Teaching Art
Reasons Why Teaching Art Is Important
Investing in children’s artistic gifts can profoundly shape their life and service to God’s kingdom.
Art fosters innovative thinking and creative expression, along with building fine motor skills.
Art class may be a chance for certain students to shine, especially some who may not excel in athletics or academics.
Art is a way of creating, something that humans are uniquely gifted to do as made in the image of a Creator God.
It’s very valuable for students to be able to express themselves through the arts. Not every student will be a naturally gifted artist, but art class gives even those students an opportunity to learn about how others express themselves, as well as the ability to be able to read and interpret what they’re seeing when they look at art.
General Advice and Teaching Tips
If you are coming up with your own art projects (i.e. no curriculum), do some research of what artistic concepts and skills your grade level should be learning. Use that information to guide the types of projects you choose.
Try to give your students experience in a variety of mediums (e.g. pencil, chalk, pastel, paint, charcoal, sculpting clay, etc.)
Plan ahead before school starts
Get enough art ideas together for most of the year.
Make an example of each one.
Note any preparation that needs to be done before art class such as parts of the project that will be too difficult for your age level.
Make a list of supplies needed for the project.
Make a list of the art projects that you have ready to go so that you can see at a glance what you have available when art class rolls around. Make an educated guess about how long an art project will take and write that down as well.
Prepare any harder parts of the project that you need to do before class.
Go shopping and get enough supplies for the year!
Plan ahead the day before art class
Have an example to show the students.
Have all the copies made and supplies handy.
Think through the art class keeping in mind your students’ abilities.
What is going to be new for them?
On which parts will they need the teacher’s help? Will one teacher reach around for this project or should you ask someone else to come and help?
What is the best way to explain how to do this project? Can you just explain how to do it at the beginning of class or will you need to have them do it step by step all together? Would this be a good project for working in pairs?
Have extra supplies ready so that they can practice a new skill before trying it on their project.
Plan to keep the students busy. Will you be able to keep twelve second graders busy the whole time with this project, or do you need another simple project that they can work on by themselves while they are waiting for the teacher’s help on a difficult part?
Plan cleanup time
For messy projects, it works well to put wax paper or newspaper on the students’ desks before they start.
If they are painting, have cups of water for the children to wash their brushes. Have rags handy to dry their brushes and wipe up spills. You may want to have a dishpan of water and a towel in the room for them to wash and dry their hands.
Make students responsible to help you clean up. Give them clear directions about how you want them to clean up, where you want them to put their project, etc.
Plan ahead the day of art class
Give clear direction about what you expect during art class and stick to your word.
Are you going to ask them to be quiet, allow them to whisper, or allow them to talk?
Are they allowed to get out of their seats without permission?
Require your students to be quiet and pay attention when you are explaining something. It is no use talking if your students are not listening.
Encourage positive comments. Help students to compliment their classmates’ work and accept compliments graciously on their own work.
Recommended Resources
Art scope and sequence for K-8: Art Scope and Sequence - The Dock for Learning
Elementary art project ideas:
Upper elementary and junior high art project ideas: Art Lessons Through History for Upper Elementary and Junior High - The Dock for Learning
Descriptions of the ARTiculations curriculum:
An overview of ARTistic Pursuits curriculum:
Suggested online resources for art: Online Resources for Art - The Dock for Learning
In-depth teaching of various art techniques:
Sources
Planning Ahead for Art by Becky Sue Kreider Planning Ahead for Art - The Dock for Learning
Why Teach Art? By Howard Horst Why Teach Art? - The Dock for Learning
Art: How and Why Should We Teach It? By Hannah Nolt Art: How and Why Should We Teach It? - The Dock for Learning
