Montessori Clay Play has been found to have positive effects on emotional well-being. Playing with clay can help children regulate stress levels. Playing with clay provides a highly tactile and sensory experience. As children squeeze, press, and manipulate the clay, they are actively engaging their senses. Sending valuable sensory information to their brain.
However, the benefits of clay play extend far beyond the realm of sensory development. In fact, there are numerous cognitive advantages associated with this activity. Montessori education highlights the importance of hands-on learning. Clay play aligns perfectly with the Montessori philosophy. In my early childhood art guide, I discuss this topic and provide more insights into clay play for emotional health. You can learn more by reading about the benefits of clay play in my early childhood book.
The important thing to understand about clay play is that it should be a process-based activity, providing children with ample time to freely play and explore clay. There are various ways to engage children in exploring clay.
Including the use of simple tools such as natural elements, beads, seeds, rolling pins, and cookie cutters. Emphasizing the play aspect of clay play is crucial. Allowing children to take the lead in their learning and discoveries. By letting the child guide the fun, experiments, and creations, you can enhance their clay experience.
Montessori Art and Craft | Benefits of Clay Play
When to start clay lessons
Once children have had ample opportunities for clay play and have reached the age of 4 or 5. You can begin introducing clay modeling skill sets. This includes teaching them forms, attaching pieces, cutting, and carving. If you would like to learn more about my clay curriculum you can view the Clay Modeling Curriculum HERE. Order Clay Play Tools HERE
Clay Play Classes in San Diego with Spramani Elaun – Nature of Art® School
Where To Start Clay Play
Unsure of where to begin with clay play? Perhaps you’ve struggled with determining the desired outcome of art activity? Allow me to shed some light on the importance of early childhood clay play sessions.
In fact, I refer to this approach as “Clay Play.” Engaging in type of play offers numerous benefits for a child’s overall development. When it comes to clay play, this process-based exploratory approach should always come first! Clay play should happen before getting into foundational clay modeling lessons.
Montessori Art and Craft | Benefits of Clay Play
I recommend incorporating clay play for young children in early childhood education. Montessori schools and daycare centers can introduce clay modeling stations into their classrooms to provide children with the opportunity to explore.
Plus support creative and cognitive skills. To learn more about setting up clay modeling environments, please refer to this comprehensive guide Monessori Early Childhood Art Guide.
Montessori Clay Play
Clay comes in various forms, ranging from very messy to less messy options. Additionally, clays can be homemade. Earth clay, in particular, is a wonderful material to introduce to children, similar to making mud pies.
If you’re interested in setting up earth pottery clay play stations, I recommend checking out this book. It contains numerous photos and examples illustrating how to arrange clay play. How to choose suitable clay play materials for children aged 3-6 years old.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
You know visual art education is valuable, however you might not know where to even start. Traditional Montessori certification does not offer how-to create art curriculum or how children really learn visual arts cognitively. Nature of Art® the Science Art Method@ offers Montessori Art Certification with online courses and live professional development internationally.
Do you dream of having organized art lessons throughout the school year?
Do you want art projects to support your most important Great Lessons, within the Cosmic Education?
Do you want your students to have work that leads to innovative thinking and independence?
No prior art knowledge is required to get trained!
Do you want to do all this without any stress??
Montessori Options:
Get art certified to bring art literacy into the classroom in less than 7 weeks!
Choose from two online training options:
1. Self-paced video training (No certification included)
2. Video training, art certification, one-on-one coaching, and practicum
7 Week Online Digital Course (3 year access!)
Who is This Program For
This training is for anyone who wants to learn how to teach children art lessons or take their art skills and learn how to apply them to teaching children in a Montessori setting.
All types of teachers
This course is designed for guides working with students in early childhood, ages 3-6 or 6-12. It’s a premium online training course that provides focused and up-to-date professional development. Teachers and parents with no Montessori certifications can also register. No prior art training is required.
Art Teaching Blueprint is comprehensive and broad in scope. It lays the foundation for understanding how children learn art, allowing you to start implementing art lessons into your classroom.
Improve your teaching skills with a focused visual arts teaching curriculum guided by an expert with 30 years of experience in art instruction.
International Art Teacher & Author Spramani Elaun
About Instructor:
Spramani Elaun is an author and art curriculum developer from San Diego California. She is a art teacher with a science art methodology. Her success is led by observations and real-life practice of how children cognitively and sensorially process art over thirty years. She is the founder of Nature of Art® Art school & Art supply company, Art Teaching Blueprint Montessori Certification Training.
Spramani holds degrees in Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Communications, Print Media, and Fine Arts. She has published several art education books and five sequential art curriculums for early childhood, lower, and upper elementary levels. AMS annual conference and frequently travels internationally for in-service training.
Get Montessori Art Training
Many international Montessori schools and training centers offering Montessori certification have utilized our art in-service personal development training, online course, art curriculums, and consultancy services. Some of our valued customers include The Montessori Accreditation Council on Teacher Education (M.I.T.E), The American Montessori Society (AMS), Association Montessori International (AMI).
Teaching art doesn’t have to be stressful (and you don’t have to be an artist to do it)!
“I train you over 7 weeks with my proprietary Science Art Method®“
“When you complete the Art Teaching Blueprint, you will have the confidence to start teaching and creating Montessori art curriculum for your school.”
This training meets the national and international core arts standards for children. The Art Teaching Blueprint covers the Elements and Principles of Design, the artistic process, and Spramani Elaun’s proprietary Science Art Method® and her carefully crafted teaching system of sequences.
Nature of Art® Science Art Method uses 3 key components :
Visual Perception (the visual cortex)
Cognation (Cognitive Neural Network Model)
Phases of Art Development (gross – Fine-motor development)
Common Montessori struggles
“Learning how to motivate kids to explore art and understanding how to work with different age groups.”
I learned how to simplify my art lessons, and that sculpting and building adds to the young artists 3-dimensional understanding. I have also learned that the process is just as or more important than the masterpiece. I have implemented reflection times into my classes as well, which helps me observe how they create and learn more about my students.“
Kaelee R. – Montessori Guide
Here’s what we’ll cover in 7 weeks:
Lecture 1: Identifying what a quality visual art education is for children (8 videos totallying 40 minutes)
Introduction to visual arts
International art standards
Art language
Teaching Areas of Focus
Artist Techniques
Art Materials
The Artistic Process
Spatial & Dynamic Art Understanding
Lecture 2: How children learn visual arts, Proprietary Science Art Method® (10 videos, total 54 minutes)
I share the important patterns I recognized in my 20+ years of teaching visual arts to children. This lecture is all about connecting the science to how kids use their senses to evolve into artists.
3 key components parts to learning visual arts:
Visual Perception
Cognative Art Processing
Gross to Fine-motor
Phases of Art Development
Lecture 3: How to teach children visual arts (11 videos totalling 45 minutes)
I explain what art skills and teaching methods help make children become successful artists. This includes my proprietary system of sequences to help nurture creative development.
Process-based
Choice-based
Copy-Mode
Creative-Mode
Art Teaching Practices
Lecture 4: Complete art supply & materials list, seasoned practical tips (7 videos total 56 minutes)
Here’s where we get practical! You will learn about the best art supplies to use for teaching each area of visual arts.
Medium
Materials
Demonstrations
Shopping List
Art Supply Prompts
Lecture 5: Art environment (9 videos, totallying 40 minutes)
Set-up
Art Environment
Managing mess
Storage
Staging
Staging a Montessori art shelf
Lecture 6: Staging a Montessori art shelf (10 videos, total 50 minutes)
A well-staged art shelf can be super powerful! You’ll learn how to set up your art supplies and art shelf to support on-going art literacy and active, engaged, self-learning.
Staging
Material Themes
Focused Group
Independent work
Guided Lessons
Presentation & Demonstration Tip
Lecture 7: Art lessons & planning formulas
This final lecture will help get you in the right mindset to start teaching your students with confidence!
Art Lesson Framework
Art Lesson Development
Scheduling Formula
Art Observation
Making it Montessori
Art Albums
Art Assessment Guides
New trainings added this summer!
Lecture 8: Making it Montessori (1 video)
How to make visual art literacy integrate with the Montessori Pedagogy. Topics:
Sensitive periods
Sensory
Environment
Staging
Montessori Curriculum
Lecture 9: Art Observing (1 video)
Learn what we observe in visual art development, how to use the observation cycle to observe, take notes , assess, and modify art lessons.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
In today’s Montessori classrooms, students often miss out on opportunities to express their thoughts and emotions about artworks. However, your classroom can be an exceptional environment for empowering students to develop critical thinking skills and proficiency in the language of art. By encouraging students to engage in open discussions and reflective exercises, you can enhance their communication skills and foster a deeper understanding of art while also meeting art standards. Emphasizing the importance of self-expression and thoughtful analysis creates a nurturing space to support language development.
Critical thinking with art elements
When we look at art, we usually focus on what we see. But it’s also important to talk about art with friends, family, and teachers. As art teachers, we can help students understand how different elements of art fit together. This means they can learn words to describe their own artwork, like colors and textures. For example, they might say, “I used light blue in the background of my picture and made wavy lines to show clouds.” By using these special art words, students can explain their choices and practice language development.
Art language includes specialized vocabulary for discussing art, such as elements like colors, shapes, lines, and the emotions evoked by artworks. Teaching art language in the classroom provides students with a valuable tool for expressing their thoughts and ideas more effectively. Engaging students in discussions about art not only enhances their ability to communicate but also fosters their overall language development. Through the exploration and use of art terminology, students can expand their expressive capabilities, broaden their understanding of artistic concepts, and develop a deeper appreciation for the power of language in the realm of art.
Visual Arts and Brain Development
Using the language of Visual Arts can also have a profound impact on brain development! When children create art, their brains are buzzing with neural activity. Not only have neuroscientists, science researchers, and art therapists recognized the correlation between early childhood art and brainpower, but my own two decades of studio-based observations have reaffirmed these findings. Through art, children have the opportunity to enhance their cognitive abilities and bolster their brain function. By encouraging and supporting their artistic endeavors, we can simultaneously nurture their intellectual growth and language development. Art truly has the power to shape young minds in remarkable ways!
How to Get Started Teaching Visual Art Language:
If you’re looking to enhance your art education skills, my book “Defining Visual Arts” is a must-have resource. This book is specifically designed to provide a solid foundation in art literacy. Inside its pages, you’ll discover valuable insights, including:
The true meaning of art literacy
How to align with art standards
The connection between artist language and teaching children
Suitable art projects for different age groups
Recommended art mediums for children
The intricacies of teaching artist techniques
The importance of spatial understanding in the visual arts
A comprehensive understanding of the artistic process
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 foreignlanguage 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.
I’m excited to share a little secret with you about having an engaging art lesson opener. However, at times, we tend to overlook its significance, and that’s something we need to change. As educators, it’s imperative that our lesson openers not only pique interest but also align with our students’ existing knowledge. If the opener fails to captivate or doesn’t resonate with the students, its impact dwindles. My art method is firmly grounded in this principle; I love connecting art lessons with what my students are already familiar with or studying in the classroom! In some educational approaches, anticipatory sets are used in a similar manner. So I’m excited to dive into the power of anticipatory sets and how they can energize your classroom.
What Exactly Are Anticipatory Sets?
In simple terms, anticipatory sets function like a warm-up or introduction to prepare you for something exciting. Just like stretching before exercising or watching a movie trailer before the main film, anticipatory sets serve to prime your mind, ignite curiosity, and generate excitement about what’s in store for your learning journey. In the realm of education, anticipatory sets are activities or prompts that teachers employ at the start of a lesson to activate your prior knowledge, stimulate curiosity, and get you enthusiastic about what you’re going to learn. It’s like setting the stage for a fantastic learning experience!
Sadly, in some lessons, anticipatory sets are absence, which can lead to boredom or disengagement among students. Anticipatory sets effectively convey what students will be learning that day, which can fuel their engagement. We need to infuse creativity and engagement into our openers. For instance, we can kick things off with a short video highlighting a artist, delve into an intriguing news article, or foster interactive discussions. Technology, such as an appealing slideshow, can peek interest!
Engaging Art In The Classroom
Now, let’s delve into the process of creating engaging art starters (Anticipatory Sets). Before crafting one, it’s a fantastic idea to gauge your students’ existing knowledge. You can accomplish this by asking them questions or conducting surveys. Simply inquire about their familiarity and interests related to the topic.
Furthermore, strive to establish a connection between the opener and your students’ lives. What’s currently capturing their interest or fascination? You can unearth ideas by exploring online resources or staying updated with the latest news.
Here’s where the fun begins – let your creativity soar! Think outside the box and devise unique ways to present your opener. When developing it, consider drawing comparisons between the new material you’re introducing and concepts your students are already acquainted with. This helps them forge connections and deepen their comprehension.
Easy Anticipatory Ideas
Here are some fun easy to use an anticipatory set to introduce an art project:
Artifacts and Props: Begin by gathering intriguing artifacts or props relevant to the upcoming art project. For instance, if your project involves clay sculpting, display small clay sculptures or pottery pieces in the classroom.
Mystery Box
Mystery Box: Introduce a mystery box adorned with colorful wrapping paper, placing it at the center of the classroom. Share with the students that it holds a special surprise connected to their art project.
Sensory Exploration
Sensory Exploration: Launch the anticipatory set by allowing students to explore the displayed artifacts and props. Encourage them to touch, smell, observe, and interact with these objects. Pose open-ended questions like, “What do you notice about these sculptures? How do they feel? What do they remind you of?”
Predictions and Discussion
Predictions and Discussion: Following the sensory exploration, facilitate a class discussion where students can share their observations and make predictions regarding the art project based on the artifacts and props. Encourage them to employ their imaginations and make educated guesses about the upcoming activity.
Unveiling the Surprise
Unveiling the Surprise: This is my favorite!, unveil the mystery box to reveal the materials or tools required for the art project. Explain the connection between the artifacts and props and the project, detailing how students will have the opportunity to create their own artworks inspired by these items.
By using an anticipatory set, you’ve sparked curiosity, engaged their senses, and generated excitement for the forthcoming art project. In my art teaching method, I use inspiration to set up an art shelf, creating the same type of student curiosity. If you want to learn more about this topic, order my books and curriculum HERE.
I hope these suggestions and tips will inspire you to approach openers with creativity!
And remember, integrating art lessons with other academic subjects can create a comprehensive learning experience.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
I bet you’re excited and ready to start planning! There’s so many things you can start prepping for to make your teaching experience go smooth. These tips will help if you are new to teaching art, or even a couple years into it. If you are new or this is your first year starting an art program for Montessori Children this is the perfect place to get started. I’ll be sharing many resources here and tips in this blog.
Here’s what you should be prepping:
Building lesson plans & art curriculum
Art Scheduling & time segments
Getting your art supply list together
Ordering art supplies
Planning art storage
How to assess student skill-sets
Art procedures & routines
Art Project Make & Take
Building lesson plans and art curriculum honestly requires a bit of preparation and a basic understanding of your students’ learning capabilities. It can be challenging, even stressful, to create art lessons without prior experience in art. The common belief is that we should teach students about classical Masters and advanced Elements and Principles of Design from the start, but that’s not always necessary!
Students often find it difficult to grasp complex concepts without a solid foundation in simpler art lessons. Begin by focusing on the fundamental art elements; while there are many more to explore, starting with these basics for the initial months of art lessons is beneficial.
Start With Easy Art Concepts
Start by teaching very basic art elements such as:
LINE
SHAPE
COLOR
FORM
The Elements and Principles of Design teach children how to communicate what they see in their artworks, as well as how to describe their process.
Art Scheduling & Time Segments
Trust me when I say I understand every teacher has a different schedule! Some may have 15 minutes to teach, and even have to see hundreds of children in one day. I’ve taught all these situations on an art cart, moving from one classroom to another.
So the most important thing is to ask yourself, what do you want to teach your students this year”? What mediums and techniques are important to teach this year? When you put some thought into this, you can plan lessons and time segments with purpose! For children to experience meaningful art lessons it has to take time.
If you see students once or twice a month, but only have limited time, its still plenty of time, so don’t worry! Plan out the sessions it will take to teach each new concepts.
Here’s an example of what I mean;
Collaging –The focus would be to teach how to cut, glue, and paste. And also learn how to arrange in space, learn balance, and composition ideas. This should take around 4 to 5 segments to teach.Time to introduce idea, explore mediums, have time to creat in a process-based way.
How Long Should An Art Lesson Be?
My guide and rule for figuring this timeline out has to do with following The artistic process and the students’ cognitive processing, this is based on my science art method. An art lesson has 3 main parts to it, you can time art lessons out by my formula:
1. Setting–up
2. Artistic Process (Creative discovery, planning, and constructing)
3. Clean- up and storage
Timing mostly depends on the age of your student. If you are working with early childhood – toddler students, then you will be the person doing all the setting–up and clean–up. So the time of the art lesson will be much shorter. You might be teaching preschool ages and want them to learn setting- up and the clean-up process. So you will add in those times for 3-6 years.
Elementary ages will be more independent and most likely be in charge of their setting–up and clean–up, plus storing their own projects. But, if you are a teacher that is limited on time, you can do this part to move classes in and out quicker. I talk a lot about this in my professional development workshops on how to manage art lessons with limited school schedules.
Example:
Toddlers 15 – 20 minutes
Preschool 3-6 age 20 – 40 minutes
Lower elementary grades 30 – 40 minutes
Upper elementary 1 hour
Getting your art supply list together
Start making your wish list. You can use a amazon wish list. You can start taking advantage of back to school sales. You can start planning for the first few months of school and only pick up quality art materials. One of the most costly supplies you will need is drawing and painting papers!
Now is the time to start keeping an eye for good deals. Grab your cell phone and create your shopping list. You want to have that it inncase you’re shopping and need to remember what’s on that list. But nows the time!
Ok, next week I’ll dive into the other topics:
Ordering art supplies
Planning art storage
How to assess student skill-sets
Art procedures
Art Project Make & Take
The truth is you CAN present art lessons without being an artist! Isn’t that great news!? You don’t have to be an artist to teach art literacy and concepts. (But I do have an online course, Art Teaching Blueprint, that does train you in how to teach art if you’re interested!)
Want to learn more start by ordering these books for more specific knowledge:
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Earn 7 hours of professional development in visual arts education. Gain proper art literacy training to set up your classroom. Watch all 6 videos this summer. No more guessing on what art lessons you should be teaching!
There’s a lot of art advice out there that is not tailored to teach YOU proper art literacy for children. I’ve spent years designing curriculum and training courses to assist Montessori guides in effectively teaching art lessons to children. I have designed thissummer art video bonus to help you get on the right track!
When you purchase this 6-video set, you will also receive an invitation to a special Q&A session with me. This session aims to address all your questions and demonstrate the correct art materials to incorporate into your classroom. The live session is scheduled for mid-August (date TBA), allowing you ample time to watch and absorb the videos beforehand.
In this pre-recorded 20-minute training, Spramani explains the essential areas young children should learn in visual arts and discusses why it is important to teach these skills in the 21st century.
The Art Lessons You Should Teach First!
In this pre-recorded 1-hour training, Spramani delves into what Montessori art guides should prioritize teaching first. She outlines the key areas to focus on, provides examples of art lessons, and offers insights on what to present and demonstrate to children who are new to learning art. Gain access to a wealth of professional art teaching advice in this comprehensive session.
How to Theme Art & The Natural World
Embark on a journey of discovery with Spramani in this enlightening 3-part video series spanning 2 hours. Discover how to engage your child outdoors, fostering scientific and artistic observation skills. Uncover the power of using art in conjunction with Montessori subjects to ignite a curiosity for the natural world and enhance knowledge. Learn how art lessons can intricately represent diverse aspects of Montessori topics found in nature, including seasons, soil layers, energy, rocks and minerals, fossils, landforms, water, flora, fauna, and the atmosphere.
How to Stage A Montessori Art Shelf In this 1-hour pre-recorded video, Spramani shares her: – Proprietary staging system for Montessori classrooms – How to stage to meet the arts standards – What types of materials to stage – How to support group and independent work, and much more!
Positive Artful Ways To Talk To Your Students
She shares examples of how these conversations should sound, drawing upon her 30 years of experience in positively and supportively engaging with students to encourage creative expression as an art facilitator.
Watercolor Joy
In this 1-hour video, Spramani shows you which watercolor paints to use for teaching children. She provides you with all the tips on what to buy, how to set up, and how to prepare for watercolor process-based activities. Great if you are curious.
Get instant access to all 6 videos. Enjoy a 3-year viewing window, giving you ample time to delve into the pre-recorded live sessions led by the esteemed art teacher, Spramani Elaun.
Whether you choose to watch on your phone, tablet, or desktop, these videos are available for your convenience anytime, anywhere. Get the necessary training to start art programming in your classroom.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
Whether your child attends a Montessori school, or you are starting to homeschool using Montessori curriculum, one area you should consider teaching is visual arts.
Art is an often-overlooked aspect of Montessori education today. Even traditional Montessori classrooms struggle with providing art literacy.
Art Space Benefits
Teaching art lessons has a ton of benefits that go beyond beautiful art. There are some other important reasons to create an art environment in your home and give art lessons regularly. For example, art:
Supports problem-solving skills
Develops gross- and fine-motor skills
Supports implicit memory
Increases spatial awareness
Helps children regulate stress
Setting up an art environment might seem overwhelming if you don’t know how to teach art.
Have you dreamed of your child creating beautiful artwork but have no idea where to get started? As a first step, I recommend deciding on a place for your Montessori homeschool art space environment.
The secret to a good art environment is creating a space for working, uninterrupted. Additionally, you will want a space that offers children the freedom to explore and express ideas. After all, if you give them a space to make art, they will create!
Before we go into my art space tips, here’s a little perspective: If you don’t have a shelf filled with books, you won’t raise readers. You won’t raise a writer if you don’t have pens, papers, or a dictionary handy. So, guess what? You won’t raise an artist when you don’t have an art space filled with art supplies!
ART ENVIRONMENT FEATURES
As an art studio designer, art teacher, and homeschooler, I have had numerous opportunities to create various Montessori art spaces. Here are the essential components I recommend for every Montessori home art environment:
Table: All activities should be conducted on a flat surface.
Chair: In addition to a sturdy table, children require a safe place to sit while working.
Floor Covering: This protects your floors from spills.
Light Source: A good light source is essential for children to work with colors effectively.
Storage: Art storage solutions vary in shapes and sizes, ranging from baskets, jars, plastic bins, shelves, to an art closet.
Sink: While the sink doesn’t need to be directly in the art space, it should be nearby and easily accessible. You can utilize a sink in a bathroom or kitchen for washing materials and hands.
WHERE SHOULD YOUR FAMILY’S ART SPACE BE?
Because an art space doesn’t need to be elaborate, you can set it up anywhere in your home. You can dedicate an entire room as an art space or choose a corner of your child’s bedroom, the family living room, the yard, the basement, or kitchen.
One of my dear homeschool-mom friends set up a simple desk for her children in her kitchen. I loved seeing what her daughter would create when I visited for tea!
My own children’s art spaces have transitioned throughout the years. They moved around to different spots in our home. Now, my daughter likes to draw and paint in her bedroom, although when she was young, the kitchen table was where she liked to do art.
Before you unleash your little Picasso, be sure you and your child agree on the space where art will take place (the art environment). This is important! When I first started homeschooling, I was lax with this rule. Messes spread around our home. Eventually, my children stained my nice couch with paint and markers. Soon after, I decided there was only one space where art making was allowed!
PLANNING A MONTESSORI HOMESCHOOL ART SPACE ENVIRONMENT
Art space features to consider:
Where will the art space location stay?
Where will your child access their own art supplies?
Where will out-of-reach art supplies be stored?
Where will unfinished artworks be kept?
Where will artworks dry?
Which space will display current creations (home gallery)
Which sink will you allow your child to use to wash out paint, palettes, messy glue, and hands?
DESIGNING AN ART SPACE FOR INDEPENDENCE
You can support your child’s independence in the way the art space is prepared ahead of time. When planning this space, be sure it aligns with their level of fine-motor abilities. Arrange and prepare art materials that are easy for your child to reach but not for any toddler siblings to reach. Create a space with freedom of movement in mind. For children to become independent, there must be plenty of space to create freely.
Plan to demonstrate how the materials should be set up and put away. Also, plan to show your child how the mediums work and how to use them respectfully. I know when I have prepared an art space for independence, children can flow in and out of creative moments without me having to facilitate each activity.
For example, if I create a space for children to watercolor, I store materials in a handy way for them to gather, set up, and create. Eventually, they learn to set up and clean up without my assistance. Yes, I’m around for questions and new technique demonstrations, but my students feel like the space is an open, creative studio for creation when everything is initially set up for independence.
ART MATERIALS AND SUPPLY STORAGE
Storage can be challenging, particularly when your entire family shares a living space or workspace. Ensure you establish a system to store art supplies that children cannot access. Numerous art supplies can stain and pose hazards to younger siblings. It is simple for little ones to grab paints and transport them to areas where you wouldn’t want stains. You can store smaller plastic bins in cabinets or larger bins in a garage.
I trust that I have offered helpful tips and the information you require to set up your child’s at-home art room space.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
In the Montessori approach, art holds significant importance as it plays a crucial role in a child’s overall development. Here are some key points highlighting why art is important in Montessori schools.
Self-Expression : Art provides a medium for children to express themselves freely, exploring their thoughts, emotions, and ideas. It encourages them to tap into their own creative own unique artistic voice. Read more on creataive expression here.
Tactile & Sensorial : Art activities in the Montessori environment often involve hands-on experiences. This provides sensorial neural messages for cognitive wiring and memory. Read more on tactile sensory art here.
Fine Motor Development: Engaging in art activities builds fine-motor movement. They learn to control their hand movements, develop hand-eye coordination, and strengthen their manual dexterity. Read more on fine motor development here.
Concentration and Focus: Art tasks in Montessori require sustained attention and concentration. Children learn to get into flow stages of mind. Immersing themselves in the creative process, fostering their ability to concentrate on tasks. Watch my free 1 hr. video training on art flow and normalization here.
Observation Skills: Art activities encourage children to observe the natural world around them, paying attention to details, colors, shapes and space.
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Engaging in art allows children to explore different solutions and make creative decisions. They learn to think critically, solve artistic problems, and make choices that reflect their artistic process.
Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: Through art, children have the opportunity to explore various artistic styles, techniques, and cultural arts. They develop an appreciation for diverse artistic traditions and gain insights into different cultures.
Emotional Development: Art serves as a means for children to express and process their emotions. It provides them with a safe outlet for self-expression and emotional release, fostering emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Learn more about emotional literacy and art journaling here.
Confidence and Self-Esteem: When children engage in art, they experience a sense of accomplishment. This boosts their self-esteem, self-confidence, and belief in their own abilities.
Integration of Learning: Art is integrated into the broader Montessori curriculum, connecting it with various subjects such as language, math, science, and cultural studies. This integration allows children to make connections between different areas of learning and fosters a holistic understanding of the natural world. Sign up to learn how to integrate art lessons with Montessori nature science lessons here.
Art Important in Montessori Schools
Montessori Art Lessons For Early Childhood
By recognizing the importance to why visual arts is important to Montessori schools. You can provide children with:
How to Start Brining Art Into Your Montessori Schools:
Introducing “Early Childhood Montessori Art Guide” Book
Visual Arts Teaching Guide for 13 Months – 6 Years Old
✅ Proper and Complete List of Art Materials
✅ Staging and Environment Set-up Guide
✅ Tips and Art Lesson Ideas
✅ Paperback & Digital
For the longest time, teachers of early childhood students have been told, “young kids can’t learn art.” And based on that misinformation, as well as out-of-date art teaching practices, you might be thinking that’s true too.
Toddlers and early childhood students CAN learn art!
It all comes down to HOW you teach them. After years of observing art, I’ve developed my very own teaching method that engages and excites young children; it introduces them to art in a way that makes sense to their little developing brains.
As a Montessori teacher, you know it can be overwhelming to choose the right fun art activities. But, that is why I’m here with some guidance on which Montessori art activities for The Great Lessons are appropriate for your classroom and enjoyable! Art activities related to The Great Lessons are my favorite to teach. Because they allow children to explore their imaginations and get creative in a concrete, meaningful way. From drawing explosions to painting supernovas, students can visualize and understand such a big concept.
Integrating Art Into Your Lessons
Integrating art with science helps children express ideas creatively, stimulates their senses, and provides tactile experiences. So when it comes to teaching the universe, there is no reason you can’t integrate art and science to have some fun. To get started, take a look at some of your classroom books for visual inspiration. One of my favorite books to use is “Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story” by Jennifer Morgan. The illustrations are colorful and beautiful and can be used for many art activities.
These activities can easily be adjusted to fit early childhood, lower elementary, or upper elementary classrooms. Older students will, of course, pay more attention to details, while the early childhood students will engage with these art activities in an open-ended fashion. Fun and fascinating science topics you can incorporate into art projects. Below are ten art projects that Montessori teachers can use to teach elementary students.
Art Ideas
1. Create a Cosmic Painting: Take your students on a journey through the universe with a cosmic painting activity. Discuss the Big Bang and the creation of the universe with your students, then have them create a painting depicting the birth of the universe.
2. Constellations: Give your students a chance to create their own constellations using paint or clay. Educate them on how the Big Bang gave birth to stars and how stars are the building blocks of constellations.
3. Paper Mache Planets: Introduce the concept of planets and solar systems by having your students make paper mache planets. You can use this opportunity to discuss the origins of planets and how they were formed following the Big Bang.
4. Galaxy in a Bottle: Encourage your students to learn about galaxies by creating a galaxy in a bottle. This can be a great way to explore the vastness of space and how galaxies form after the Big Bang.
5. Moon Phases Art: Discuss the moon phases and how they are caused by the changing position of the moon. Have your students create art that depicts the different phases of the moon using paint or chalk.
6. Starry Night Sky: Teach your students about stars by creating a starry night sky mural. This activity can help them learn about the different types of stars and how they are formed.
7. Cosmic Collage: Give your students an opportunity to create a cosmic collage by cutting out pictures of planets, stars, and galaxies from magazines and newspapers. Discuss the Big Bang and how all these celestial bodies came into existence.
8. Sun Catchers: Discuss the origins of our solar system’s star, the sun, and have your students create sun catchers using colorful tissue paper. This can be a great way to explore the different colors of the sun and how they are visible to us.
9. Universe Mobile: Make a universe mobile to showcase the Big Bang and the creation of our universe. Students can create planets, stars, and galaxies to hang from the mobile.
10. Astronaut Art: Discuss space travel and astronauts’ role in exploring space. Let your students create astronaut art that depicts them exploring the galaxies and space beyond, giving them a glimpse into the vast universe beyond our planet.
By incorporating these art projects into your Montessori lessons, your students can learn the vastness of space in a fun and interactive way.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
In this blog, I want to share my passion for combining art lessons with the natural world. I love sharing art activities that can be integrated with nature. It’s truly rewarding to witness children making connections to the natural world through flowers and insects and engaging in real learning like a scientist.
Influence Learning About The Environment
This hands-on art learning experience is memorable! There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing children deeply curious and excited about discovering our planet. As Montessori educators, you understand the immense benefits of exposing children to nature and fostering a sense of connection and responsibility towards the environment from a young age. This influence can have a profound impact that lasts a lifetime.
Understand Nature by Going Outdoors
However, it can be challenging to know where to begin this journey and lack the resources or knowledge about art lessons. Although the natural outdoor spaces available to us may vary greatly, ranging from parks, backyards, hiking trails to small farms and everything in between, what truly matters is taking the first step towards connecting with nature and getting them outdoors.
I recall that during the first half of my children’s homeschooling journey, we immersed ourselves in nature by going on hikes, gardening, planting flowers, collecting natural specimens, and visiting various natural spaces. There were so many opportunities to capture this learning and follow up with an art project. When I began teaching art classes in my home to my community, we took our drawing and painting activities outdoors! My students thoroughly enjoyed these outdoor sessions, sparking numerous engaging conversations about nature and biospheres.
Tips for combining art and the natural world:
Foster a Scientific Approach: Encourage your child to observe nature like a scientist would.
Artist’s Perspective: View nature through an artist’s eye, paying attention to shapes, textures, and elements.
Artistic Creations: Engage in creating art using natural materials.
Observation: Experiment with drawing, crafting, and painting representations of various natural elements like soil layers, energy, rocks, minerals, fossils, landforms, water, flora, fauna, and the atmosphere with fun art mediums.
Check out my top nature-based art blogs for more inspiration on blending art with the natural world.
Ensure your students delve into nature like true scientists with this Outdoor Journal Checklist. It covers everything they need to kickstart their exploration, from collecting specimens to observing nature, sparking inspiration for their artistic creations.
You can print it out or save it on your phone so you have it with you the next time you lead your students outside to journal.
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 foreignlanguage 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.
