Art Materials
By: Judy Flanigan
In the classroom, art is viewed as a creative problem-solving process. As children express themselves through the creative arts, they develop a sense of personal investment in their work and play.
Why Offer Art Materials to Children?
Through the process of creating, children gain a more thorough understanding of the real things they are trying to portray. Simple creations become more complex as children grow and learn. Through art experiences, children are creators and problem solvers, figuring out for themselves how to put materials together to make something. Propose this actual situation to the children in your classroom:
Have containers of paint and papers, but no brushes. Say "We have no brushes. What can we use?" Ask children to tell what brushes do and describe what they look like. Have children suggest and look for brush-like substitutes (suggestions: feathers, marsh weeds, leaves, yarn, Q Tips, cotton balls). Assemble some of the "brushes" and test them on paper. Compare how effective each object was in doing the job. Make a chart showing all the brush substitutes.
As Sidney Gurewitz Clemens explains in her article, “Art in the Classroom: Making Every Day Special,” children engaged in creating art express their feelings constructively, rather than destructively. Therefore, art can be a preventive measure in the classroom. Additionally, children engaged in art are expressing their own uniqueness.
When Should I Offer Art Materials and Experiences to Children?
Every day! Children should have access to basic art materials that are available in an art area during work time. Children will learn best by repeated experiences with the basics. Exposure every day to art materials will give children the chance to explore them in-depth and discover all their various properties. In addition to availability at work time, art experiences should also be offered at small group time. During these teacher-initiated times of the day, new materials can be introduced, and new ways of using materials may be explored.
How Should Art Materials Be Offered to Children?
According to Clare Cherry in her book Creative Art for the Developing Child, the opportunity to use the materials freely is what counts in creative developmental art. Freedom, however, does not mean that the child is to function without direction. In offering art to children, both adults and children will benefit from the existence of a few ground rules.
Some important guidelines include:
* Keep hands off. Once you have prepared and presented the materials, allow the child to do the work on his or her own.
* Be involved. Even though you allow the children to work on a project and use materials in their own ways, you should still show that you are interested in what they do. Talk with them about the materials they are using.
* Offer help. Offer to help the children in learning skills if they need such help. Offer help if they lose control of the materials they are using. Also offer to help in caring for the finished product at the conclusion of the activity.
* Avoid the use of models. Adult standards should not be imposed on children's art work. Standards should be derived from the needs and understandings of the individual child.
* Interpret to parents. Help parents to understand the purpose of creative art. Show the parents by your attitude that you sincerely appreciate each child's efforts.
Where In My Classroom Do I Offer Art Activities?
The art area is a place to explore materials. You will need water nearby, adequate lighting, easy-to-clean flooring (or protection for carpeted areas), plenty of work spaces, and spaces for drying and displaying projects.
You may want to include some of these materials in your art area:
* Paper--Construction paper, plain drawing paper, recycled computer paper, graph paper, lined paper, newsprint, finger-paint paper, wrapping or butcher paper, wallpaper samples, tissue paper, cardboard pieces, cardboard boxes, contact paper scraps, paper plates, grocery bags, used greeting cards, postcards, stationery, catalogs, magazine pictures
* Painting and printing materials--tempera paint, water-color paints, finger paints, ink pads and stamps, paintbrushes, easels, jars with lids, squeeze bottles, plastic plates or food tins to hold paint for printing, smocks, sponges, towels, newspaper
* Fasteners--staplers and staples, hole punch, paste, liquid glue, glue sticks, masking tape, clear tape, paper clips, butterfly fasteners, rubber bands, pipe cleaners, string, yarn, ribbon, shoelaces
* Modeling and molding materials--moist clay, Play-Doh, modeling accessories such as rolling pins, thick dowel rods, cookie cutters, plastic knives, hamburger press, garlic press
* Collage materials--cardboard tubes, egg cartons, small boxes and cartons, empty thread spools, clothespins, wood and balsa pieces, cloth, felt, carpet scraps, old stockings and socks, feathers, cotton balls, fringe, buttons, straws, sequins, styrofoam packing pieces, looms, weaving loops
* Drawing and cutting materials--crayons, block crayons, colored pencils, marking pens, markers, chalk, scissors
What Art Activities Should I Offer to Children?
In looking for activities that emphasize the process of using materials rather than producing a final “product,” there are numerous online resources for art activity ideas.
Consider the following:
* Painting with shaving cream, water, food coloring, ice, flour, cornstarch, chocolate pudding, corn syrup, fingers, pine branches, Queen Anne Lace, feathers, yarn, a spoon, crumpled paper, deodorant bottles, spray bottles, Qtips, scouring pads, cotton balls, tongue depressors, marbles
* Painting on snow, paper shapes, egg cartons, masking tape, newspaper, foil, rocks, pinecones, paper plates, cardboard, glue, crayon, stencils
* Gluing collage materials, wallpaper shapes, paper squares, picture cutouts, paper circles, torn paper, paper strips, tissue paper, cotton balls, cotton stuffing, dry leaves, cupcake liners, buttons, eggshells, shells, feathers, glitter, confetti, wood, beans, seeds, rice, sand, salt, spaghetti, macaroni, puffed rice, popcorn, cheerios, cornmeal, tea leaves and coffee grinds.
* Using as glue substitutes tape, paint, contact paper, Play-Doh, peanut butter, oil
* Printing with cooking cutters, wheels, circle shapes, scrap materials, styrofoam, yarn, corrugated cardboard, leaves, casters, jars, vegetables, potatoes, apples, corncobs, berry baskets, stamps, bubbles, sponges, fingers, feet, hands
* Modeling with Silly Putty, plaster, shredded wheat, wet sand, bread dough, Play-Doh, peanut butter
* Marking with crayons, chalk, pens, cinnamon sticks, fingers in sand
* Tearing or cutting assorted papers, paper, newspaper, magazines
* Lacing cardboard squares, greeting cards, rigatoni, buttons, cardboard shapes, straws
In conclusion, remember a child's personality and viewpoint are reflected in his natural artwork, and teachers can show respect for the child by encouraging each child's way of working with art materials. A healthy attitude toward creating that begins in early childhood can continue throughout a child's life.
Judy Flanigan, M.Ed., a former teacher, is a curriculum specialist in Philadelphia.
Product Roundup
Dick Blick
Since 1911, teachers have turned to Dick Blick Art Materials for dependable savings, a huge selection, and fine customer service on art supplies. Their annual Art Materials Catalog offers 624 full-color pages of resources for art educators, including paints, brushes, canvas, papers, mediums, frames, airbrushes, screen printing and sign painting supplies, woodworking, sculpture, ceramics, crafts, decorative painting, and much more. Dick Blick has books and videos on every art technique, plus easels and art furniture to equip your classroom or studio. It's all inside the new 2006 catalog.
www.dickblick.com
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks’ set of 24 colored Decorating Chalks allows your students to shade their Shrinky Dinks piece for any number of looks. Apply the chalk to Shrinky Dinks before baking. Light application will give you colorful shades that are wispy and very transparent, while a heavier application will give you more intense color, but still light enough that light will pass through. Non-toxic and acid-free, these chalks are a must for your next Shrinky Dinks project day. Applicators are included.
www.shinkydinks.com
Hexabits
A Hexabit is a colorful, flexible, perfectly geometric puzzle piece that, when connected together can be used for an endless variety of decorative, durable, protective and fun applications. Looking for an interesting class project? Use Hexabits as a tool to motivate your students. Imagine giving each of your students a small section to build on their own. Without realizing it, they are learning to follow directions (the pattern). They are also learning an important life’s lesson: that each one of them is an important part of a bigger “picture” – the project is not complete without their contribution. Enjoy their satisfaction as they bring individual efforts into one large project.
www.hexabits.com
Scratch Art
Budding artists and their teachers love the complete Scratch-Art Classroom Pack, which features eight of the most popular Scratch-Art papers and boards. This Classroom Pack contains 84 Scratch-Art sheets, 5 sheets of transfer paper, and 100 heavy-duty wood drawing styluses. It's the ideal creative activity for classroom, after-school and camp. Scratch-Art makes more than 150 innovative art and craft products for people of all ages, abilities, and skill levels.
www.scratchart.com
Handy Art
Handy Art’s marbling kits allow students to easily create beautifully marbled pictures. Make swirly designs for book covers, gift wrap, stationery, picture frame mats, and clothing. It is great for all ages and skill levels. The kit contains 4-ounce containers of red, yellow, green and blue non-toxic acrylic paint--enough concentrate to make 15 quarts. Droppers and instructions are also included. This works well with all colors of Handy Art Acrylic Paint. Handy Art has been manufacturing paints, inks, and other fun products for the art education market since 1974.
www.handyart.com
