In this article, three art educators reflect on their ideas and experiences in developing and implementing innovative projects for their courses focusing on art for elementary education majors. They explore three different approaches. The three areas that are discussed in depth include: (1) understanding child art; (2) visual culture; and (3)…

In this article, the author shares an activity she introduced to her students. In this particular activity, students are required to design a figure, a wardrobe, and an environment for paper dolls. The author got the inspiration for this activity from her childhood pastime of playing with paper dolls. (Contains 1 online resource.)

This study focuses on children's experiences and the creation of "the big picture", the Universe. It draws data from an age range 6-16 and is based on 270 children's drawings of how they imagine the Universe to be, and on their answers to a number of short questions about it. Results are discussed using as a base a specially developed systemic…

What is happening in arts teaching and learning in our classrooms? Recent NEMP reports tell us that Year 4 students are not performing well but that there is an increase in scores at Year 8. This new professional development resource builds on research into teacher practice in Years 0-6 classrooms in New Zealand primary schools. It offers new…

The Natural Resources Defense Council in New York recently warned against hazardous art supplies in a report entitled "Children's Art Hazards." Potential hazards are discussed. Suggestions on selection of art materials and procedures to minimize risk are made. (MT)

Argues that the most widely used accounts of children's artistic development are not only inadequate and incomplete but that they seriously misinform, obscuring more than they reveal about children's drawings. (Author/SJL)

Describes Express-Ways, a Chicago children's museum providing free, hands-on arts experiences to students, teachers, and families. Focuses on recent exhibits and future projects. Suggests possible art education programs for schools. (DMM)

Describes ways that aesthetic theories can be integrated into children's art education. The author illustrates elements of E.H. Gombrich's theory of aesthetic perception using as examples art activities designed to increase student awareness of their "mental sets" and their understanding of how mental sets influence visual perception. (AM)

Recalling memories from her own third grade art classes, Ann Mueller, recreated an updated version for her students showing her students how to make snow scenes from Ivory Snow flakes. She showed students the video, The Snowman based on Raymond Briggs's book of the same name. Its beautiful images spur the imagination, and the musical score is…

In this article, the author introduces the concept of flat pack toys. Flat pack toys are designed using a template on a single sheet of letter-sized card stock paper. Before being cut out and built into a three-dimensional toy, they are scanned into the computer and uploaded to a website. With the template accessible from the website, anyone with…

This book is a collection of letters and drawings created by children, that illustrate what they like to do with nature, their fears about the future of nature, and how they would like to treat nature. The book's author traveled the world and visited schools from a variety of areas, including large, medium, and small cities, country towns, and…

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…

An art activity which involved elementary students in making coiled clay constructions is described. (RM)

A project is described that involved elementary school students in painting murals to enhance their school's interior. (DS)

Provides the details of an art project focusing on the human skeleton. Includes samples of student work. (RL)