Describes a unit on clay casting that introduces students to relief sculpture. The unit takes three 45 to 50 minute class periods three weeks apart. Discusses each class session in detail: (1) creating the casting; (2) turning out and rinsing the casting; and (3) enriching the surface with color. (CMK)

Provides information on Willie Bester, who lived under Apartheid in South Africa and used his art to bring public attention to the plight of persecuted people. Includes a reproduction of Bester's collage, "Crossroads." Discusses the history and social message of "Crossroads." (CMK)

Describes a project in which ninth grade students sculpt gargoyles as part of a Gothic unit. Discusses the construction of the gargoyles from the initial sketches to sculpting methods and effects to finishes. Offers tips on what to avoid. (CMK)

Discusses an art project in which sixth grade students design alphabets by transforming the shapes of the letters into new designs that are still recognizable. Explains that students brainstorm ideas for their own lettering style. (CMK)

Describes projects that focus on the design, purpose, and materials of windows, such as making mock window displays and redesigning on paper stained glass windows. Provides a list of project ideas and pictures of different types of windows. (CMK)

Describes a drawing assignment, using colored pencil, that explores color, texture, and relationships among drawn objects. Students use reference photographs to create a drawing in which one object is juxtaposed against a crowd of similar but different objects. (CMK)

Describes an art lesson, inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Seasons" series, in which students construct masks representing one of the four seasons. Discusses the process and lists words and phrases associated with each season. (CMK)

Describes how one artist works with members of a community to bring in residence art instruction to schools. Completed art projects can be seen on Phi Delta Kappa website at www.pdkintl.org/profdev/residency/artisthome.htm. (PKP)

Focuses on a reduction-firing process with an aim of producing high-quality blackware similar to the black-on-black pottery of Maria Martinez and other American Indian potters. Includes a lesson on creating reduction-fired seedpod bowls, lists of instructional resources and materials, and the objectives and evaluation. (CMK)

Recognizes the importance of children's art made at home and focuses on having children express themselves through handmade art. Gives examples of different types of handmade art, such as making room accessories and furnishings, constructing "portable" artworks, and building figures in different mediums. (CMK)

Describes an assignment where students in an advanced art class created ten textured backgrounds for future artworks. Explains that there were different stations with tools and media for creating the backgrounds. Offers examples of what subject matter was used with the backgrounds. (CMK)

Describes felting as the process of making felt using sheep's wool from fibers without weaving or knitting. Explains that teachers can incorporate felting into a lesson exploring the background behind this process, as an extension of collage or textile arts, as a means to studying abstract art, or in a fashion design unit. (CMK)

Describes an art activity in which the students created art-paper collages of salads. Explains that before making the collages there was a discussion on healthy eating habits and the benefits of a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Identifies the materials needed for the collages. (CMK)

Presents a unit on clay that is centered around sign language in which students explore the slab method of working with clay. States that each student picks a letter of the sign language alphabet and fashions a clay hand to depict the letter. (CMK)

Discusses an art project in which students, using a photograph of a favorite person as a guide, create a paper mosaic with small pieces of paper from magazines, catalogues, and brochures. Describes the process of creating the mosaics. Warns that the project is time consuming. (CMK)