Art teachers foster student voice and choice, guiding them to become thoughtful artists and critical thinkers. Young students participate in a three-part insect-drawing unit that combines science and imagination, elementary students construct 3D miniature studios based on artist research, middle-school students use mapping to create conceptual self-portraits that express their identities, high-school students investigate the metal sculptures of Constructivist Naum Gabo and create their own sculptures based on personal interests, and more.
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Allowing students to shape their art experience is one of the best things we can do as educators. When students put themselves out there, things happen. Embracing their unique voices is one of the best assets they have as humans. Let it sing!
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Insects fascinate, frighten, and ignite curiosity. This is why I chose to build a bridge between reality and imagination through an innovative approach to insect art. Students waited anxiously to learn what insect challenge would be assigned to their grade level. Grade assignments were as follows: UTK/TK: ladybugs; kindergarten: bees; first grade: ants; second grade: spiders and spiderwebs; third grade: butterflies and moths; fourth grade: dragonflies; fourth and fifth grades: dragonflies and beetles; fifth grade: beetles.
Each year, I try to find fun and engaging ways to teach about famous artists, especially the ones students are particularly interested in. Most of my instruction takes a student-centered approach, which I’ve found to be the most engaging. I don’t believe in standing up and reciting information only for students to recite it back to me on a test. I think it’s important for students to be a part of their learning and do the research so they can understand and become experts in various content areas—in this case, art history.
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Every year at my school, we teach the fourth- and fifth-graders a unit of Greek mythology. Students learn about the many gods and goddesses and their epic stories. To support their learning, students create artworks inspired by amphoras and other Grecian vessels during art class. Since students have a background in Greek mythology, we relate it to the images found on Grecian pottery.
In this sixth-grade unit, I introduced the work of Wendy Red Star and Lordy Rodriguez to students for inspiration in contemplating their own identity as it relates to land, family, and personal interests. They combined writing, drawing, and cartography to create a comprehensive conceptual self-portrait.
Students deal with a variety of challenges at school and in their personal lives. As a middle-school art teacher, I have witnessed how creativity can be a therapeutic means to process emotions as it builds students’ confidence and helps them to develop their own artistic voice. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, my students at Park Middle School took part in an art project that involved digital design and positive affirmations, connecting students to our community and giving their artistic voices a platform to uplift others.
Some lesson plan ideas originate from a desire to breathe new life into the classroom or a need to utilize a plethora of donated resources. In the case of this lesson, it was a combination of both. I had an abundance of donated mat boards and manila file folders, and I pondered how they might be used. Since I was beginning a unit on sculpting, I decided to put these materials to use for a sculpture lesson.
A few years ago, I introduced a new approach to teaching the elements of art and principles of design using small-scale art projects in an art journal. The idea was to create a more dynamic, manageable way for students to explore design concepts and multiple media, while keeping them engaged and motivated.
Creating and responding to art is a visual experience. Understanding the impact that visual impairments have on a student’s ability to participate in making and engaging in art is vital. Visual impairments can range from low vision and color vision deficiencies to total vision loss. As an art teacher, you need to be cognizant of the obstacles students might encounter in the art classroom. Once you identify the obstacles, you can plan ways to provide scaffolding, modifications, and adaptations to ensure that students can successfully participate in your art lesson.
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Many cultures around the world have valued fiber art for centuries, and since the mid-twentieth century, it has attained the status of fine art. Artist Virginia Mahoney has brought a deeply personal touch to the realm of fiber arts, creating sculptures that contain highly personal narratives in the form of written and stitched words, often adorning works that evoke the human form. Her vessel forms serve as a means of preserving, remembering, and processing her thoughts as she continues on her artistic journey.
