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Montessori Art Storage | How-to Set Up Storage for Easy Presentations

Montessori Art Storage | How-to Set Up Storage for Easy Presentations

One of the biggest challenges I hear from Montessori teachers is keeping their classrooms organized—especially when it comes to art. Many of them think that it can be messy, and, because there are so many cool art materials you’ll want to have in your classroom, it can become disorganized and chaotic fairly quickly. But that’s not the case at all! Once you know how to set up your Montessori art storage, you’ll be able to do shelf staging, presentations, and demonstrations without breaking a sweat! You’ll be able to teach your students fun art projects without needing to be an artist yourself, you just need to be able to master your art materials storage and set-up!

I’m all about organization! When I’m not training other Montessori teachers with how to bring art into their classroom, I’m setting up pop-up art lessons at museums, studios, workshops, and different classrooms all over the world. You can sometimes find me at local Montessori schools here in San Diego, and I’ve also taught art at the Children’s Museum in Seattle, in lower elementary Montessori classrooms in China, and at Montessori teachers conferences in Bali! I’m literally all over the world!

My key to success in being able to set up shop with everything I need is organized storage! Because I know exactly where all my art materials are within their storage containers, I can quickly grab what I need and set up an art presentation without any stress. And I’m sharing my storage secrets with you! (Click here to watch my video, How to Set Up Your Montessori Art Storage Stress and Mess Free.)

Montessori Art Storage

There are a lot of reasons to spend a little extra time unpacking your classroom and making your art storage a priority.

  • It keeps your classroom and art shelf neat and tidy throughout the year.
  • It allows you to quickly set up your art environment for lessons.
  • Being able to see all your art materials while they’re in storage will make it easier to know what supplies you have on hand so you can quickly plan a lesson or project.
  • You’ll be able to rotate art material out of storage and onto your art shelf, so students stay inspired all year.
  • It models a good example for your students.
  • It helps you know your art material inventory so you know what items should be added to your shopping list for future activities.
  • Gives you assistant the ability to set up your art activities since everything is kept all in one place.
Montessori Art Storage | How-to Set Up Storage for Easy Presentations

Where to Start: Understanding Art Shelf vs. Art Storage

It’s usually easier said than done, I know. At the beginning of the year you can start with a clean slate, but at the same time, you have all these cool new art materials you want to showcase and share with your students! Reel it in!  

Not everything needs to be on your art shelf. In fact, if you put every art material out on your art shelf, it’ll probably backfire! Your students will lose interest in all the amazing mediums and art-making tools you’ve provided them. Plus, more things out on the shelf might very well lead to more mess!

Montessori Art Storage | How-to Set Up Storage for Easy Presentations

One Step Further (Watch My Montessori Art Storage How-To Video!)

I know that you’re going to have your own preferences in how you like to set up your classroom and how you like to organize your storage. In my experience, every art storage area should:

  • Include one container per art area, or domain
  • Have clear containers
  • Have containers with easy-to-open lids to access materials
  • Be in an area near your staging containers
  • Be in a place that’s away from your students’ reach
  • Have everything you need to teach stored together (e.g., a container for watercolor painting should have paints, palettes, napkins, wash jars, paintbrushes, watercolor paper, inspiration, etc.)

Generally speaking, you want everything that’s in storage to be visible and accessible.

I’m a visual person, so I made this video for you to check out. I’m going to walk you through how I set up my own Montessori art storage place. You’ll see how I organize things overall, but I’ll also show you how I categorize my tubs and storage containers. And then, as a bonus, I’ll show you why it’s so important to have a functioning art storage system…I’ll walk you through how I use the art materials I have in storage to set up an art lesson without much thought. Trust me, it’ll save you tons of time if you get this down. 

Click here to unlock and watch my video on How to Set Up Your Montessori Art Storage Stress and Mess Free.

Art Storage | How-to Set

A Short Cut Just for You

Staying organized is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to having art in your classroom. Yes, Montessori art storage is important, but you need all the other puzzle pieces—knowing how kids learn art, understanding the components of an art lesson, being able to set up an art shelf, etc.—to be able to effectively teach your students art.

I’ve been helping Montessori teachers all over the world bring art into their classroom; I’ve honed and perfected the training so that you can do it too. In my online course, Art Teaching Blueprint, I give you everything you need to start teaching your Montessori students art.

arts and craft book by Spramani Elaun

Spramani’s Books

Teach children visual arts

Art Book Shop

Curriculum For Children

Get step-by-step art curriculum to teach visual arts. Check out our 4 art curriculums:
Painting
Drawing
Color Theory
Clay Modeling

Buy Art Curriculum

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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Montessori Art Materials: The New, Hottest & Coolest

There are so many new art mediums and tools on the market this year, and I’m excited to share some of the products I’m currently exploring in my art camps, workshops, and classroom presentations this year. These are all items I found for teaching basic art literacy principles to young students. And, so far, the kids are responding extremely positively and really seem to love these Montessori art materials! 

Bringing a new product into your regular art lessons will excite your students and hold their attention. Think about how you cook in your kitchen; when you get a new gadget to do the same old task, it suddenly becomes so much fun again! Bringing one or two new products into your art lessons this year inspire your students and help them come up with beautiful new creations.

I make a list like this every year, reviewing some of the most popular products that kids, teachers, and parents loved at my events throughout the year. Sometimes these mediums are so good that they replace old ones and help me teach better. So, here are six hot, new items—that worked best for me—on my art shelf and in my online sales kits this year!

1. Primary Watercolor Pencils – Water-soluble 

Learning to mix primary colors into an array of color combinations is the study of color theory. I like to think of it as an opportunity for scientific exploring for young students; it gives them a chance to see colors evolve and transform. And I usually start them with red, yellow, and blue pigments for mixing primary into secondary colors.

I know so many teachers who struggle with maintaining messes. Well, guess what? These water-soluble primary watercolor pencils are a great way to let students explore without needing to worry about paint creating a mess. These simple three colors can make a full color spectrum color wheel. Definitely a hot product for teachers!

Tip: Keep the pencils sharpened for precision drawings, and crisp, clean lines.

2. Petite Pintora™ – Color Mixing Station

My new favorite product is also for color mixing! It’s this fabulous wooden Color Mixing Station by Petite Pintora™. This item was my most popular at the AMS education conference among teachers!

After understanding how specific pedagogy teachers need materials to function in the classroom and on their art shelves, and as an art teacher who knows what needs to be learned for advance painting skill sets, I decided to bring this product to market this year. I’ve found that it really helps children to securely carry their work station from the shelf to a table without knocking things over or creating a mess.

This beautiful wooden color mixing station is handcrafted in Turkey and designed for 3-12 year-old students. It comes with glass droppers, and non-toxic primary paints for mixing the perfect 12-step color spectrum wheel, which helps students properly learn about secondary color mixing. The set also comes with a wash jar, paintbrush, and laminated visual color wheel chart.

3. Watercolor Crayons – Water-soluble

Watercolor crayons were so popular this year among my upper elementary students because they are simple to use, easily glide across paper, and are super rich in pigment. When you wash over them with a wet paintbrush it instantly turns into paint—making them two mediums in one! Even the teachers I demonstrated these mediums to during training fell in love with them. 

Drawing lines then adding color is a dominant activity kids regularly do while creating art. I love these crayons because students can draw or doodle with them, then use a wet paintbrush to turn their drawings into paintings. It makes these crayons a mess-free alternative to keeping wet paints in palettes during art presentations. 

If you’re struggling on what Montessori art materials to invest in for the 2021 school year, I recommend opting for these, since they do the job of two products in one (drawing and painting), and last a really long time. 

4. Sumi-e Ink & Pointed Paint Brush

My last visit to China gave me the opportunity to investigate the art of sumi-e ink painting and learn all about the materials and methods ink-painting artists use. This year, I took what I learned and now I’m so thrilled to be offering a new curriculum for teaching kids how to make proper brushstrokes, Level 1. Painting for Montessori Children, which will be available this fall!

I found that teaching kids these basic skills and brushstroke lessons with sumi-e ink is easier than traditional paints. Sumi-e ink is perfect for isolating brushstroke movements and last long on the paintbrush. I love this product and highly recommend using it when you’re starting your students with basic brushstroke lessons.

Tip: Sumi-e ink can create messes so be sure to check out the painting presentation method I introduce in my books and trainings for how to set children up for working with this product.

5. Tempera Paint Sticks

Oh my, to say my early childhood kids loved these would be an understatement… they loved loved loved these! Tempera Paint Sticks are a great addition to your students’ process-based painting experiences. (But don’t replace traditional painting experiences; young students still need to be exposed to both types of tactile painting.) The paints glide smoothly across paper, offer bright pigmentation, and are safe and non-toxic without leaving behind any large messes. 

The smooth paint sticks are actually in a solid form and no paintbrush is required. They’re super easy set-up and use—just open caps and doodle the paint on paper. I’ve observed hundreds of kids this use these and have noticed the instant gratification they get seeing bold colors appear even when they’re still developing their gross to fine-motor control and hand strength. These tempera paint sticks are great for making basic line shapes like zig zags, and straight and curved lines. 

The best part (at least, for teachers) is that these tempera sticks are not messy; as soon as they’re applied to paper, the pigment won’t smudge as long as they’re used on smooth, uncoated paper. I don’t recommend using these on other surfaces like canvas or wood.

Tip: These paint sticks have caps that may be a choking hazard for children under 3 years of age. I usually remove all caps while arts in session, then replace them and store the paint sticks away from my young artists until next time.

6. Yarn Weaving Sheets

I’m always on the hunt for creative ideas that help young students build and refine their fine-motor mastery. I found these fun yarn weaving sheets for kids to learn the basics of weaving yarn with their hands. Hand-crafts are important for helping students develop their fine-motor skills, and these sheets are like blank canvas waiting for kids to come up with creative ways to weave colors or designs into them.  They can be used with a cross-stitch needle or yarn needle. I found these to be a great calming tactile experience. 

One Step Further: Learn How to Use These Montessori Art Materials 2019

The majority of these art mediums might be self-explanatory, but I think it’s important to see them in action. I spent some time earlier this week gathering up all the items in my round up so I could demo them for you.

Click here to watch my video demonstration and review. Once you have access to the video, you’ll be able to watch it as many times as you’d like. That way, you can choose the 2019 Montessori art materials you want to bring into your classroom, then rewatch my demo for it so you can easily present the medium to your students and get them started!

A Short Cut Just for You

These cool art materials are just the tip of the iceberg! While new mediums come out every year, having a foundation of art materials as well as an understanding of their general purpose, is crucial. I’ve developed an online teacher training, Art Teaching Blueprint, that gives you everything you need to bring art lessons into your Montessori classroom.

The course is an accumulation of everything I’ve learned and observed while teaching art for the last almost 30 years! In seven lectures, I show you how to use a wide variety of art materials, plus how to set up an art shelf and how to teach lessons that actually help Montessori students learn and appreciate art.

I’m currently doing a special summer enrollment for my online course, Art Teaching Blueprint, and offering it at a discounted price! But not for long! Click here to learn more and register.

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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30 Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

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 lower 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. 

montessori art materials

Choosing the Most Appropriate Art Materials for Lower Elementary

When you’re out shopping for art materials, you’ll probably be greeted with hundreds of options, but not everything will be appropriate for a lower elementary classroom. 

Students in lower elementary have great energy and curiosity; they’re wanting to understand how the world works and are learning to express their imaginative fantasy ideas through artwork. It’s also a time where they’re developing and practicing their fine motor movements, so practice and repetition is key at this age, and creating art with different mediums can help with that. 

Lower L students are able to learn quickly with guided lessons and then work independently. They love exploring different mediums and what they can achieve with them. That’s why it’s important to have all the essential materials ready and on hand—your students will have more choices to explore with. It also helps you to be able to quickly and easily give presentations and demonstration set-ups.

30 Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

I’ve worked with teachers all over the world, and almost all of them had questions about how to start teaching art in their classroom. Where do I start? What material do I need? These were some of the most common questions I’d be asked by lower elementary Montessori teachers!

It’s taken me years to get my own art supply collection to the point it is now, and I didn’t purchase everything all at once—and I don’t expect you to either! The trick with buying art materials for Lower L—especially if you haven’t done this before—is starting slowly. You can get by with just a few basic materials to start the school year. 

I created a cheat sheet of the best Montessori art materials for lower elementary to make your back-to-school shopping easier on you. You don’t have to purchase everything all at once, but be strategic with what you do buy. Add to your materials as the year goes on, and you’ll constantly see your lower elementary students get excited with each new thing you bring out!

Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

Where to Start: Which Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary to Purchase First

It’s taken me more than three decades as a professional artist and art instructor to understand what materials are appropriate for lower elementary Montessori grades. It all starts with the 5 Domains (which is how I categorize the different areas of visual art).  

All my experience and observations have led me to develop a list of the specific mediums, tools, and art materials that can be used to successfully teach lower L students and help develop their art literacy and fine motor skills. 

I’ve created this art materials list, to take the guesswork and trial and error out of what to purchase for your classroom. I know classroom budgets can be difficult to work with, so I recommend starting by purchasing items from one domain, then adding to your art materials from there. You can make dozens of different art lessons and presentations based on just a few art materials. (If you’re looking for other money-saving tips, read this blog.)

30 Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

One Step Further (Download My Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary List!)

I made this art material list based on my years of experience teaching art to lower elementary students, ages 6 to 9. 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 30 Montessori Art Materials to Have in Your Lower Elementary Classroom by clicking here.

30 Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

A Short Cut Just for You

Having the right art material for your lower 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 lower 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 lower 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.

30 Montessori Art Materials for Lower Elementary Classroom

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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35 Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary Classroom

35 Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary Classroom

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. 

Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary

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.)

Montessori Art Upper Elementary Classroom

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.

Montessori Art Materials

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. 

35 Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary Classroom

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.

Montessori Art Materials

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.

35 Montessori Art Materials for Upper Elementary Classroom

arts and craft book by Spramani Elaun

Spramani’s Books

Teach children visual arts

Art Book Shop

Curriculum For Children

Get step-by-step art curriculum to teach visual arts. Check out our 4 art curriculums:
Painting
Drawing
Color Theory
Clay Modeling

Buy Art Curriculum

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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25 Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood Classroom

montessori early childhood art materials

It’s back-to-school season, and I’m sure you all are in the middle of shopping for new materials for your classroom. While you’re out finishing up your shopping, make sure you’re picking up the right and best Montessori art materials for early childhood. There are a ton of products and wonderful things to work with, I’d encourage you to explore and purchase anything that inspires you.

25 Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood Classroom

Choosing the Most Appropriate Art Materials for Early Childhood

There are so many awesome tools and supplies, but not all of them will be appropriate for an early childhood classroom. 

The reason why some art supplies and materials are not suitable for this age group is because early childhood students are in what I identify as the Young Exploratory Phase™. This means they make and create by exploratory and discovery play. Children in these beginning years do not understand the placement of visual arts, and are very curious about different mediums; they’re still working through gross-to-fine motor abilities and are often still putting objects in their mouths. So it’s important to choose the right safe mediums and materials as an introduction to visual arts as they experiment and learn from the results they create.

I’ve met thousands of teachers all over the world who want to start teaching art in their classroom, but they don’t know where to start or what materials they need. It’s taken me years to amass my own art material collection, so I can understand why trying to purchase the right art material for a classroom all at once can be overwhelming—especially if you have no idea where to start.

When you’re teaching art to early childhood Montessori students, you can get by with just a few basic materials. It’s just important to be smart and strategic in purchasing those materials. I’d encourage you to start buying a few items from the list below to get you started, then adding to it as the year goes on and you start to see your students grow in excitement and interest!

montessori art materials for early childhood toddler, 3-6 casa house

Where to Start: Which Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood to Purchase First

I typically teach visual art within five domains. If you’re really on a budget when you’re shopping for back-to-school art materials, start with purchasing materials for just one domain, then build from there. For instance, you can create dozens of art lessons using just a few essential materials from the painting domain. (If you’re looking for other money-saving tips, read this blog.)

One Step Further (Download My Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood List!)

Here’s the thing with early childhood art: it needs to be taught specifically for early childhood students using art materials that are designed or appropriate for them. Here’s a list I’ve curated based on my years of experience teaching art to early childhood, 3 to 6 year-old, students. Every art material listed here is suitable for their age group and will make introducing art concepts and lessons to them much easier, account for control of error, and result in less (to zero) mess in your classroom!

You can download 25 Montessori Art Materials to Have in Your Early Childhood Classroom by clicking here.

Montessori Art Toddler, early childhood, 3-6
25 Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood Classroom

A Short Cut Just for You – Buy Guide Book

Having the right art material for your early childhood 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 early childhood students learn art (YES, they can learn art at that early of an age!) then I have some good news for you!

I’m currently selling my brand new, Early Childhood Art Guide . It includes everything you need to know to successfully bring art lessons into your early childhood 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 order yours today!, so don’t miss out!

Montessori early childhood

Early Childhood Art Guide

Visual Arts Teaching Guide
for 13 Months – 6 Years Old

This book includes:
✅ My proprietary art teaching method
✅ The proper and complete list of art materials
✅ A guide for staging and setting up a successful art environment
✅ Tips and art lesson ideas for early childhood
✅ A convenient three-ring binder presentation

Buy Guide Now!

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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Visit a Museum this Summer | Montessori

montessori art, visit a museum to learn how to teach kids art

There are still a few more weeks until you have to go back to school, and if you’re not sunning on a far-off island like me (just kidding!) then I recommend using your time off to visit a museum. They’re not just for Montessori field trips!

You can probably guess that art museums are my favorite to spend a day in, but there is inspiration to be found no matter where you go! Here are 10 reasons I think everyone—not just students or Montessori teachers—should visit a museum this summer.

1. They’re fun!

Believe it or not, museums can be fun! I personally think they’re a really enjoyable way to spend a day. Don’t be fooled into thinking a history, science, or even art museum will be boring; even a museum that focuses on a “boring” subject can have fascinating exhibits you’ll want to spend hours in. Plus, think of all the unique and unusual museums around the country; there’s the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia in California, UFO Museum & Research Center in New Mexico, Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts—there’s even a Museum of Weird in Austin! If you explore your options, I guarantee you’ll have a fun time exploring and learning!

2. It’s a chance to support the arts.

One of the best ways to ensure museums stay in business is by keeping them in business! The more we patronize museums, the more we show the next generation how important they are. I probably don’t need to tell you that art programs are being eliminated in schools all around the country, and kids need a way to be exposed to the arts. (By the way, another great way to introduce kids to art is by bringing art lessons into your classroom! Click here to learn how.)

3. Hello, staycation!

When you travel, you probably visit a few museums, right? How often do you seek out the ones in your neighborhood though? Checking out a museum where you live can make you feel like you’re on a mini vacation. 

Visit a Museum this Summer | Montessori

4. Find some peace and quiet—while enjoying some AC.

Usually, quietness is encouraged at museums. They offer a relaxing (and cool) atmosphere to decompress when life gets stressful. You can practice mindfulness while staring at paintings and contemplating their meanings. 

5. Get inspired!

The word “muse” is a part of “museum” for a reason—they’re places of inspiration! Visiting a museum can get your creative juices flowing. Viewing the work of artists and innovators can stimulate new ideas and stir your imagination. 

6. Gain new perspectives and open your mind.

Museums are created to be learning environments. They provide in-depth information on their subject and give you the tools to form your own experiences based on what you learn. In walking through the different exhibits, you might be prompted to change your perspective. Maybe you’ll learn something new about a historical event or gain insight to put yourself in an artist’s shoes, and see things in a new light. 

Visit a Museum this Summer | Montessori Art

7. Network with like-minded people.

Many museums host lectures and networking events for guests to meet and mingle. Going to one of these can give you the opportunity to meet like-minded people while learning about something you love and having a fun night out.

8. It’s a new experience you’ll feel better about.

Did you know that experiences—not material things—make you happier? There have been loads of scientific studies that support this; apparently, this happens because experiences provide positive personal reinterpretations over time, so you relive the positive experience (forgetting any negative parts) over and over again. So, why not make yourself feel happy with a museum experience? It’ll make you happier in the long run. 🙂

9. They can help you become a better teacher.

If you find an awesome museum on your own, think of how excited your students will be to visit once school starts! What’s more, it can give you inspiration for your lessons. A science museum may provide you with new information you can add to the Great Lessons, a history museum can give you new insight on past events, and an art museum might spark some new ideas for art projects in your classroom!

Visit a Museum this Summer | Montessori history and culture study

10. Museums support cultural appreciation.

One of the most important things about supporting art literacy is its connection to social, historical, and cultural contexts. Museums give you tools like artifacts, exhibits, and stories to learn from. Imagine the new exciting ways you can relate cultural stories to your students and make learning across different subjects fun and engaging. You might even get some ideas for your classroom inspiration gallery. Just recently, I found a Native American Museum here in San Diego, and I’m so excited to visit and come up with new art lessons for this coming fall. I’m planning my visit next week!

How to Find a Museum in Your Area & Make a Day of It

You might know of the larger museums in your area—for example, San Diego has Balboa Park, which is home to 17 different museums—but there are always a few unexpected ones that might spark your interest. Museums USA helps you find museums in your area (if you live in the United States); it even shares upcoming events. As you look for museums, research free entry days! Most metropolitan cities offer free museum days throughout the year. 

Some cities have historical preservation societies which support all the museums around them. Your local library will have a list of museums in your area, so you can look them up based on your interest: science, national/historical, animal, botanical, nature, insect, or specialty collections.

(If you can’t make it out to a local museum, then grab some iced coffee and visit one online from your own home; some museums offer virtual tours!)

I wrote a blog post last year about how to take your students to a museum (without them getting bored or you getting stressed). But this museum trip is all about you. So, how do you plan a trip for yourself?

I recommend setting aside at least two hours. Depending on your mood, you might want to head out alone or invite a friend to join you. Once you find the museum that tickles your fancy, get your ticket (you’ll sometimes find deals online if you purchase your ticket in advance). When you get there, check out a museum map, and look for exhibits that you find intriguing, and don’t feel guilty for skipping exhibits you have no interest in. Make a day out of it and stop by the museum’s cafe (some might even have a bar), and reflect on all the cool, interesting, exciting things you’ve seen. 

Most large museums have teacher education programs that are worth attending. You can also take a docent tour; they’ll walk you through the exhibits and share their knowledge. If you like hearing behind-the-scenes type stories, or if you’re a more auditory learner, this might make your museum trip engaging.

I do frequent museums throughout the year, but it’s not only because I’m artful, I also learn so much! I enjoy the education department programming offered to teachers. Sometimes teachers ask me what I should be look at in museums or learn. Well the education programs are wonderful in teaching you as a teacher how to view art, and how to use art language with your students, and what signifaces of each collection and why it’s important for humanity to understand. There filled with tons of literature you can use as a tool.

Visit a Museum this Summer | Montessori

Hooked on Art, Yet? Bring It Into Your Classroom with This Special Summer Discount!

As a teacher, your education never stops, and I celebrate all that you do to teach and inspire young minds. That’s why I’m offering a special summer discount on my new online course Art Teaching Blueprint. It’s composed of seven lectures designed to teach you how kids learn art and help you start your own art program in your classroom. Want the discount plus a few very special bonuses? Email me at SpramaniElaun@gmail.com with the subject line: Montessori teacher summer enrollment special!

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3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

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The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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Montessori Teacher: 5 Back-to-School Art Supply Savings Tips

montessori back to school

I know how difficult it can be to fund a classroom, as a homeschool mommy, buying supplies and materials for my children could get expensive. Thankfully, now, with my years of experience in teaching art to students (and buying and supplying all kinds of materials), I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks for saving money on back-to-school art supplies. Creating a distinctive art-making environment for your students that supports exploration and choice IS possible on a small budget!

In this blog, I’m sharing five creative ways to save money, without compromising quality, while you buy your art supplies for teaching and engaging art lessons this coming school year. As an art teacher and Montessori art trainer, I really think these tips will get you started on the right tack for this new year! 

5 Tips for Saving Money on Art Supplies:

1. Buy High-Quality Montessori Mediums & Materials

Buying quality materials is important because you want kids to be successful and enjoy the creation process. Poor quality items can stifle a child’s creativity and can even discourage their artistic passion, making them want to give up on art altogether!

Poor quality Montessori art materials can be bad paint brushes that fall apart, paints that don’t mix properly into secondary colors, or cheap paper that isn’t designed to absorb watercolor paints and rips easily. Buying cheap may seem like a smart money-saving move, but high-quality art products will always be the better option because they will last longer, sometimes even beyond a single school year—and you can buy them without spending tons of money!

You don’t have to purchase everything all at once; start off slowly. Invest in just one or two mediums to use in your classroom for the first few months of school, then add more later. For example, purchase quality watercolor paints, watercolor paper, and paintbrushes for the first month of school. Your students can explore and create lots of paintings with this one medium. The next month, buy premium color pencils and drawing paper, then, the following month, add another medium such as clay or crafting material. You can literally teach hundreds of lessons with a single mediums, simply by changing the subject (and inspiration gallery) each week. 

5 Back-to-School Art Supply Savings Tips

2. Cut Art Supplies in Halves & Quarters

Cutting art supplies down to smaller portions works well when you’re teaching a large group. I usually do this with paper and mediums like crayons and oil pastels. It’s a way to multiply your supplies without needing to buy more sets. This is one of the ways to make high-quality art material seem cheaper, since you’re getting more bang for your buck!

School Art Supply Savings Tips

Here’s an example of what I mean: you can buy one dry watercolor painting set that one student can work on, or you can cut up the paper into halves or quarters and up to four kids can enjoy the art project at the same time.

I go a little more in depth with this tip in my book Introducing Visual Arts to The Montessori Classroom, under the art supply chapter. I also share my art-teacher insight as to why this is very important (even beyond helping you save money). 

3. Know Which Art Supplies to Splurge and Save On

There are a couple of mediums I recommend you save money; with these, you can buy a cheaper grade and it will not affect your students’ art making results. I recommend spluring on art material like quality watercolor paper, paintbrushes, smooth drawing paper, primary paint colors, dry watercolor paint sets, and watercolor crayons—these will go a long way and last a long time. However, go ahead and save your money on these items (which you can likely find in a hobby or craft store):

  • Oil pastels
  • Soft pastels 
  • Colored pencils 
  • Clay 
  • Crayons
  • Glue
  • Markers 
back to school savings

4. Take Advantage of Back-to-School Discounts for Teachers

Teacher discounts are everywhere, even online, so don’t forget to use them! Almost every major craft and art store offers teacher discounts. (This article lists more than 80 stores that offer teacher discounts!) Stores know teachers have to buy in bulk, so they’ll sometimes offer special wholesale pricing on large purchases.

If you don’t see anything posted in an ad or in-store, ask about a discount anyway. I remember one time I asked a craft store, they had a teacher discount, plus a special program for something I buy in bulk regularly! 🙂 Don’t be afraid to ask! 

My kids-friendly, eco-friendly online art supply store www.store.EcoKidsArt.com has a 20% teacher discount through the end of August, plus free shipping within the U.S. Use this Coupon Code: 786Orange when you check out online.

5. Ask Parents for Help With an Art Supply Wishlist

Here’s a tip I really want you to do every year at the beginning of school: send out an art supply wishlist to your students’ parents. It will help you decide what art mediums you really want to introduce to your students, without the constraints of your school’s budget. It’s also a way to inform and engage your students’ parents with what their children will be learning in art during the coming school year. 

Montessori Teacher: 5 Back-to-School Art Supply

Send this wishlist letter out the first week of school. You will find that there will be a handful of parents who would love to donate or be of some help to get the school year off to a good start. Give them a wish list of premium stuff like watercolor paper pads, paintbrushes, and palettes. I talk to thousands of parents every year, and so many of them tell me they wish their school would support more art making in the classroom. I promise there’s going to be a few parents that will be excited to support you. You can never have enough quality art supplies!

Montessori Teacher

Bonus: Save By Creating with Recycled, Used, or Found Natural Items

I’ve come up with time-tested, low-cost ways to teach painting skills. Plenty of painting practice and color mixing experiences can be achieved by altering paint surfaces like using recycled or found items in nature. Get scrappy by using these types of materials to paint on rather than buying new items for each paint project. This list of cheap, found materials (plus other money-saving tips) can be found in my book, Kids Painting:

  • Rocks
  • Sticks and twigs
  • Wood scraps
  • Large butcher block paper
  • Cardboard boxes and cereal boxes.
  • Paper rolls
  • Cheap fabric rolls (cut into mini paint canvases)
  • Egg cartons
  • Old CDs
  • Large seed pods
  • Pinecones
  • Seashells

If you would like to learn more about setting up for more art making in your classroom you can order my digital or paperback book, Introducing Visual Arts to The Montessori Classroom, which has dozens of art lesson ideas and art supply advice. You can also check out this blog post: 10 Items to Include in your Montessori Art Shelf.

GET ON THIS LIST!

3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

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The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.


arts and craft book by Spramani Elaun

Spramani’s Books

Teach children visual arts

Art Book Shop

Curriculum For Children

Get step-by-step art curriculum to teach visual arts. Check out our 4 art curriculums:
Painting
Drawing
Color Theory
Clay Modeling

Buy Art Curriculum

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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How to Bring Art, Beauty, and Relaxation into YOUR Space This Summer

If you’re not fortunate enough to travel to far-off, exotic places this summer, then, chances are, your home is your oasis for the next couple months. I love summer! It’s a time to relax and enjoy colorful sunsets, refreshing libations, and gorgeous warm days.

If you’re anything like me, you tend to celebrate a new season by (slightly) redecorating your house. I love incorporating brighter works of art or fresh flowers in the summertime—it makes me feel like I’m on a little holiday every day. And you know what, Montessori teachers need vacay vibes and beautiful spaces too!

I can’t tell you how excited I got planning this blog!

First of all, hats off to you for spending another year in the classroom supporting our future young minds! I want you to really take stock in how lucky parents are for having you working with their children all day (you Montessori-at-home folks too!). I’ve seen the beautiful, inspiring spaces you create for your students.

And that brings me to why I’m writing this blog.

I know if you’re an educator, you have a soft heart and you put everyone first…right?!

I’m a mom of two—a teen and a young adult— and still I worry about  them first. But, you know what I’ve learned as they’ve gotten older? It’s like the emergency presentation on planes, you’ve got to put your own oxygen mask on before helping someone else with theirs. In order to do your best in taking care of others—your students, and your own family too—you have to take care of yourself first. And, what better time than summer break to give yourself a little TLC?

Art making is relaxing and an excellent form of emotional therapy. These benefits aren’t just for kids; art can help you unwind too. 

So I want to share some lovely ideas to help you put yourself—and your space—first. Doing little things to bring beauty into your home gives you the chance to relax, be creative, and start feeling those carefree, summertime vibes.

Here’s a roundup of fun, easy, gorgeous ideas that you can do to make your home a creative haven—even if you don’t consider yourself a crafty person. Click and follow the links for more instructions and inspiration…now, dig in!

How to Bring Art, Beauty, and Relaxation into YOUR Space This Summer

Make a Succulent Garden this summer

Succulents are still a huge home trend, and it makes sense—they’re very chic, very versatile (there are so many varieties), and very easy to take care of. Here’s a guide to making your own terrarium to fit your home’s style. 

Organize Your Closet Space

Time to achieve your own closet goals! I dream about having a gorgeous, Instagram-worthy closet all the time. This link goes back to a great article with advice and practical tips from a celebrity closet designer to help you get there.

Press and Keep Your Flowers and Memories

If you’ve been on this blog before, you know how much I love nature! This decor idea brings bits of nature into your home in a way that’ll help preserve your memories too. If you don’t have anything to work with yet, keep an eye out for fallen leaves or flowers next time you’re on a summer adventure out in the wild.

Peg Your Walls This Summer

You know how I said I like changing up my space a bit with every new season? This wall peg idea will make is so much easier! I can’t wait to give it a try in my home office.

Display Your Baskets Artfully

I love this idea, I’m always admiring and using baskets in my art classroom, but never keep the beautiful works of art for myself. I love buying baskets when I travel or peruse yard sales, so I think I’m going to try this idea this summer too.

ArtSpace

Create a Personalized Ring Dish

I’m excited to try this one out too. I’ve been following their A Beautiful Mess for years, and I love their ideas! This ring dish can be personalized for your home, or it makes a great, meaningful gift too!

How to Bring Art, Beauty, and Relaxation into YOUR Space This Summer

Become Your Own Barista

Save money this summer by learning how to make your own Starbucks drinks at home! Of course, running into a coffee shop might be a lot easier, but this way, you can add special touches to make it your own then put it in a beautiful, eco-friendly glass and style it to feel luxurious.

How to Bring Art, Beauty, and Relaxation into YOUR Space This Summer

Catch Up On Summer Reading

Once you’ve added these special touches to your home, cozy up and catch up on some reading. I created a summer reading list full of fun and inspiring books, take a look and let me know which one you choose to read!

Montessori Art Newsletter

Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter for more creative ideas—for your home, classroom, and beyond!

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3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Sign-up to receive video

The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.

arts and craft book by Spramani Elaun

Spramani’s Books

Teach children visual arts

Art Book Shop

Curriculum For Children

Get step-by-step art curriculum to teach visual arts. Check out our 4 art curriculums:
Painting
Drawing
Color Theory
Clay Modeling

Buy Art Curriculum

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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My 2019 Summer Reading Book List

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading and dig into those books that have been sitting on our shelves, right? You can hole up on your couch or head out to the beach and just spend the entire day reading—completely guilt free! So, in celebration of our chance to flip through hundreds and hundreds of pages in the next couple months, here’s my 2019 summer reading list to kick things off!

If any of these books intrigue you (or if you’ve already read one), or if you have another book that you absolutely love, let me know in the comments or on Facebook! I’ll be posting what you share on social next week!

Now, let’s all get to reading! 🙂

My 2019 Summer Reading List

1. Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

This is a follow up to the NYT bestseller Girl, Wash Your Face. I love it because it’s a fun, witty, empowering motivational book that urges us women to stop apologizing for our desires, goals, and aspirations. More than that, she presents strategies for pursuing our visions and building our confidence.

2019 Summer Reading

2. The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St Clair

The Secret Lives of Color tells the unusual stories of 75 fascinating shades, dyes, and hues. There’s a brown shade that changed the way battles were fought, a very particular hue that defined Picasso’s blue period, and ideas like “scarlet women” and “imperial purple”—you’ll be surprised by what a prominent role color plays into human culture and history. It’s so fascinating!

My 2019 Summer Reading Book List

My 2019 Summer Reading List books

3. Let’s Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan 

My latest food obsession has been with ramen. I’m super lucky to be living in San Diego and surrounded by a ton of amazing places! As much as I appreciate eating ramen, I also appreciate this super creative and fun cookbook idea! Not only is it beautifully illustrated, it also includes actual recipes you can try at home.

My 2019 Summer Reading List

4. It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke

This fictional piece creatively alternates chapters between Veronica “Ronni” Johnson, licensed practical nurse and aspiring writer, and Violet, a woman living in an assisted living home. When Violet passes, she leaves Ronni a generous gift, as long as she writes a book about her life within one year. It’s warm, sad, funny, uplifting, and playful enough for a great summer read.

My 2019 Summer Reading Book List

My 2019 Summer Reading List for teachers

5. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

This is an unforgettable memoir about a young girl who goes on a quest for an education. Born to survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho, Tara was never given a proper education. When she sees that her brother was able to get into college, she leaves her family, steps into a real classroom for the first time at age 17, and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. Oprah Magazine calls it a “coming-of-age memoir” and I think it really shows the beauty and importance of education. 

My 2019 Summer Reading List

6. Rules for Visiting: A Novel by Jessica Francis Kane

Rules for Visiting is all about a woman’s journey to reconnect with friends. May Attaway realizes she’s become more and more secluded—surrounded by plants and oblivious to the outside world—but once she’s granted a long leave from work, she decides to reconnect with four of her once-close friends, going beyond the digital, seemingly-perfect smokescreen of social media and into their very real, sometimes messy, lives.

My 2019 Summer Reading List modern decor

7. Bohemian Modern by Emily Henson

I’m a bit of a bohemian at heart and I love pulling together beautiful inspirational home decor ideas. This book brings those two joys together perfectly, exploring all the elements that make a home eclectic and colorful. 

Designer Spramani Elaun loves the hohemian modern look
Bohemian Modern Look

Get Artsy With a Cute Summer Tote Bag!

My 2019 Summer Reading List

Yolanda Fe Designs

By the way, if you need a tote to carry all your books around with you this summer, check out these gorgeous ones by Yolanda Fe Designs! Yolanda is a good friend of mine—we go way back!—and I’m so excited that she’s now painting and sharing her artworks in such a cute, fashionable way. It’s a stylish way to help support an artist, and perfect for toting your summer reads to the beach, park, or BBQ.

My 2019 Summer Reading List
My 2019 Summer Reading List

I share this reading list (updated each year, of course) on my blog and in my newsletter just once a year, and load it with the books I’m reading or fell in love with over the past few months. The rest of the year, I’m sharing valuable lessons on how to teach art and prepare art lessons in the Montessori classroom. So, if you haven’t already, make sure you sign-up for my Newsletter! That way you won’t miss a post and you’ll be able to teach art without any stress.

3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Sign-up to receive video

The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.

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4th of July Fireworks Coloring & Painting | Kids Art Activity

fireworks 4th of July Coloring & Painting
4th of July Fireworks Coloring & Painting | Kids Art Activity

Happy American Independence Day!

I hope you’re enjoying your summer and that you’re spending today with friends and family! Whether you’re at a BBQ, heading to the beach, or trying to keep your dog calm during fireworks, I hope your July 4th is amazing! Of course, I love to bring art into everything I do, so I wanted to share a quick, easy, 4th of July craft for kids with you!

This week during my summer art camp, I kind of stumbled onto this activity, and was so excited with the results! All you need is paper, crayons, paint brush, and black watercolor paint. It’s easy to set up (so you can get back to grilling or making a fancy 4th of July cocktail, see below!) and the kids love being able to make their own fireworks. What I love most about this activity is that it actually teaches kids a simple artist technique called wax resist.

Here in American we celebrate our country’s independence on July 4th. Families and friends usually gather around and celebrate with a BBQ, potluck, time at the beach, popsicles or fireworks. I know that as a Montessori teacher, the last thing you want to do over the summer—let alone a holiday—is to teach an art lesson, but this one is super easy and you’ll be the star of the party for keeping kids happily occupied as they make these creations.

fireworks 4th of July Coloring & Painting

Firework Coloring & Painting Activity

The basic idea is that black paint over crayon marks create a really cool color pop image. The wax from the crayons resist the paint’s pigment, so those marks end up standing out against the dark color.

4th of July Kids Art Activity

Materials:

  • Thick white paper (watercolor paper or cardstock)
  • Black paint — tempera, watercolor, acrylic, or any other kind of kids’ grade paint (you will need to thin the paint down to a watery consistency)
  • Paintbrush
  • Crayons (preferably red, white, and blue, but any colors will work)

Coloring & Painting Tips

Tip: Be sure to use lots of white crayon marks as you doodle, this is the best part! You won’t see it as you’re drawing because it’s white markings on white paper, but when you paint, it’ll “magically” show up.

Steps:

  1. Doodle with crayon
  2. Paint over the whole paper with black paint
  3. Dry

Let kids have fun with this. You can even make flags to decorate your home or picnic tables.

4th of July Fireworks Coloring & Painting | Kids Art Activity and summer drinks

Blueberry Coconut Sparkler

I found this recipe on Spiced. It’s a beautiful and festive drink that brings the red, white, and blue. It also incorporates fresh fruit, so you can call it healthy if you want. 😉

If you’re making this drink to share with kids, just leave out the rum!

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups fresh blueberries
  • 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup coconut rum (optional)
  • 2 1/2 cups ginger ale
  • Ice
  • Coconut Flakes (optional garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Muddle the blueberries in the bottom of a medium bowl.
  2. Add the lemon juice and coconut rum and stir until well combined
  3. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the mixture and discard the blueberry skins.
  4. Add the ginger ale and gently stir until combined.
  5. Garnish rims of glasses with coconut flakes (optional).
  6. Fill glasses with ice and add the drink, then top off with a few fresh blueberries.
  7. Enjoy!

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Sign-up to receive video

The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.

Check out my Kids Painting Book:

arts and craft book by Spramani Elaun

Spramani’s Books

Teach children visual arts

Art Book Shop

Curriculum For Children

Get step-by-step art curriculum to teach visual arts. Check out our 4 art curriculums:
Painting
Drawing
Color Theory
Clay Modeling

Buy Art Curriculum

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.