art education PTA meetings. (SM)

A Polish technique for second-language instruction among young children uses playful activities, particularly drawing and coloring, alongside dialogues for effective language learning. In a cooperative exercise, students create their own books using their own art and newly learned vocabulary. (MSE)

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…