This qualitative study examined the ways in which homeless children cope with their environment. Preliminary data were gathered by observing homeless children at a homeless shelter day care center in a medium-sized midwestern city. As many as 12 children, aged 2 to 6 years, were observed in the day care setting on three different weekday mornings.…

This paper examines art, a discipline that bears striking parallels, and differences, in the way it is practiced and valued in the United States and Japan. In Japan, art is a valued part of the elementary curriculum warranting as much time as science and social studies. In the United States, art is generally thought of as something extra to do if…

This resource guide and the accompanying videotapes are based on the artist-generated lesson plans of the Very Special Arts Massachusetts artist residency program. Six arts units are presented: Collage, Puppetry, Movement I & II, Printmaking I & II, Theater Arts I & II, and Self Concept I & II. Each of these units consists of…

This study describes preschoolers' computer-generated graphics. Of specific interest were three questions: (1) What is the nature of children's computer-generated drawings in terms of the developmental stages of art? (2) How do the stages evident in children's computer-generated drawings compare with those in drawings produced with traditional art…

A collection of Christmas projects that can be adapted to different levels of German study are presented. The text is in German, except for the overview which is in English. It is advised that the teacher be well acquainted with the craft items to be presented to the students. The language of the classroom should be German to provide a total…

Experienced educator Donna Whyte has compiled her ideas for using film containers in the classroom into "131 Ways to Use Film Containers" so that they can be shared with other teachers. She includes engaging ways to use them in teaching children about word families, sight words, and punctuation marks; skip counting, estimating, and predicting; and…

Three- to six-year-old children in the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, worked on a project called "The City: Images, Ideas, and Theories," in which teachers investigated the children's ideas, hypotheses, and theories about cities in general and their own city in particular. Children's knowledge about the city was surveyed in…

The repertory grid is a technique used in psychological and behavioral studies to elicit individuals' personal constructs. This pilot study examined the feasibility of using this technique with young children in early childhood education settings with regard to visual art education, based on the view that listening to, and appreciating children's…

Environmental education is enhanced through day-long field trips that integrate children's literature, science, environmental awareness, and sketching. Literature sets the context of the learning, and sketching encourages children to carefully observe a natural area. After the field trip, children create community displays featuring writing and…

Describes objects from everyday life and analyzes artworks by four contemporary artists whose works make use of familiar objects (Louise Nevelson, Claes Oldenburg, Mitchell Syrop, and Betye Sarr). Divides lesson into four steps: (1) discussing everyday objects; (2) viewing artworks; (3) studying artists; and (4) class activities related to the…

Discusses an international art exchange project designed to teach fifth-grade students that the culture of a country is reflected in its art and that art is a universal language. Describes the contributions from Scotland, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan, and India. Points out ways to use materials in schools. (KO)

Maintains that assessment in the arts often is avoided in the early childhood years because it appears to be incompatible with a child-centered philosophy. Asserts that reflective assessment procedures can inform early childhood teachers about instruction in arts education. (CFR)

Asserts that educational researchers ideally want their interests, values, and assumptions about life and human purpose interwoven with their research themes. Reviews research in art education. Concludes that one topic to study would be the relationship between art education and life. (CFR)

Describes the outreach education program of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (California). The First Visit and Beyond program consists of community outreach, museum visits, and return visits. Outreaches take place in the community with eight sessions of interactive discussion and art-making connected thematically to museum exhibits.…

Argues that African art helps children to learn vital art concepts and enlarges their understanding of the role of art in human culture. Outlines a unit on African art based on animals. Students created fabric designs and illustrated folktales and fables. Provides a list of free resources. (KM)