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by MinneArt

Nov 4, 2013

This is my 6th year teaching K-8 Art. This fall my school opened a preschool. Last week I started working with 3 groups of preschoolers. It is going alright so far, but I feel like I am not sure where the curriculum should go. I am hoping to do a lot of process art, but in looking for preschool ideas online I see lots and lots of crafts (ugh).

Any preschool art teachers out there with advice on resources? I want to do a good job, but don't have any experience/training for working with this group.

katgirldu I've worked with 2-6 for the last 11 years. You're right -- jt must be about process. I use lots of different starters -- one nice way is beginning with a beautiful picture book. Example, I recently read a class of 3-5 yr olds a book called Green. The project that day was experimenting with watercolor techniques. Began with white oil pastels (resis...See MoreI've worked with 2-6 for the last 11 years. You're right -- jt must be about process. I use lots of different starters -- one nice way is beginning with a beautiful picture book. Example, I recently read a class of 3-5 yr olds a book called Green. The project that day was experimenting with watercolor techniques. Began with white oil pastels (resist), painted over with 4 different greens that I had pre mixed, then sprinkled with salt. The techniques are the same as for older artists, I just didn't dictate at all the subject -- three year olds can scribble, older kids drew images.

When I do collage, I start with pre-cut, basic geometric and organic shapes, sorted by color. I emphasize composition, and I demonstrate arranging and re-arranging, playing with the composition, but NOT making recognizable images. Older kids will do this naturally as they are ready.

Another, I read Mouse Paint, and we did bubble wrap printing. I gave red, yellow, blue and white, and let them go to town painting the bubbles, saying it's ok to mix. When done we printed. They turned out so beautifully, the colors were so sophisticated.

I also don't hesitate to show fine art examples, but I usually make sure I show more than one artists who uses the technique I'm introducing, so they don't think I'm asking them to copy a picture. Maybe show some Impasto painters, then give them thickened paint and popsicle sticks to paint with.

I found a great Harold and the Purple crayon lesson online (sorry, can't remember where) -- after reading, the kids chose several purple collage shapes (try to offer beautiful papers with different textures, not just construction paper if possible), and arranged until they liked the design. They then drew on it -- added details -- with purple oil pastels. Then added some pizzaz with purple buttons, beads, and other bits and pieces.

Don't shy away from printmaking! Styro cuts easy to do with kids, and they LOVE the brayer. I also did Gelatin prints , using leaves, silver ink on black paper recently with all ages, even the twos. AMAZING and beautiful.

Check out The Artful Parent by Jean Van't Hul. Also Young at Art by Susan Striker.

On 11/04/13, MinneArt wrote: > This is my 6th year teaching K-8 Art. This fall my school > opened a preschool. Last week I started working with 3 > groups of preschoolers. It is going alright so far, but I > feel like I am not sure where the curriculum should go. I > am hoping to do a lot of process art, but in looking for > preschool ideas online I see lots and lots of crafts (ugh). > > Any preschool art teachers out there with advice on > resources? I want to do a good job, but don't have any > experience/training for working with this group

Nov 10, 2013

MinneArt Wow! Thank you so much for the ideas! I've looked at The Artful Parent a bit over the last couple of weeks - what a great resource.

It seems that I am struggling with estimating how long things will take with the kids. I have 30 minutes, which has felt a little long for most of the classes.

I will be doing the Mouse Paint projec...See MoreWow! Thank you so much for the ideas! I've looked at The Artful Parent a bit over the last couple of weeks - what a great resource.

It seems that I am struggling with estimating how long things will take with the kids. I have 30 minutes, which has felt a little long for most of the classes.

I will be doing the Mouse Paint project you mentioned...I have read Mouse Paint to my K's and also done bubble wrap printing with K's/1's but never thought of connecting the two! I think they will LOVE it!

In addition to printing off your response to keep in my Preschool curriculum binder, I have ordered some books that I hope will be helpful with these young artists. I need to educate the preschool teachers (craft does NOT = art, PROCESS is more important than product, etc) and you have been so helpful at getting me started!

Thanks again! -MinneArt

On 11/10/13, katgirldu wrote: > I've worked with 2-6 for the last 11 years. You're right -- > jt must be about process. I use lots of different starters > -- one nice way is beginning with a beautiful picture book. > Example, I recently read a class of 3-5 yr olds a book called > Green. The project that day was experimenting with > watercolor techniques. Began with white oil pastels > (resist), painted over with 4 different greens that I had pre > mixed, then sprinkled with salt. The techniques are the same > as for older artists, I just didn't dictate at all the > subject -- three year olds can scribble, older kids drew > images. > > When I do collage, I start with pre-cut, basic geometric and > organic shapes, sorted by color. I emphasize composition, > and I demonstrate arranging and re-arranging, playing with > the composition, but NOT making recognizable images. Older > kids will do this naturally as they are ready. > > Another, I read Mouse Paint, and we did bubble wrap printing. > I gave red, yellow, blue and white, and let them go to town > painting the bubbles, saying it's ok to mix. When done we > printed. They turned out so beautifully, the colors were so > sophisticated. > > I also don't hesitate to show fine art examples, but I usually > make sure I show more than one artists who uses the technique > I'm introducing, so they don't think I'm asking them to copy > a picture. Maybe show some Impasto painters, then give them > thickened paint and popsicle sticks to paint with. > > I found a great Harold and the Purple crayon lesson online > (sorry, can't remember where) -- after reading, the kids > chose several purple collage shapes (try to offer beautiful > papers with different textures, not just construction paper if > possible), and arranged until they liked the design. They > then drew on it -- added details -- with purple oil pastels. > Then added some pizzaz with purple buttons, beads, and other > bits and pieces. > > Don't shy away from printmaking! Styro cuts easy to do with > kids, and they LOVE the brayer. I also did Gelatin prints , > using leaves, silver ink on black paper recently with all > ages, even the twos. AMAZING and beautiful. > > Check out The Artful Parent by Jean Van't Hul. Also Young at > Art by Susan Striker. > > > > > On 11/04/13, MinneArt wrote: >> This is my 6th year teaching K-8 Art. This fall my school >> opened a preschool. Last week I started working with 3 >> groups of preschoolers. It is going alright so far, but I >> feel like I am not sure where the curriculum should go. I >> am hoping to do a lot of process art, but in looking for >> preschool ideas online I see lots and lots of crafts (ugh). >> >> Any preschool art teachers out there with advice on >> resources? I want to do a good job, but don't have any >> experience/training for working with this group

Nov 14, 2013

katgirldu Glad I was helpful. I also find it incredibly helpful to educate the PARENTS about those things also. I send home a note after almost every art class, explaining what we talked about, the skills they practiced, why that brown blob of paint was such an incredible learning experience, and how changing the colors of paint makes a child feel so powerfu...See More

Nov 15, 2013

katgirldu Oh! I also do a lot of cultural projects with my preschoolers. I work in a Montessori school, so each month they study a different continent. This month is North America; this week we made Mexican Sun Faces in tooling foil, added sharpie color (I work with small groups at a time). Next week we're making Totem Poles -- Very tall! I collect cardboard...See More

Nov 16, 2013

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