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Classroom Resources

Monthly Themes

Art Appreciation

Writing Prompt

Personal Opinion:

Have students choose a painting, sculpture, or photograph and write a paragraph describing the work and why they like it.

Activities

Grades K–1: Language Arts
Alphabet Books

Students will love making this cute alphabet book, which will help them learn initial consonants and vowels.

Grades K–2: Art
Paint On!

Let your students explore the effects of color on composition. Have them paint online or color printouts of various line drawings.

  • Paint Kit
  • http://games.zeeks.com/game.php?g=1657&s=4&category=4&level=0
Grades K–2: Language Arts/Art
Picture This

A great poet can paint a picture with words. Have each of your students actually draw the picture!

Grades K–3: Art
No Brushes Allowed

Who needs a paintbrush? Let students explore putting paint to paper with hatched plastic.

Grades K–3: Art
Light Colors

Have students reflect on the effect of light on color by having them create tissue-paper versions of stained glass.

Grades K–8: Art/Language Arts
On Lines

Lines play a key role in many art compositions. Have students learn the language of lines as they draw them. Have each student create a page of dotted, wavy, straight, spiral, fat, thin, curvy, zigzag, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, parallel, perpendicular, and angular lines. Then have students label each different line. Challenge each student to make a drawing using different types of lines.

Grades 1–5: Art
Coloring Masterpieces

Students will enjoy applying their own interpretations of how to color a masterpiece. Have students explain their color choices and write or dictate several sentences describing the work of art.

Grades 1–6: Art
Millipede Madness

Students will delight in making a colorful millipede grow and follow them virtually.

Grades 1–6: Art
Block Art

Have students create a graphic design using nothing more than a mouse, their imaginations, and “Eraser” by Michael French.

Grades 1–8: Art
A Room of van Goghs

Bring out the van Gogh in your budding artists. Have each of them experiment with the composition of a still-life drawing.

Grades 1–8: Art
Art on Its Head

For fun (and unusual results) have students select an object to draw, such as a toy or other small item. Have students place the item upside down and then draw it. Challenge students to draw the item without looking at their papers.

Grades 1–8: Art/Language Arts
What Is Art?

Hold a class discussion on what makes something “fine art,” a “craft,” or just plain “junk.” If possible, provide visual representations of fine art, folk art, crafts, and “bad art” to highlight the differences. Challenge students to draft a set of standards or a rubric to identify quality work.

Grades 1–8: Art/Mathematics
Funny Shapes

Geometric shapes are the essence of many drawings, even cartoons. Have students use a variety of shapes as they learn to draw.

Grades 1–8: Art
Virtual Collage

The Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was famous for turning ordinary items into fantastic animals, such as his “She Goat.” What will your students do with virtual items such as a baseball, bowling pin, and spoon? Have them apply their artistic whims to creating original works of art. Students may also use actual objects.

Grades 2–5: Art/Language Arts
Putting “Art” into Language Arts

Have students review nouns and adjectives while creating imaginative works of art.

Grades 2–5: Art/Social Studies
The Art of Diversity

Have students use mixed media to create collages that represent the diversity of a country in North America or the Caribbean.

Grades 2–6: Art/Social Studies
Artist Stamps

Postal stamps can be miniature works of art. They can also feature important artists. Have each of your students design a stamp showcasing a favorite artist or artwork.

Grades 2–8: Language Arts
Word Finds

Have students find words related to art hidden in a puzzle.

  • Art Appreciation (grades 2–3) (PDF file)
  • http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/january/pdf/art_easy_wf.pdf
  • Art Appreciation Answer Key (grades 2–3) (PDF file)
  • http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/january/pdf/art_easy_wf_key.pdf
  • Art Appreciation (grades 4–8) (PDF file)
  • http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/january/pdf/art_hard_wf.pdf
  • Art Appreciation Answer Key (grades 4–8) (PDF file)
  • http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/january/pdf/art_hard_wf_key.pdf
Grades 3–8: Art
Up on the Roof

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has some outrageous art—on its roof! Have students take a closer look and answer several questions about the sculptures.

Grades 3–8: Art/Science
Metal Art

Metal filings make an “attractive” medium. Have each of your students experiment with metal and magnets while creating an original work of art.

  • Magnetic Art
  • http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/visart18.html
Houghton Mifflin