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)

Describes how the author, motivated by Esther Krichevsky's fishprints, introduced fishprinting to a middle school. Students explored the origin of fishprinting and other Japanese arts as well as learned about printmaking, collage, and painting. Maintains that, for children to grow creatively, they need freedom to experiment. (KM)

Almost all early civilizations had mythological stories. From the great cradles of civilization--Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome--to the Mother Earth and Father Sky of the early Native Americans, myths have been part of the civilization of humankind. Typically, in this teachers' ninth-grade painting class, the students paint landscapes in…

Today, schools are actively looking for new ways to enable their students to develop storytelling skills. These skills should empower children and young adults to practice collaborative learning on many levels, from reading and writing to painting and project management. In this framework, digital painting provides educators with innovative…

Growth in painting ability is dependent on frequent painting experiences, on thoughtful motivation, and on proper guidance and evaluation of progress. This guide includes materials and equipment, motivation, guidance procedures, activities, and evaluation for each grade level. A working space with materials and equipment in the classroom needs to…

"Tribal Masks" was an interesting project for seventh and eighth graders who used "found" or "donated" materials as a result of budget cuts and art supply shortages. (Author/RK)

Two studies investigated: (1) the art preference of young children for realistic, stylized, and abstract styles; and (2) the influence that exposure to art has on these style preferences. Analyses revealed that exposure increased preference for the selected painting as well as preference for other paintings in that style. (PCB)

The first art lesson helps middle-school students to understand characteristics, methods, and the historical significance of Cubist paintings as shown in Picasso's "Still Life with Compote and Glass." In the second lesson high school students learn about Cezanne's work and his relationship to the Impressionists and 20th century artists.…

Describes an art activity aimed at the creation of a free-flowing design of lines and shapes. (Author/RK)

Pleads for funds to expand art activities in schools. (DS)

The article presents ideas for using Van Gogh's painting, "Irises," to teach elementary students about floral still lifes and the use of space, light, and other aspects of composition. It includes a poster of "Irises" along with suggestions and activities for using it to explore the elements of art. (SM)

Discusses the life and paintings of Vincent van Gogh, focusing on "The Road Meanders," and describes how to teach students through the painting (e.g., analyzing colors, discussing feelings it evokes, and writing poems that speak to the people in the painting). A copy of the painting is included. (SM)

This author relates how she introduced the art of Gustav Klimt to her third-grade class in her desire to provide them with a combined portrait, figure, and writing unit with a focus on positive character traits. Gustav Klimt's use of controlled patterns and designs inspired younger students, who easily related to his style. In this article, the…

In the art lesson described in this article, students explore the arts of architecture, design, painting, and sculpture within four time periods: early colonial (1500-1700), late colonial (1700-1776), the quest for independence (1776-1860), and industrialization and growth (1860-1900). Through class discussion, readings, and slide presentations,…

Four packets comprise the art component of an enrichment program for gifted elementary students. The introduction packet reviews identification of children gifted in art through pre and post measures. A drawing packet reviews techniques for such activities as human figure drawing, shading, crayon rubbinqs, experimenting with perspective, and…