Bringing Art to the Elementary Classroom
As I mentioned last week, I believe that every Montessori classroom should have a dedicated art area. This lets kids know that art is important, and also gives them a chance to explore different kinds of art and different art media. In elementary, projects can be more sophisticated, especially if kids have had a good foundation in the basic art skills.
Some possible elementary art activities:
Painting of every kind: watercolor, tempera, acrylics on canvas
Drawing and sketching: still life (flowers, fruit), portraits, landscapes
Varied art media: colored pencils, oil pastels, crayons, clay, and charcoal
Here’s an example of an elementary art area; I set this up in my home but it’s very similar to the one I had in the classroom:
I’m going to take this shelf by shelf, and talk about each material.
Shelf 1:
This shelf contains a color mixing work similar to the one you’d find in preschool, only now an additional component – the color chart – has been added. I was delighted to discover that a plastic paint tray (found at any craft or art store) has almost the same amount of circles as the color chart (I think it’s got one less). Kids have a great time putting primary-colored water into three of the circles, and then using those colors to make all the other ones on the chart.
The picture is a postcard of a painting by Miro in the abstract style. It’s long been a tradition to put out real paintings in the Montessori classroom for children to copy. Set one near an easel, with the appropriate colors of paint, and kids do a surprisingly good job of copying the paintings. This can be done in preschool, too, I just didn’t have enough room on the preschool shelf to show one.
Some people feel that copying paintings stifles a child’s own creativity. I haven’t found that to be true; copying paintings is a great way to learn about technique, shading, color, and light. If the child has other opportunities to express their own creativity, they will in no way be stifled. Actually, copying paintings of the masters has long been a part of artistic studies for adults as well.
Shelf 2:
On the left, there’s a tray with stamp pads and stamps. This is a fun activity that can be done by preschoolers too. I like to give preschoolers simpler stamps, and elementary kids more elaborate designs that can be colored in with colored pencils after stamping.
On the right is an assortment of rulers and stencils. These were all found (including the bendable ruler) at an office supply store. Kids can use them to experiment with shapes, and draw all sorts of creative pictures with overlapping shapes. You could actually put a tray like this in the geometry area for use with the geometry folders and wooden materials.
Shelf 3:
On the left, you’ll find a still life drawing work. I like to put out simple objects – in this case, a vase and bowl of fruit – and let kids draw them. The drawings can be done in black and white or with colored pencils. You can show the child how to look at the object and follow its shape on the paper. I find that to be a very good way to get started with sketching.
On the right is a tray with different colors of non-hardening modeling clay, along with some clay tools. Not only is this a fun art activity, but there are many places to use the clay throughout the classroom. Animals can be molded after doing zoology nomenclature cards or animal research.
Land and water forms can be created after doing basic or advanced land and water forms cards. Biomes can be made with clay as well. If the child desires to preserve their clay sculptures, it’s best to use a hardening clay like Sculpey, or other type of craft clay that can be baked.
Shelf 4:
This shelf contains oil pastels with art paper on the left. Oil pastels (sometimes called cray-pas) are a fantastic art medium. Colors can be blended with a fingertip or brush; water can be added to blend and soften. Colors are easy to layer, especially for that time-honored favorite: first, color all over a piece of paper with different colors, then color over that layer with black. Unbend a paper clip and use the point to trace colorful pictures through the black layer.
On the right are some textured plates for rubbing. I found these in the scrapbook aisle at Target. They have a variety of textures (one on each side), and work well with Stockmar Beeswax crayons, which are flat and rectangular and perfect for rubbings. All manner of things work well for rubbings, including leaves, coins, and paper clips.
My philosophy was to treat the art shelf like any other area of the classroom – children were free to choose the work throughout the day, working alone or in pairs. If you put out something really exciting, be prepared to limit them to using it one time a day so everyone gets a turn.
As far as instructional books for elementary, I would still recommend the two books I mentioned at the end of the preschool art post, especially the second book. Again, most craft stores have a variety of arts and crafts books that can easily be adapted to Montessori.
Sometimes art instruction can be intimidating for adults, especially if they’ve never thought of themselves as particularly artistic. I’ve found that the best approach is to dive right in and learn alongside the students. When I wanted to do acrylic painting on canvas with my son, for instance, I bought a book about it and bought two canvases – one for him and one for me. We learned together – and had a great time.
Those art supplies are awesome, and it gives the kids so many options depending on their mood. Why can’t I have this setup at my desk job for the long afternoons?!?
Lovely, Lori. Simply lovely. Did you get the Miro cards at the Art Institute, or is there an on-line source for high-quality reproductions that you could recommend?
I’m on my way to re-do our art shelves right now!
Hi, hon! (Bruce is my hubby). Sorry you can’t have art shelves at work. Thanks for taking the pictures for me!
Tracy, the Miro postcard is from my Child-size Masterpieces set. I’m going to talk about those in the next art post I do, about artists and artwork.
Awesome post, Lori. Great ideas! Simple and yet so rich with possibilities.
Thanks for the inspiration! I’m off to set up our new art area.
Lori, thank you! Looking at those pictures and reading your post is just pure sugar! This comes at a great time as I am setting up our learning environment. I cannot wait for your post on the Child Sized Masterpieces series! I was just looking at these last night and contemplating purchasing the whole set, but wasn’t sure.
-Susana in Albuquerque
I echo Susan’s comments, and thank you, too… this is just what I needed to see as we ramp up for school opening in (ACK!) three weeks!
Hi Lori, I am excited for your post on Child Sized Masterpieces. I was thinking of buying the entire set including the folders (to save time for this busy mama!) and instructional dvd that comes with it from parent child press, but wasn’t sure if I should buy the whole way at once (kids are 6, 5, 3, 2, 4 months). I’m hoping your post will help me decide! Looking forward to Monday!
Thanks for all you do! Your 3-6 guide is helping me tons!
-Susana
A happy customer!
Thanks, I have wondering how to set it up in my classroom. This beautiful and enticing.How often would you change things out?
Hi, Brendah! I think once a month or so. It also depends on whether or not the kids have all had a chance to do each activity to their heart’s content.
Thanks, this will be a good place to start. I have a set of the child sized masterpieces. I still trying to figure out how to introduce and use in the classroom.
I love this posting. I am in a new classroom in the UK. A montessori primary school. My class has a real mixed aged of children from 7 – 10. I do not have an ‘art’ area at the moment.. but i will have by next week! wow!
So glad to be of help! Hope the kids like the activities!
This post is very helpful for homeschoolers like me who are new to preparing the Montessori environment. Thank you and your post have shown me how to plan things to put on shelves.
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I love this! Just came across your site as I was looking for ideas for the preschool I teach at. My husband is completing an 8 year Fine Arts program here in Laos, and he too also had to copy the Masters, so I agree with putting out paintings for children to copy.. but in the end to remember with Montessori the process is more important than the product. I look forward to using your ideas!
Hi, Kelly! So glad you found us. Yes, absolutely, the process is the most important thing for children and their artistic efforts. It’s so fun to watch them learn by doing!
Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely agree that every Montessori classroom, and every other elementary classroom, should have a dedicated art area. You provide a wonderful assortment of activities. Congratulations!
Art has a wonderful significance alone but there are so many cognitive gains as well.
In my combined first and second grade classes, children freely participated in the art center during Choice Time. Readily available supplies were bought with school money and parents supplied a huge variety of junk materials. Much of art for the young child involves exploring a wide range of materials. It should include the process that is emphasized. During this process, they have opportunities to develop the very same cognitive traits necessary to succeed in academic areas.
See my 2 entries about an art center for young children:
http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Children%27s+Explorations+in+an+Art+Center
http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Young+Children%27s+Cognitive+Gains+Through+Art
I meant to say what a beautiful classroom you have! What lucky children to be offered so much in such an artistic setting!
This is amazing! Definitely incorporating these activities is hard, however, Lori, you really made is so very easy and inviting. Thank you for sharing.
Hi, Sarah! Thanks for your kind words. Glad to help!