Have you tried using art postcards to teach or review important art concepts? It's a fun way to expose your students to great artwork, teach or review important concepts, and provide a hands-on learning experience all at the same time. Where to find art postcards All you need is a collection of art postcards or other small reproductions of fine art. Many of my art … [Read more...]
The Teach Kids Art TIP Vault
I'm excited to share the newest feature of the Teach Kids Art website... the TIP Vault! The Teach Kids Art TIP Vault is where I collect all my very best tips for teaching Art to kids. No matter what grade you teach, you'll find helpful ideas and information you can use. Whether you're a classroom teacher or a parent doing art with kids at home, the TIP Vault is for you! Each … [Read more...]
Find Your Best Composition With a Viewfinder
How do you choose what to paint or draw when there are so many choices in front of you? Whether your subject is a landscape, still life, or portrait, arranging your composition can be challenging when your options feel limitless. A viewfinder can help you select your best option. A viewfinder is a simple tool you can make yourself with strips of cardboard or popsicle … [Read more...]
Create Your Own Color Wheel
Why purchase pre-mixed paint colors when students can learn to mix their own colors for more variety and more interesting results? Making a color wheel teaches students how to mix the colors they want while learning the basics of color theory! For a printable 7 page pdf of this project (including my color wheel template), please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store! You will … [Read more...]
How to Create Your Own Art Lessons Inspired by Children’s Books
If you love kids' art, you've probably had the experience of being totally charmed and inspired by a book written and illustrated for kids! And chances are, the book that captured your attention will have the same effect on your students... especially when your enthusiasm shines through! Why not capitalize on the wonder and magic of that special book and use it as the launch … [Read more...]
How to Play the Elements of Art & Principles of Design Memory Game
I'm always on the lookout for creative, new ways to teach my students the Elements of Art and Principles of Design (affiliate link). You may have played a version of this game before Recently, I attended a bridal shower where we played a memory game.... the "put-a-bunch-of … [Read more...]
Shadow Tracing
Shadow tracing is a project that students from about 2nd or 3rd grade and up will love doing. It fits right in with discussions about composition, color theory, and positive/negative shapes. In the interest of full disclosure, one of the reasons students love it so much is that they have to go outside to do it! I guess we don't get out as often as we should in Art class, so … [Read more...]
Foreground, Middle Ground, Background
"The Luncheon of the Boating Party" by Pierre-Auguste RenoirCan you identify the foreground, middle ground and background in this painting?Here's an Art concept that applies to many 2D projects from still lifes to landscapes. You can teach and/or review it no matter what medium you're working in. This is the spatial concept of foreground, middle ground and background.The … [Read more...]
Autumn Leaves with Crayon Resist
This fun autumn leaves art project is perfect for grades 1 & up. It's easy to do, everyone can feel successful and the results are beautiful. Try one yourself! Autumn Leaves Art Project with Crayon Resist inspired by Andy Goldsworthy Materials: • 12x18 white construction paper• black crayon (or oil pastel), broken in half with the paper peeled off• … [Read more...]
The Colors of the Rainbow
Kids love rainbows! And kids in grades K-1 tend to be almost obsessed with them. And why not?? After all, rainbows are fascinating! A rainbow is a multicolored arch that forms in the sky when the sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the air. Rainbows span a continuous spectrum of colors in a specific order; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. "Roy G. … [Read more...]
