While it's always a good idea to be safe about the products we use as consumers, it's even more important when kids are involved. And in schools, this is not an option.... non-toxic is the only way to go! To ensure the quality and safety of the art materials your students use, be sure the product label contains this statement: "Conforms To ASTM D-4236".In addition to that, … [Read more...]
Scissor Tips
Using scissors is a skill that we adults have been comfortable with for so long that we forget how tricky this can be for small hands! By teaching kids a few basic rules for working with scissors, we can help them gain the skills to be both effective and safe when using this important tool!1. Always point the scissors away from you when cutting. 2. Turn the paper when … [Read more...]
Art Speak 101
Tempera paint, colored pencils and markers are examples of art "media".Do you ever feel confused (or maybe even intimidated?) by some of the lingo used in the Art world?? We do have some terms that are specific to our industry and could be unfamiliar to someone without a background in Art. I'll try to offer some insight on some of these lesser known terms that you may run … [Read more...]
Artists in 60 Seconds
Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926). Shadows on the Sea, the Cliffs at Pourville, 1882.No, this isn’t about how to turn your students into artists in just one minute, but rather how to get one minute’s worth of information about an already well-known artist! Sometimes all you need is a quick summary of an artist’s life and work, yet when you search the internet you can easily end … [Read more...]
Don’t Toss Those Old Calendars!
It's a new year, and that means it's time to get the word out to your friends, co-workers and parents of your students to bring you their old calendars!There are two types of calendars that I save.... fine art calendars (like the Van Gogh pictured here) and scenic photography calendars. Both are useful, yet they serve two entirely different purposes.Fine art calendars are … [Read more...]
How Van Gogh Made His Mark – Explore and Learn!
The Courtyard of the Hospital in Arles, First Week of May 1889by Vincent Van GoghIf you are a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, you must visit this wonderful, interactive website for kids by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, called "Explore and Learn" . Here kids can learn about the life of post-impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh, focusing on his drawings and his masterful use of … [Read more...]
Fighting Perfectionism? Picture This…
"The Persistence of Memory" by Salvadore Dali One of my lifelong goals has been to become less of a perfectionist. They say that a goal should be specific and measurable. And this "goal" is neither of those. I don't expect to completely conquer perfectionism, but just to become more and more okay with "not perfect". It's more like a target to be aiming for than an … [Read more...]
Inspiration for a New Year
Copyright 2008, Simple Truths I love a good quote! It’s amazing how words can inspire, encourage, motivate, and even change lives. Here is one of the many quotes that has done this for me: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault Whether you spend your time teaching Art to kids or doing something entirely … [Read more...]
Crayola – More than Just Coloring!
"Very Voracious Animal Voices" from Crayola.comHere's another great website I discovered with Art ideas for kids.... crayola.com. Don't be misled (as I almost was!) by the name. Crayola is more than just crayons!! Just follow the link to the Crayola home page, then click on the link "For Educators" on the left. From there go to "Resources" and then "Lesson Plans" to find … [Read more...]
Many Hands Make Light Work
Here's a handy idea to motivate your students to help clean up the classroom after a messy project or party. (Anyone have one of those this week?) They say that "Many hands make light work", so enlist class support and get the job done quickly! Just tell your students that in order to participate in the next activity (whatever that might be), they will each need to pay you … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- Next Page »