The Arts Teach Children...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 08:08AM ...That problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.
As we all know, school budgets are tight, scarce, dwindling. Texas schools are no exception, even in our little town. Our little town has awesome schools and does provide everything that we could imagine for our public school children. Except art. Our children will get art in January. The school budgets have left little for art and art teachers so we have to settle with getting art for only half a school year. Art can not compete with practical intelligences like math and science, nor can it compete with football. (You know what they say- in Texas, football is a religion.)
What do we do as parents? We can advocate for art programs and make sure that we vote on issues that allocate our funds to artistic educational programs including music. It's not easy, people are stingy when it comes to spending money when they are convinced there are no benefits. It's also not easy when we live in a system that believes that standardized testing is the only way to measure intelligence and achievements, in students and teachers. Join the PTO. The PTO gets ya in on the low down with teachers, administration, other parents who have influence on decisions that effects our children's education.
OK, enough of that.
Let's do it the fun way and just teach a bit o art to our children at home. Every week me and the girls learn about a master or learn a technique or explore a new medium or just plain create. I'm gonna start sharing them here with you in case you'd like to join in. My disclaimer: I'm not an art major and I'm just winging it. :)
This weeks lesson: Watercolor
I picked two artists- Georgia O'Keefe and Winslow Homer. I did not make this a history lesson because zzzzzzz. We just covered the basics.
While looking at art from the two artists (use Google Images)- What do you think each of them like to paint most? What pops out when you look at O'Keefe's work? Homer's work? Etc.
Then I introduced basic art terminology- foreground, middle ground, and background (why is middle ground the only one that doesn't get to be a compound word?) We tried to remember these when we started painting.
Then I introduced the three techniques for painting with watercolors- wet on wet, dry on dry, and wet on dry.
Then I gave them a prompt- pumpkins.
Then we painted.
Supplies- watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper, cup of water, towel, tray for catching messes
Additional information:
http://www.keepartsinschools.org/
http://www.cae-nyc.org/
http://www.teachartathome.com/lessons.html
http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/category/grade-levels/third-grade-art-lessons/
http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/search/label/watercolor
Next week we explore Vincent Van Gogh!
MelodyA. in art tagged art, art for kids, watercolors | 5 Comments | 1 Reference | Share Article | Email Article
Reader Comments (5)
love this. our pta is working on getting a Meet the Masters program into our elementary school. but in the meantime, maybe we can use your art lessons! :-)
awww...good for you Melody. I know that resources are so stretched right now.
great idea, melody! our school district has a great program called "art literacy" run entirely by volunteers and grants. check out this link for more info : http://beavertonartliteracy.org/
this might give you some ideas for home or to start a similar program in your school. i've been a volunteer for 5 years now & i'm "apprenticing" to be the coordinator for our school. the kids LOVE the projects!
Firstly, I was horrified to hear that in the US world of junior education, the arts are being relegated!!! And for fiscal reasons? Travesty! As our children go further and further up the educational ladder they are being encouraged at younger and younger ages to make choices which they are TOTALLY unable to make given their age. I mean, who knows at 13 what they will do for the rest of their lives? (alright...I know there are some clever souls who have a God given direction, but most of us are clueless at that age) The whole point of junior education is balance, surely? This is the time when you can give children a window onto the world and all it has to offer. History, Science, Art, Music: something may wake up a little spark in their souls which, even if it does not afford them a living in later life, may afford them a passion and thus a healthy, purpose filled life which will keep them off drugs and out of prison. I do not think I am over egging the pudding. You are doing your kids such a wonderful service by introducing them to these wonderful skills. I am in awe.
This is a wonderful idea, Melody! I know our kids school has one art teacher and they rotate and basically have art one hour a week. I should do this with my kids, too. They love art, too.