Art (introduction)
The joy of creating something is exhilarating for children! Drawing, painting, cutting, pasting, sculpting, and construction activities are not only enjoyable, but also provide excellent opportunities for learning. The Bright Beginnings art curriculum enables a child to improve coordination, develop small muscle skills, recognize colors and textures, develop creativity, and learn to appreciate beauty. The Art appendix is divided into seven sections—Drawing, Cutting and Pasting, Painting, Molding and Sculpting, Printing and Patterns, Mixed Media, and Gifts. Although the lessons are numbered, this is for reference only. Activities can be done in any order and then "checked off" (in the check box) when completed. Basic supplies needed for this curriculum are listed at the bottom of this page; however, a complete list is included with each activity. Projects can be simplified or made more elaborate, depending on the child’s skill level and/or interest. Remember, the value of the activity isn’t measured in the finished product, but in the fun and learning that takes place along the
way!HELPFUL HINTS
1. Cover your work area with an old plastic tablecloth or shower curtain liner for easy clean up.
2. Always give your child an art smock when doing messy activities. Adult sized T-shirts work well and can be washed easily.
3. Provide blunt safety scissors and teach your child how to carry them (pointed down).
4. Glue sticks are easy for young children to use, and they work well on most projects.
5. Provide large crayons for drawing and coloring if possible because they are easier for young children to control.
6. Powdered tempera paint is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at craft stores and other stores that carry craft supplies. To extend the paint and make it easier to clean up, try adding some soap flakes to the powdered tempera before mixing with water.
7. If you do not have a paintbrush, you can use a spring-type clothespin to clip such things as cotton balls, sponge pieces, or small pieces of felt.
8. Paper plates make great disposable paint palettes.
BASIC ART SUPPLIES
*Typing paper*Crayons or markers
*Construction paper
*Scissors
*Glue
*Tempera paints
*Paintbrush
Note: Various other items are required and listed with the individual activities. If you don’t have a particular item, feel free to make appropriate substitutions!
Art (lesson)
SUPPLIES: typing paper; pencil and/or crayons or markers
ACTIVITY:
1. Draw (with pencil) a self-portrait
2. Add color if desired 2. Family portrait
SUPPLIES: typing paper; pencil and/or crayons or markers
ACTIVITY:
1. Draw (with pencil) a family portrait
2. Add color if desired 3. Tracing
SUPPLIES: simple picture outlined in heavy black marker or simple coloring book picture; thin white paper; pencil or crayon; paper clips
ACTIVITY:
1. Place the thin white paper on top of the printed picture so that the lines are visible, and secure them together with paper clips.
2. Trace the picture on to the paper. 4. Coloring
SUPPLIES: simple coloring book; crayons
ACTIVITY:
1. Tear out a picture from a coloring book.
2. Practice coloring it and trying to stay within the lines. 5. Object tracing
SUPPLIES: household objects such as a coaster, cassette tape box, spatula, cookie cutter, and so on; typing paper; pencil or crayon
ACTIVITY:
1. Trace various household objects on the paper 6. Crayon sets
SUPPLIES: crayons; rubber bands; typing paper
ACTIVITY:
1. Use rubber bands to bind two or more crayons together to make several sets.
2. Use the bound sets to make colorful designs on the paper. 7. Draw to music
SUPPLIES: crayons; typing paper; tape player or radio
ACTIVITY:
1. Play some lively music and draw to the rhythm.
2. Play some music with a different beat and draw to the new rhythm.
3. After several changes, note the differences in design due to the changing rhythms.
