Bringing Art into the Classroom

Bringing Art into the Classroom

18th May, 2016

Kristen gives some helpful hints about how to easily incorporate art in the classroom

I’ve been volunteering for the last couple of years at an art class for primary school aged children. It is run by a qualified art teacher, who has worked teaching art in schools for a number of years as well as pursuing her own dreams as an artist. These days, she has a studio at her house where she teaches specialised art classes to children from age 3 to grade 6.

The catch is that she’s going to be away tomorrow and has asked me to run the class… HELP! I’m not an art teacher!!

I thought I could share some helpful hints that I’ve learnt along the way from the classes, and hopefully they can inspire you to bring some arty creativity into the classroom!

#1 - allow kids to enter the creative space in their own way - starting with sketchbooks allows children to calm themselves and get their creative minds working

#2 - inspiration page - have a page of 5 or 6 pictures or drawings of a particular object/animal/thing (a quick google search will do) to inspire children… This is also good if you’re suffering from artists block (like writers block but arty)… Look around the room and find something interesting to draw.

#3 - draw with them! It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece - but if you’re modelling drawing at the front, while they’re at their tables, they will do their best to follow along. Although you’re all drawing the same thing, the variations that occur are unique and incredible!

#4 - gallery walks - pause students and ask them to do a ‘gallery walk’ and see all the other students artworks so far - it may inspire or encourage them to do something different. Ask students to offer their peers some ‘warm’ feedback.

#5 - read a picture story book about a famous artist and then make some of their artwork. There are heaps of books out there on artists like Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh. Matisse (shown above) is a really good one to use in the classroom - particularly his later work with cut outs. All you need is some coloured paper and you’re good to go! Below is a snapshot of some students work from the art class.

So I'm going to keep these things in mind as I go to prepare my art lesson for tomorrow... 

I hope they're helpful in your classroom art endeavours!

-Kristen

Image above is from Moma.