Welcome!
My name is Jacqueline and I am in my final year of the Bachelor of Education Program at the University of Calgary. My specialization is elementary mathematics and I was fortunate to be placed in amazing schools and met incredible teachers who were passionate about enhancing students' education. During this time, I realized how important creativity, especially in the elementary level is. Through the medium of art, it brings out the unique abilities of each individual. With this realization, I know that being a future elementary teacher, I will have to incorporate art into my teaching in some way shape or form throughout the year. However, having very limited art skills, I am nervous to do so.
While volunteering in an elementary school, I met a teacher who showcased a different artist every month to her grade 2 class. The projects she did revolved around the work of the artists and they would learn about the history and create a similar piece of the artists' famous paintings. This immediately inspired me and occurred to me that this is a logical way to present art to a child.
This page is designed to encourage creativity within the classroom setting, particularly for those elementary teachers who have limited artistic abilities such as myself. Through this website, I hope to compile ideas of exciting projects I've seen based on famous artists which can be introduced to students. In addition, I hope readers will develop an appreciation for art.
Many people believe they are born artists or not, I want to break the misconception and to encourage everyone to TRY these projects. In my mind, I believe that anyone can be artistically talented and I hope this website will encourage people to try new things, despite possessing the skills or not.
From the website artsz, here are 20 reasons why art is important for children:
Artsz (2008)
**This is a continuous work in process and I am always open to new ideas and constantly updating this site.
Last updated: Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
While volunteering in an elementary school, I met a teacher who showcased a different artist every month to her grade 2 class. The projects she did revolved around the work of the artists and they would learn about the history and create a similar piece of the artists' famous paintings. This immediately inspired me and occurred to me that this is a logical way to present art to a child.
This page is designed to encourage creativity within the classroom setting, particularly for those elementary teachers who have limited artistic abilities such as myself. Through this website, I hope to compile ideas of exciting projects I've seen based on famous artists which can be introduced to students. In addition, I hope readers will develop an appreciation for art.
Many people believe they are born artists or not, I want to break the misconception and to encourage everyone to TRY these projects. In my mind, I believe that anyone can be artistically talented and I hope this website will encourage people to try new things, despite possessing the skills or not.
From the website artsz, here are 20 reasons why art is important for children:
- Art stimulates both sides of the brain.
- 33% of kids are visual learners.
- There are studies that show that kids, who make art, read better and get better grades in science and mathematics.
- The kids learn by using their senses and art is ideal in this process
- The kids need a place to express themselves at school.
- Art promotes self esteem
- Art encourages kids to give more attention to the physical space that surround them.
- Art develops hand and eye coordination.
- Art stimulates perception.
- Art teaches them to think openly. It represents a culture of questioners more than a culture of responders.
- Art teaches that there is more than one solution for a problem.
- Art teaches kids to think creatively to solve problems.
- Kids can share and reflect on their work of art and learn something about the world they live in.
- When art is integrated with the other subjects in the curriculum, kids commit more to the learning process.
- In the process of doing art, the child is exposed to different possibilities, to discover and to freedom, this way they avoid falling into the control and the predictability of the conventional education in the United States of today.
- Art nourishes the human soul. One feels good doing it.
- Art brings the cultural resources of the community into the class.
- Art involves parents and tutors in the school, inviting them to participate as volunteers in diverse activities.
- Art provides a common ground across racial stereotypes, barriers and prejudices.
- Art is valuable all by itself.
Artsz (2008)
**This is a continuous work in process and I am always open to new ideas and constantly updating this site.
Last updated: Tuesday, December 11th, 2012