Episode 14: Podcast Recap

In this episode, we talk about creating a curriculum focused primarily on the skills and techniques you teach. Then, other factors like types of artists, styles, and cultures that would go along with those skill becomes a secondary factor. 

Focusing on skills and concepts with younger kids goes well because they are still learning all the basics. Obviously, there are some skills that are too advanced for them but starting off with the basics goes well with the younger grades. 

Drawing from observation is something that can go really well with older students like 5th graders. It can also be really interesting to do with younger grades as well to see where they are skill wise and sometimes they surprise you. Doing something as clear as drawing from observation lets you easily see who needs help and who doesn’t just by observing their drawings. It’s almost like there is a right and wrong answer. Students can get a lot of satisfaction when they finally “get it” and it can be scaffolded throughout the grade levels.

One technique or concept such as color mixing, shading, or value could be your main focus and you choose to teach it multiple ways with different media. Oil pastels, paint, and pencils can all blend in different ways but the concept can all be the same. 

Any skill or technique can be scaffolded through the grade levels. You can be intentional about how you teach a skill to younger students and every year you do that same skill or technique but build on it. Oil pastels can work well with all grade levels in different ways including using them to transfer images and making more complicated designs with balance and symmetry with the older grade levels. Watercolor resists with crayons or oil pastels can be used many ways in different grade levels as well. Other types of art such as printmaking and fiber arts also lend themselves to work well with scaffolding students learning. As a teacher, you have to think about what skills you will teach at each level in order to set your students up for success and help them prepare for the next level. 

Clay and building 3D artwork can work on different types of skills and so can mixed media collages. Any project that can introduce multiple skills and techniques all within one finished project can be really successful and show a lot of what your students have learned. 

Keep blending,

Hayley and Laura