Explores the development of children's ability to plan their drawings. Presents a conceptual framework and a process-structural model of the planning of drawings in childhood. Two experiments support the model's prediction of different patterns of results as a function of the working memory capacity of the subjects. (SKC)

Profiles the life and achievements of Marion Richardson, who is credited with developing the child art movement, and inventing Writing and Writing Patterns. The article also traces Richardson's neglected contribution to art education. (BSR)

Described is an art course in which fifth-grade students made masks using low fire whiteware as the medium. (RM)

Examined the relationship between Kinetic School Drawing responses and academic achievement in 100 normal fifth-grade students. Significant correlations were found for a number of measures, generally supporting the validity of the technique. (JAC)

The result of an investigation to establish evidence that trained gifted children, ages 8 to 11, would draw more realistically than untrained gifted children showed a significant difference between experimental and control groups and a significant interaction between age and treatment. (Author/PN)

Art activities, three for elementary students and one for secondary students, are described. Elementary students develop an autobiobox (a visual autobiography in a container), learn to draw trees in a meaningful way, and do human figure drawing; secondary students study and duplicate cast shadows. (RM)

Reports on age differences found in children's (1) ability to execute appropriate differences in the uses of color while completing partially drawn scenes; and (2) sensitivity to differences between heraldic, gradation, harmonic, and pure use of color in a matching task. (GC)

Some children, adolescents, and adults have used humor when responding to a drawing task. The humor tends to reflect their own situations as well as attitudes toward self and others, fantasies and moods. After presenting a brief review of background literature, this paper describes the various kinds of humor observed, and presents the findings of…

A small, local school district in north central Ohio, in making application for state funds to construct a new school, requested parent and community input. An exploratory study asked students what kind of classroom would improve their learning. The student assessment was part of a class assignment and took the form of pencil drawings. Three…

The House-Tree-Person test is based on the premise that unconscious aspects of the personality are exposed through the person's drawings of familiar items. Children who have experienced sexual abuse are often hesitant to respond to direct questioning about this experience. Researchers have studied the H-T-P to determine if these children produce…

This book collects the thoughts of some of the world's most astute observers of child art. Essays in the book include: (1) "Art as a Unifying Principle in Education" (Sir Herbert Read); (2) "Stages of Development in Preschool Art" (Rhoda Kellogg); (3) "Child Art and Visual Thinking" (Rudolf Arnheim); (4) "The Mental Foundation of Art Education in…

Ranger Rick's NatureScope is a creative education series dedicated to inspiring in children an understanding and appreciation of the natural world while developing the skills they will need to make responsible decisions about the environment. The topic of this issue is "Wild & Crafty." It contains a variety of craft ideas related to…

This book offers a wide variety of easy-to-make crafts, including toys, games, and gifts, and each project begins with a box. The book provides directions, a materials list, and suggestions for setting aside a work area. The projects are illustrated with large full-color photographs and explained with simple step-by-step instructions. Contains a…

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)

The authors describe how children draw stories, not pictures. They suggest that by encouraging children to draw, and to bring to school drawings that have been done at home, art teachers can help children to create fantastic worlds. (KC)