Artsy Fartsy? You Bet!

With spring in the air, it is a great time to bring out those colors, paints, pompoms, shapes, wiggly eyes, craft sticks, paper bags, paper plates, beads, and whatever else you can think of and let children create! Sometimes with all the emphasis on math and literacy, we forget the importance of art in the classroom and the significant skills it helps develop for young children. The longer and lighter days and the amazing colors blooming all around bring out a sense of creativity, so let it happen! (And it is also a great way to do some spring cleaning by cleaning out those art supply cabinets. J) It is amazing what young creative minds can do and this link to PBS.org can help explain the skills being developed if anybody questions the importance of art in the classroom:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-importance-of-art-in-child-development/

Just look what we did for Youth Art Month!

We used technology to do art.  See the pixie slides (Tech4Learning).

We made collages using different textures

Portraits:

Me Dolls:

We wrote about art:

We shared pictures taken by the children in their travels:

We worked with shapes using letters:

We decorated yams for YAM- Youth Art Month:

We focused on art words:

Much more!

 Then we painted like Michelangelo.

Check out my Children’s Art Pinterest Board:

Kindness Book: Willow

Willow is the story of a little girl who doesn't color inside the lines, breaks crayons, and she sees pink trees and blue apples. Her new art teacher Miss Hawthorn does not like things to be out of place – not a pencil or paintbrush out of place.  Imagine what happens when Willow with her wild imagination runs wild enters Miss Hawthorn’s classroom!   Art is forever changed for Miss Hawthorn! Great book to share!

Kindness Book: The Day the Crayons Quit

When Duncan opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying that they’ve had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun. Excellent book with a great lesson!

Two Great Art iPads:  Drawing App and PlayArt

This digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Freebie and Art Product: