Lower School Art - What's New

When you see the Lower School art studio this year, you may not recognize it! The space has been completely renovated with a new ceiling, new lighting and floor, and a fresh coat of paint. All of this has happened in order to create a better learning space for your children. I am so excited for this year to get underway, because I am instituting a new method of teaching art. It has a variety of names. Some refer to it as "Teaching for Artistic Behavior" (TAB) and others simply call it "Choice-Based Art Education". Let me explain...

The Lower School art room has been divided into seven different art studios:

1. Drawing
2. Collage and Printmaking
3. Painting
4. Fiber arts
5. 3D Sculpture
6. Clay
7. Architecture

At the beginning of the year, students will have a scavenger hunt to be introduced to where everything is and we will discuss how to manage all of the studios. During regular art sessions, students will gather in a circle for a mini-lesson, and then they will have the option of creating something from my lesson, or working on any project they wish.

This method of teaching art has been successfully implemented in many settings, giving young artists more responsibility for their own art making. Children will work toward greater mastery because they are highly invested in pursuing their ideas.

This week, students were presented with the challenge of designing birthday cards for an annual Shorecrest contest that Mr. Murphy presents. In the photos and videos, you'll witness some students creating contest entries and others working on projects of their own planning.

I am thrilled to offer this to your children! If you would like to read more about this, there is a great book with more detail called "Engaging Learners Through Artmaking" by Katherine M. Douglas and Diane B. Jaquith.

[More Photos]


[Video 1, Video 2]