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Tips
and Ideas
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FRAMING
ARTWORK?
Were you
hoping to frame your child's artwork only to find out that
it would cost an arm and a leg!? The
standard size art paper is NOT the same as a standard
size frame, which can make it expensive.
How
to frame your child's artwork for less:
If you child's artwork is 18x12 you can use a large piece
of 18X24 black paper to create a 3-inch background
border. Since 18x24 frames are readily available
in most stores you should have no problem finding the
perfect frame! Parents can come to the ArtRoom to
pickup a piece of 18x24 paper!!
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CHOICE
TIME ACTIVITIES:
People
often ask me, "What do you do when kids finish early?" I try
to keep the Art room a fun place where kids are actively engaged and
exercising their creative thinking skills. When kids finish early I
usually tell them they have "Choice Time". During that time
students can choose from a number of activities, such as:
-Continue
working on a drawing project:
Some kids have a in-progress drawings that they leave inside the class folder. They like to work on this little by little when they are done early.
I keep all of the supplies labeled and organized
on the "Kid Counter" so they can easily find what they
need to work on their project.
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-Free-time weaving:
"The
Friendly Loom" is a large wooden loom that allows
several kids to weave at the same time. Over 400 students of all
ages have contributed to the weaving projects this year. It is
available at DickBlick.com
for $275
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-Free-time sculpture:
I have several containers of "Play
Foam", and students can use it to build things. When time is up they have to squish it back into the bin
though so the next class as the same opportunities to sculpt it
into something new.
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-The
"What do I do now" bucket:
I have a bucket filled of tons of ideas for drawing topics. Next
to it students can find paper, and buckets of slightly used markers and
crayons. It helps students who have trouble coming up with ideas
of what they should draw.
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-Work
on a puzzle:
Thanks to the generosity of some parents, the Art room has
several puzzles with large pieces. Students can bring the
puzzles onto the rug area and work in groups putting them
together. Some art art related, some are more science or social
studies related.
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-Activity
Sheets
New this year to the Artroom art activity sheets. Ranging from
Art Vocabulary Word Searches, to "Create a Mystery
Masterpiece" graph art, students are sure to find something
to stimulate their creative mind in the Activity bin. |
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READ
ABOUT ARTISTS!
Be sure to check out the author Laurence Anholt (Anholt's Artists Books for Children). He has written books like: Van Gogh and the Sunflowers, Leonardo and the Flying Boy, Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail, and many many more...
Available
on Amazon.com
SELF
PORTRAITS
When I was growing up my
mother had me do a self portrait every year and she saved each one of
them. It is so much fun to look back at those pictures and see how
I progressed from age 2 to where I am now! Self Portraits can be
done using a mirror, or without for younger kids. Let young
children feel free to express themselves with color and try to not guide
their drawings too much. It is important for them to develop
naturally, and they will enjoy looking at their self portrait someday
when they are older!
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