Implementing Art History

One way I would implement art history into my lesson is by using games. This makes learning more fun and keeps the students attention longer. The book gives this idea in chapter 20 saying you could match art reviews to art pieces, march artist to art work, or critics to art work. There are many ways you could do this and many different lessons that could come from this lesson. This lesson would make a great social studies lessons learning about different time periods and their art. I really liked how you could easily make a game out of art twisting and turning it to fit exactly what you need or want.

Bead Word

The purpose of this activity was to introduce children to crafts that are functional, can be used after being created. We created bracelets using color, texture, and pattern as our elements and principles of  art.

The Bulletin Board for Our Lesson

Extension Activity 
This activity could be used as an introductory activity as well for older children. They all have to make x (the number of students + teacher in the class) number of beads then they go around the room and talk to each student, getting know everyone in the class. After they have gotten to know that person they exchange beads creating a bracelet with one bead from each student in the class.

Picasso Faces

The purpose of this activity was to learn the basics of clay and learn by creating with hands on activities. In this activity we created faces using color, line, and texture. We had to create texture by using shapes, patters, or lines in the clay and then paint the different sections. The students had to also be patience while waiting for paint to dry and clay to harden.

Extension Activity 
This is a great social studies idea, studying artists and creating works similar to their, yet allowing children to be creative and use their own ideas as well. Students would have a lot of fun learning about different artist if you made it fun for them as well.

Season Pictures

The purpose of this activity was to show students the different in colors and looks of different seasons, winter and fall. We discussed the difference between warm and cool colors and what seasons have which type of color scheme.

Extension Activity 
This would be great science lesson, like they did in class. Talking to your students about the different seasons then letting them create them not only by drawing but by using different mediums to make the pictures more exciting is a great idea. Since we do experience all four seasons in South Dakota students will have experience with each that they might incorporate into their pictures as well.

A Box of Crayons

The purpose of this activity was to get students to use their imaginations, teamwork, many colors, and make the composition fill the page. First we started by creating pictures where one person drew the head, the next drew the body, and the final person drew the feet, but we could look at what the other student before us had drawn. This was a fun activity that had everyone giggling and enjoying the entire box of crayons we had in front of us. We also create a crayon that represented us in some way by drawing with our crayons.

Extension Activity 

These are good activities to use with a diversity unit. First show the kids that none of the monsters are the same they are each special in their own way then to continue on by having children do the crayon activity to show that on ones crayon looks the same either. This would be a fun introduction to a unit on diversity.

Scratch Art Mother's Day Cards

The purpose of this activity was to introduce scratch boards and crayon engraving to students. Students created their own scratch boards from 3 different mediums, pain, crayon, and paper, and then were able to create a sketch on their board.

Extension Activity
This would be fun to incorporate into science class. Student could create boards then sketch pictures of their animal onto the board. You could then have students write facts about their animal on the back of their board.

Multicultural Masks

The purpose of this activity was to show students that everyone is different. We made this real by creating masks, using many different mediums, that reflect ourselves. None of the masks that were created look anything alike since we are all different.

Extension Activity 
This would easily fit into a social studies lesson since many cultures use masks. You could show the students different cultures that use masks and how, what, and why they use them before letting children create their own based on their culture or by assigning students different cultures and having them make masks based on what they know.

Holiday Printmaking

The purpose of this activity was to show you how print making was done and taught us about some elements and principles of art. We learned how to create texture that you could paint that would then create a picture after you placed in on paper. The different elements and principles we talked about and incorporated into our pictures were emphasis, color, texture, and shape.

Extension Activity

You could make many different activities, with younger children having them create shapes. With children who are a bit older you could, as a class, create a book having each child create a page of the book then create enough prints so everyone in the class could have a copy of the book. This would be a great lesson and something the kids would love, remembering it for a long time. 

Using Your Imagination

The purpose of this activity was to use your imagination to create a drawing starting with only a single random line. This activity made you think outside the box and create a picture starting with a single line, that you did not even draw yourself, your neighbor drew it for you.

Extension Activity
The would be a good way to have fun in social studies. Students would draw a line and then send it to someone else in the classroom where they would have to complete a picture based on the social studies topic we are discussing. The would be a fun way for the kids to show you what they are learning and for the teacher to see if they are understanding what is being discussed in class.

Easter Egg Painting

The Purpose of the activity was to introduce young students to a few of the elements and principles of design. The different ones we discussed and talked about were: patter, color, line, and shape. We were able to use paint to create different colors and then paint the colors onto the eggs using the other elements and principles.

Extension Activity 

You could incorporate these elements into any season letting the kids decorate using the four elements that we used. You could make paper Christmas ornaments or even just allow the kids to paint the paper and have them cut out different shapes, adding math into the lesson. I would be careful about cultural differences and using holidays as your way to allow the kids to practice and create art.