Tips for Teaching Elementary Kids?
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I'll be teaching an art class starting next week -- third to sixth graders. Any suggestions or insights? Not so much on subject matter, but on how to make it most enriching....(for students and teacher).
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Vodka?
Vodka?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Oaksterdam Dan
bring a bluelight I here the
bring a bluelight I hear the kids like that.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Microdose..( just yourself).
Microdose..( just yourself)..finger paint
Done deal....
Oops...didnt see third to sixth graders.....bump up to normal dose, and give them watercolors and brushes....have them break into teams and recreate famous paintings to start....then, set them loose....kick back, enjoy
When in doubt ....used enriched flour, let them sculpt!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
I just saw a cool painting
I just saw a cool painting activity...the kids were learning about Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the teacher had them get on the floor and paint "upside down" on the undersides of the desks. The kids loved it.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance just me Newberry
Try to get them to focus on
Try to get them to focus on the creative process more than the final product.
Because it's really creativity and how to get the kids to learn to tap into their own unique creative vision that you're trying to teach, not how to "make" something.
At least that's what you SHOULD be trying to teach them.
Have fun!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
activities = good, lectures
activities = good, lectures = good luck, visuals = squirrel! (get attention, but for how long)
otherwise,
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
It's almost never about
It's almost never about teaching. It's about motivating. You need to find ways to motivate the class. Give them as much control as possible when learning and creating. Mixed ages is a challenge. I had the fine privilege of teaching art at the Down to Earth School in Silver City,NM in 1993. A school that had mandatory field trips to Mexico and optional field trips to the Grateful Dead. My class was 7-12th all in one room. I let the kids be themselves and do anything they wanted as long as it was creative. I let them know it was not a study hall. I made sure each project I implemented was interesting and accessible to all ages present. For the most part, I had no budget or materials, so recycled art was at the top of the list.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Thanks.... all good advice.
Thanks.... all good advice. Keep it coming, as I know there are some experienced teachers (and parents) out there with some good insight.
I'm teaching two weeks of a Media Arts class first, then two weeks of Stone Carving.
But for Media Arts they only have 2 iPads available for about a dozen plus kids!
So I'm going to do a Claymation activity, since it encompasses a variety of art techniques -- sculpture, set design, costumes, photography, etc.
My plan, subject to change, is to practice the first week, then do a full on production the second week, capped by a presentation to parents.
(It's kinda funny that I'm more nervous about this endeavor than when I interacted with top scientists, government officials and CEOs in my former real world career.)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
This is the real thing - that
This is the real thing - that was just practice.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
I hear ya Surfdad.
I hear ya Surfdad.
I just don't remember elementary school kids being as talented as the ones today... I mean I remember us stumbling through a Paul Bunyan play or something and there was always one or two really gifted kids among us, but these seemingly average little iddy biddy kids that signed up for Theater Arts are pulling off a fully choreographed song and dance production with just two weeks rehearsal!..It's very impressive.....
Maybe because they watch a lot of American Idol or those genius kids cooking shows, or something other than the Flintstones or Gilligan's Island. (Dark Shadows was also an after school TV favorite -- I wonder what ever happened to those kids?)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Eight signed up for the Media
Eight signed up for the Media Arts class, seven showed -- one is going into 3rd grade and the rest going into 5th and 6th. All good kids, but thy have the collective attention span of a gnat. Probably because they didn't get a chance to swim or do outdoor camp activities -- we've had inches of rain each day. They're a little nuts by the time I get them in the afternoon.
Yesterday was the first day and I showed them some claymation videos. I taught them two things:
1. Twelve frames per second in an animation.
2. When you grow up, always have a roll of duct tape around.
Today was the second day and they frigging made a claymation video already! "Aliens Playing Soccer".
(I thought today was going to be prep only, but they made the characters,built a little stand for the iPad, drew the scenery, created the title artwork, and once I showed one kid how to use the IPad software -- they were off and running.)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
My best advice is brain
My best advice is brain breaks. Boys especially need to get up and move. Also try to switch gears every 15 minutes.
Set intentions - explain what you want them to learn. Give them a chance to discuss with one other person how to get there. The talking part is what they are good at. Just keep it short, like 30 seconds
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Where's the class? You're in
Where's the class? You're in Delaware, right?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Baltimore suburbs...... local
Baltimore suburbs...... local summer camp a friend helps administer. They bring in guest artists to teach some arts, crafts, theater, etc. I offered to teach stone carving which they've never tried before, which with I have experience (teaching kids). But they asked me to teach a digital arts class, too. They don't have a computer lab or anything, just a few iPads -- hence the claymation activity.
I originally had the illusion they could sit still and be taught... but not after being cooped up indoors all day (we have had 15 inches of rain this month)! I quickly realized it's like trying to control a fire hose -- best to just point them in the right direction and let them loose. Yesterday they made models, drew sets, learned the iPad app, and completed a mini-movie "Aliens Playing Soccer" -- I thought that would take all week.
They are really smart, creative kids. They already figured out a special effect -- how to make the soccer ball (a pieces of clay) seem to crash into the camera. If can teach them a little teamwork and the value of project planning, I'll consider it a success. (And if they don't burn themselves with the glue gun or eat too much paste.)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
My tips:
My tips:
Have fun!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Somehow involve Godzilla.
Somehow involve Godzilla.