Art

One of the characteristics which sets humans apart from animals is the variety of methods used for expression. Students need to express themselves to gain many of the essential skills to become contributing members of society. Here are a few examples to get you started.

Art Appreciation

1.              PTS(Free+) Visit an art museum. Discuss the artwork displayed, possible meanings behind each painting, and the artists who created them. Talk about different art styles and the historical events during the eras these styles were popular. Dissect the elements of in the paintings like color, movement, space, and form. How do these elements enhance the artwork and what influence do they have on the artwork’s message?

2.              PTS($) Print out a variety of images of art pieces to study. Remember to follow copyright laws. Usually, one piece every one to three months is sufficient depending on how deeply you want to delve into each piece. Conversely, you may center each quarter/semester/year around an artist, strictly showing their works. For each art piece, see the first bullet.

3.             PTS($+) Place beautiful works of art throughout your home/classroom. Amazon and other online stores sell reproductions famous art pieces. For each art piece, see the first bullet.

   Creative Expression

1.             PTS($-$$) The children or you can create their own paintings with various mediums, such as crayons, pencils, and watercolors. Remember to have them draw a frame on the painting first and to sign their artwork at the bottom for an added touch. Display them for a few months on the refrigerator or on a wall.

2.              PTS($-$$) Building their own sculptures with molding clay will help children distinguish between 2D and 3D objects. They can even paint these sculptures if they so desire.

3.             PTS($-$$) Give your children supplies to design their own jewelry or complete other craft projects. These can be purchased at wherever sewing materials are sold.

4.            PTS($$+) Assign sewing projects to your kids based on their abilities. Younger children can start simple projects like sewing buttons while the older ones can sew clothing. Use measurements to teach math concepts like adding with or without fractions. Crocheting and knitting are worthy skills for kids to master as well.

5.             PTS($$+) Teach them to use wood to build items like birdhouses, jigsaw puzzles, shelves, and furniture. Always Supervise Children With Tools. Make sure they have the knowledge and supplies to use each tool safely. Use measurements to teach math concepts like adding with or without fractions. Painting their projects allows children to customize their creations.