Lesson Ideas

This class has given me many ideas for lessons to use in my future classroom. Below are some that may be interesting to you!

1. Introduce students to Picasso by having class create a sculpture using hose and wire and then have them do a Picasso painting.

2. Further explore Picasso's work by having students research and view different periods of his art and come up with their own "period" to share with the class.

3. Have students practice writing in story format by imagining what would happen if Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh had met in person and been friends during their lifetimes.

4. Teach children about different art mediums by having them create a mixed media.

5. Further encourage students to use mixed media by having them create a piece of art that has a theme.

6. An innovative idea for practicing spelling: Have students practive writing their spelling words in white crayon on white paper. Then have them paint their paper with water-color to expose the spelling words (crayon resist).

7. Allow students to explore with crayon resist by writing a message, story, or drawing a picture that deals with a social studies topic.

8. Have students pick an artist that is interesting to them. Have them check out a book from the library to learn more about them.

9. Teach children about manners by allowing them to create place settings using paper mache.

10. Practice manners by having students create puppets and use the place settings to put on a show about manners.

11. Teach students about other cultures by allowing them to create masks using paper mache.

12. Have students work in groups to come up with a game that they can create to practice certain skills in the classroom.

13. Allow students to experiment with tempera paint by mixing colors together to create a piece of art that has a theme.

14. Spend time each day to read to the students about artists and their work and show examples of their work.

15. Put on an art exhibit by displaying students work in the room or in the hallway and teach children about the importance of appreciating art.

16. Have students research painting techniques and then allow them to create their own painting technique.

17. Let each child be responsible for creating a page of an ABC book for any subject or topic at hand and let them present their page to the class. Display book in classroom or in hallway.

18. Take a field trip to the local cultural arts center or art museum.

19. Allow children to create a diorama that deals with a social studies or science topic, such as community or habitat.

20. Teach students about the water cycle by allowing them to create it on a piece of paper.