The following is a list of activities to which the children are exposed:

• drawing--from memory, from life, and from imagination using a variety of mediums
• painting--poster, powder, water color, finger painting
• clay
• 3-D construction
• group projects--murals, scenery for a play
• collage--cut, rip, paste/paper and found objects
• printmaking projects
• study of art and artists through books and pictures
• study of color--primary, secondary, neutral shades, warm colors, cool colors, light and dark
• study of line
• study of shapes and size
• study of pattern/study of texture
• study of positive and negative
  study of 2-D and 3-D --paper folding, etc.
• gallery visits
  The children attend art classes with a specialist once a week in small groups (8-9 children) for 45 minutes. The small class size allows for individual attention and cooperative interactions. Student work is kept in the art room in individual folders. The work is used for display purposes and to monitor progress. Students in first grade are expected to put on smocks independently, sit quietly for instruction, work productively in a relaxed environment, and cooperate with cleanup procedures.

Art is also offered daily in the classroom. Clay, colored pencils, crayons, markers, chalk, scissors, collage materials, and powdered paints are available. Much of the classroom art is related to science or language arts projects. Such projects support a range of skills including observation and organization, as well as fostering creativity and enjoyment. The art teacher is in close communication with the classroom teacher. This provides a strong link between art and the subjects taught in the classroom. One of the final group projects is the scenery for the first grade play.

Lower School Art Department