Daily, students engage with a diverse array of art materials, introducing them to various tools and techniques. Crayons, markers, safety scissors, glue, and paintbrushes serve as excellent instruments for honing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Art becomes a platform for language practice and self-expression as children eagerly discuss their creations.

 

Beyond merely learning about art and artists, students use art as a vehicle for learning itself. By experimenting with different mediums, they come to understand how artists use their creations to convey emotions or elicit responses from others. Monthly, we delve into the works of significant artists or explore various art techniques. For example, students might discover Jackson Pollock and then create their own splatter painting, or learn about Faith Ringgold and together make a class narrative quilt.  Many get inspired to hear of Alma Thompson who had her first solo exhibit at the age of 81.

​

Each month, students not only learn about a new artistic technique or artist but also actively apply that knowledge to craft their unique and exciting masterpieces. This hands-on approach helps them grasp that art is a powerful means of expressing emotions and evoking responses from others. They might explore Michelangelo's techniques, creating sculptures from salt dough or even painting under the table, mimicking Michelangelo's iconic work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

​

It is so rewarding to hear of students visiting museums and not only recognizing the artist but they have the ability to tell their family some amazing information they learned about that artist.