We’re soon approaching the new school year! Have you already started all your back-to-school shopping for your classroom materials? While you’re out picking out the last few items to make your classroom truly spectacular, make sure you’re adding Montessori art materials for upper elementary to your list! There are so many awesome art products and wonderful things to work with, I’d encourage you to explore any materials that inspire you.
Choosing the Most Appropriate Art Materials for Upper Elementary
It can be overwhelming to start building up your cache of art materials for your classroom. There are so many options, and a lot of them will seem perfect for upper elementary students. It’s important to be savvy with what you buy though, not everything will actually be suitable for your students, and if you’re not buying strategically, you may run out of supplies or be limited with what you’re able to teach.
It’s taken me over three decades as a professional artist and art teacher to understand what tools are appropriate for upper elementary grades to use to develop foundational artist skill sets. I have categorized visual art into five areas, which I call The 5 Domains. There are specific mediums, tools, and materials elementary students must use in order to learn each domain, and I’ve created an art material list for you so you don’t have to guess or use trial and error to figure out what items work best. (You can download that list below.)
Upper elementary students are now working independently and can usually read and follow guided instructions. Students at this age are interested in working on imaginative fantasy ideas, and also learning lessons on how to make their drawings and paintings more realistic. They love the freedom of having access to a tool box of mediums to express and can now distinguish the difference in results in their work. They’re also proud when their teachers display their work in a positive light in their classroom community. (You can do this with an inspiration gallery! Learn more about that in this article.)
These students can quickly get ideas from the curriculum they’re learning and want to jump right into planning and getting their creative ideas onto paper. Therefore it’s important to have all the essential materials ready for and accessible to your students during these independent years of creating and thinking. By having the right art materials available, upper elementary students will be able to work artistically and grow in their art literacy.
Building Your Montessori Art Materials for Upper L Box
I’ve worked with teachers all over the world, and almost all of them were challenged with where to start. Many of them tell me they wanted to begin teaching art in their upper elementary classroom ASAP, but they had no idea what art materials they needed to do so. They all want to know the basic supplies they need to be able to introduce art concepts to their students right now.
I’m going to tell you now, I made a downloadable list of Montessori art materials for Upper L, and it would be so amazing if you could bring everything on the list into your classroom. Realistically though, it’s going to take some time to accumulate every item I recommend (unless you’re working with an unlimited budget!). It’s taken me years to accumulate my own art material collection to the point it is now, so I don’t expect you to be able to have absolutely everything you need after one shopping trip.
Where to Start: Which Art Materials to Purchase First
I usually teach visual art using five domains. I know budgets can be tight, so if you’re strapped and can’t spend too much on art materials, start by buying items in one domain, then go from there. It’s possible to create dozens of art projects using just a few essential materials from the crafting domain, you just have to be a little creative in the lessons you present. Add to your materials as you begin to introduce new topics; every time you bring out something new, your upper elementary students will be so excited, engaged, and enthusiastic to learn how to use them! (If you’re looking for other money-saving tips, read this blog.)
One Step Further (Download My Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary List!)
I made this art material list based on my years of experience teaching art to upper elementary students, ages 9 to 12. Every item listed here is suitable for their age group and will make introducing art concepts and lessons to them stress-free, and mess-free. Trust me, having the right art materials makes all the difference in making teaching art fun and easy (for you and your students)!
You can download 35 Montessori Art Materials to Have in Your Upper Elementary Classroom by clicking here.
A Short Cut Just for You
Having the right art material for your upper elementary classroom is just the first step. If you want more information on how to use each material, how to set up an art shelf with the materials, and how to teach lessons that actually help upper elementary students learn and appreciate art, then I have some good news for you!
I’m currently doing a special summer enrollment for my online course, Art Teaching Blueprint. It includes everything you need to know to successfully bring art lessons into your upper elementary classroom—without the stress. I go into more detail about art materials (such as how to use them and where to find them), give you step-by-step art presentations, and a ton of other valuable information that makes teaching art and setting up your shelf so much easier. And, right now, you can register at a discounted price, so don’t miss out!
Click here to learn more about Art Teaching Blueprint.
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