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Snowflake Crayon Resist
This fun lesson was inspired by a project I saw on Art Projects for Kids… “Watercolor Resist Snowflakes”. I changed it up just a little for my Kindergarten classes and they had a blast doing this!...
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Valentine Card with Negative Space Resist
Use contact paper and masking tape to create a resist for a beautiful watercolor wash background! Materials: Contact paper, 4 pieces 3″ x 4″ Masking tape or painter’s tape (Lessen the tackiness by...
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Grade 1 Portfolios — Design a Dot!
Every year, I start each of my Art classes by going over my “Art Rules”.While this is review for most of my students, it never hurts to hear it again! And reading this book provides a great on-ramp to...
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Grade 2 Portfolios — “My Many Colored Days”
This project is a great way to use last year’s broken crayons! You can even assign students the job of peeling paper off the broken crayons just for this purpose.… some kids LOVE to do this!! “My Many...
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Grade 4 Portfolios — “Ish” Drawings
There are lots of wonderful children’s books available today, but “Ish” by Peter Reynolds stands out as one of my all-time favorites. This is a story that everyone (kids and adults!) can relate to.…...
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Chinese Brush Painting
Chinese Brush Painting dates back to 4000 BC, with techniques being handed down from master to student. In contrast to what most of us are taught about art today, copying and perfection of technique...
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Crayon Resist Easter Card
Here’s a quick and easy crayon resist project I did with some of my 1st and 2nd graders. Students folded 12x18 paper in half and painted on the front, for a charming Easter card. Inside, they wrote:...
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Children’s Prayers for the World
I love this project that Barbara Mendence, a 2nd grade teacher at our school, does with her students each year! Not only is this a fun art lesson, but it makes for a great geography lesson and...
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Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Projects
Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) is right around the corner! Don’t miss the opportunity to share this important cultural tradition with your students. Often misunderstood, this popular...
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366 Hearts
If you’re looking for inspiration for Valentine’s Day, look no further than 366 Hearts! I just learned of this project and stayed up half the night being inspired with new ideas to try. You’ll find...
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Feed Your Creative Soul — with a Sketchbook!
Most art teachers I know struggle to find time for pursuing their own artwork.… so if that’s you, you’re not alone! Summertime provides a great opportunity for teachers to do things they otherwise set...
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Day of the Dead — Ofrenda Painting
The popular Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead (or Dia de Los Muertos), gives us many opportunities for colorful art lessons combined with learning about another culture! True confession time.… when I...
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Valentine Card with Negative Space Resist
Use contact paper and masking tape to create a resist for a beautiful watercolor wash background! Materials: Contact paper, 4 pieces 3″ x 4″ Masking tape or painter’s tape (Lessen the tackiness by...
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6 Tips for Watercolor Success with Kids
Watercolor is a great medium for kids! It’s affordable, mixes well, cleans up quickly, and (usually) doesn’t stain clothing. Here are six tips to help you and your younger students find success when...
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How to Ruin a Paintbrush in One Simple Step
Watercolor or tempera paint in cake form offers lots of advantages for elementary students. But this kind of paint can also be hard on brushes! When younger students are used to painting with liquid...
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Illustrations with Surrealism
What better way to celebrate April Fool’s Day than with an image of Salvadore Dali caught in the act of pulling a prank??! Surrealism is a cultural, artistic, and literary movement which began in the...
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Art for the Differently-abled
I wasn’t looking for a new teaching position when I got the phone call last spring to “just let me show you our facility”. The call was from the director of the Stroke and Disability Learning Center...
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How to Care for Your Art Room Brushes
Let’s face it, art room brushes take a beating. But don’t throw them away – rejuvenate them instead! I used to think “The Masters” Brush Cleaner and Preserver was only for my expensive art brushes at...
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The Great Tertiary Color Debate
The internet…. that great supplier of information at your fingertips, making it fast and easy to find answers and share them with the world! But what if those answers being shared are incorrect??...
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Hearts and Grit
Four years ago, I wrote a blog post about Hazel McNab, a woman who challenged herself to design a heart to go with an inspiring quote every day for a year. She held herself accountable by posting her...
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