How do I gauge if a lesson is too easy or too complicated for an age group?
I get asked that a lot. And Heaven’s knows, I’ve tried to answer that question myself on more than one occasion. But here’s the thing: judging whether a lesson will work with your little charges gets easier and easier. Still, I resort to a framework that I established by about my fifth year of teaching.
These are my very general guidelines as to what kids in a K-6 art room are comfortable learning while at the same time challenged enough to promote artistic growth. And that’s what this episode is about. How to determine whether or not your class will be up to the challenge of a particular art project.
This episode is perfect for everyone who wonders whether that art project you’re eyeing on Pinterest will suit your class.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
How do I gauge if a lesson is too easy or too complicated for an age group?
I get asked that a lot. And Heaven’s knows, I’ve tried to answer that question myself on more than one occasion. But here’s the thing: judging whether a lesson will work with your little charges gets easier and easier. Still, I resort to a framework that I established by about my fifth year of teaching.
These are my very general guidelines as to what kids in a K-6 art room are comfortable learning while at the same time challenged enough to promote artistic growth. And that’s what this episode is about. How to determine whether or not your class will be up to the challenge of a particular art project.
This episode is perfect for everyone who wonders whether that art project you’re eyeing on Pinterest will suit your class.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES
KINDER
Kandinsky Paper Cutting Lesson
Play Doh Project
Crayola Air Dry Clay
FIRST
Fancy Fish Collage Art Project
What are Liquid Watercolor Paints
Eric Carle-Inspired Butterflies
SECOND
Paper Weaving Projects
THIRD
How to Color with Markers
Tropical Fish Watercolor Art Project
FOURTH
Castle Art Projects
FIFTH
Clipper Ship Projects
Perspective Lesson
SIXTH
Ceramic Tile Murals
Sketchbook Projects
Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils
DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST OF GRADE LEVEL ART EXPECTATIONS
If this show inspired you, please subscribe to Art Made Easy in iTunes and leave an honest review. This helps the podcast get recognized by more creative people like yourself.
SHOW NOTES
KINDER
Kandinsky Paper Cutting Lesson
FIRST
Fancy Fish Collage Art Project
What are Liquid Watercolor Paints
Eric Carle-Inspired Butterflies
SECOND
THIRD
Tropical Fish Watercolor Art Project
FOURTH
FIFTH
SIXTH
Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils
DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST OF GRADE LEVEL ART EXPECTATIONS
If this show inspired you, please subscribe to Art Made Easy in iTunes and leave an honest review. This helps the podcast get recognized by more creative people like yourself.
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Yes, the day has come!
After a long time deciding if, I finally said when.
Thank you SO much for your encouragement, show suggestions and help getting Art Made Easy off the ground.
Many of you were so pumped about this show but confessed that you had no idea what a podcast was. I love you guys for your unbridled enthusiasm.
Here’s a quick definition of a podcast & what to expect from Art Made Easy:
A podcast is a free radio show. The host (me!) interviews guests or talks about a favorite subject. You get to listen through your computer, laptop or smart phone. I like to listen to my favorite podcasts in my car during long travel days or on my walks via set of ear buds and my iPhone.
You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and Stitcher radio. The benefit is that your free podcast ap on your iPhone will automatically be updated with all the podcast episodes from any show you subscribe to.
Go ahead and give it a try!
To listen on your laptop or computer, just click the play button in the colored box below.
To listen via iTunes, click on the “play in iTunes” banner and click subscribe.
And now onto the show…
For my first show, I wanted to tell you my story of how I became an art teacher. We all have different paths and this one is mine. I’ll share advice to those who are just starting out as an art teacher and some of my best tips for teaching art to kids.
This episode is for anyone who thinks they may not have the qualifications to be an art teacher. Teaching art to kids doesn’t have to happen inside a classroom. You can teach art at home, at a summer camp and even as a volunteer (like I did).
If you are an art teacher just beginning your journey, I’m sharing my best advice to get you through that tough first year. Download my free handout and keep it in your teacher planner and refer to it when you have a tough day.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES:
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series)
National Art Convention
CreativeLive- free online classes
Art Teachers Facebook Group
Website: Painted Paper in the Art Room (Laura Lohmann)
Website: Art of Education
Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
PS – Please leave a review on iTunes!
Art Made Easy is now live on iTunes! Subscribing to the show and leaving an honest review really helps the show gain visibility and allows me to tailor the show to your needs.
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Thank you so so much for this. Your podcasts are so helpful.
Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Thanks so much for listening. The line-up for the next month is so inspiring. Stay tuned!
I love this podcast!!! Thank you Patty!!!!
This is the first podcast I’ve ever listened to and I love it. I get super excited when there is a new one! I’m learning so much, and thank you for all of your time, advice, projects and great guests. Keep them coming!!
Andrea
Great info for me! Where do I find a complete list of DSS grade level lessons?
Click on the turquoise button in the red box above.
I think this is where I found the huge mega list of grade level lessons- hundreds and they say “Zoom in to read more”. I did download your smaller hand out which is great in the turquoise button above in the rec box. But what I am talking about is huge. I printed it out- I had to go click on a different individual grade for each list of lessons. Maybe it is another place on your site. Let me know. I looked over my mega list and want to make sure I have purchased enough lessons. I am planning my whole first teaching year with you!
I’m not exactly sure what you saw, but you can find grade level art lessons in the menu bar. Also I have a resource page in my Teaching Art 101 class. You can access the lessons from there.
https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/sixth-grade-2/ is where I wen to find the 6th grade master list. It is the same address for all the other grades- just use the grade name in place of 6th. This really helps me select my lessons for each grade. Thanks for having a master list by grade though it is challenging to find. I had to look back on my copies to find the address.
Hi Michelle,
Go to Menu bar> ART LIBRARY > LESSON BY GRADE > select grade level
Thank you so much for all the arrange info by all age and grade levels, it`s very helpful for me as I`m starting to plan my classes in a new school, and it gave me a lot of grounding points to start with.
You are so welcome Adi!
A great podcast Patty with lots of helpful information for a newbie art teacher like myself. Thanks so much
I am a grandmother of a girl 9 years old, we live in Athens Greece, I have studied in England in the 60s’ at Bath Academy of Art, Graphic art ,of course I love painting more,but I had to do it because of the family printing factory,anyway now I want to teach my grandaugther who really has talent.This is the reason I am looking for some clues,thank you.