This project is a great way to use last year's broken crayons! You can even assign students the job of peeling paper off the broken crayons just for this purpose.... some kids LOVE to do this!! "My Many Colored Days", written (but not illustrated) by the beloved Dr. Seuss, is the inspiration for my Grade 2 portfolio lesson. Dr. Seuss wrote this text more than 20 years before … [Read more...]
Search Results for: Portfolios
Grade 1 Portfolios – Design a Dot!
Every year, I start each of my Art classes by going over my "Art Rules". While this is review for most of my students, it never hurts to hear it again! And reading this book provides a great on-ramp to having this discussion!The Dot, by Peter Reynolds, has to be one of my favorite children's books of all time. If you only read one art-themed book to your students this year, … [Read more...]
K Portfolios – a Purple Crayon Adventure!
I've always loved books, so I love to start the school year off by reading an art-related story to each of my classes. My favorite "art story" for Kindergarten is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. This classic children's tale was first published in 1955 and has been hugely popular ever since. It tells the story of a little boy named Harold who decides to … [Read more...]
Time to Make Portfolios!
A new school year means new portfolios! A portfolio for each student provides a place to store and protect a year's worth of 2D artwork. While it's great to put student work up around the classroom, there's only so much room and then it has to go somewhere! If you send it home, chances are pretty good you'll never see it again, so if you're planning a spring Art Show keep … [Read more...]
TIP #22: 10 Ways to Jump-Start Creativity
Do your students sometimes need a creativity 'jump-start'? When was the last time you assigned a project and immediately a student complained they didn't have any ideas or even know where to start? Coming up with an original idea can feel completely daunting to both kids and adults alike. Generating fresh ideas can be intimidating. It helps to know that it's not so much about … [Read more...]
Your Child’s Art: What to Save, How to Save It
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about decluttering…. paring down all the stuff we've accumulated over the years and keeping only what’s truly important to us. So when one of my readers asked me what to do with the 'mountain of artwork' his kids were bringing home, it really struck a chord. After surveying friends, family, my own bookshelf, and the internet in general, I came to … [Read more...]
Read Aloud and Respond with Art!
March 5th, 2014 is World Read Aloud Day! Every year, on the first Wednesday in March, Litworld (a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy around the globe) mobilizes children and adults everywhere to advocate for literacy as a basic human right belonging to all people. Reading aloud is a natural way to celebrate the written word and to share it with … [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...]
Portfolio Project for Middle School – Graffiti Names
I chose to make my sample using my own name, so no one could complain about their name being too long! This year, my previously K-6 elementary school has added a middle school. Now Art has become an elective class for 6th and 7th graders (an 8th grade will be added next year). This means lots of new lesson plans geared to older kids! I wanted to give my middle … [Read more...]
Get Ready for a New School Year!
My basic supplies for teaching "affordable" art.... most of my lessons use just these simple materials.Preparing for a new school year can be an enormous job! But like anything else, if you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, it's a lot less overwhelming! Here's what works for me....The first step is to get back into the classroom (or storage/prep area, … [Read more...]