Montessori Art The Essential Elementary Guide – Second Plane 6-12

by Spramani Elaun

Are you eager to teach your students Montessori art lessons, yet uncertain about where to begin or what constitutes quality art instruction?

Ready to dive into the world of elementary art?

Spramani Elaun, an author, International Montessori Art Trainer, and art curriculum developer, is here to guide you. With her sensory art method and expertise as the founder of Nature of Art® art school , she has empowered tens of thousands of students to explore painting and drawing.

With the world wide web and social media saturated with Montessori art projects, many guides find themselves at a loss.

Which Montessori art lessons should take precedence?

How do you select the right mediums?

Do you need to be an artist yourself to lead art lessons effectively?

A Primer for Montessori Guides

Montessori Art –The Essential Elementary Guide – Second Plane 6-12

About this book:

This comprehensive guide offers clear, concise, and practical insights on establishing an art program tailored for elementary-aged children in the Montessori environment. Designed as an essential reference for Montessorians, it provides guidance, instructions, tips, and best practices in a structured and accessible format.

Delving into key visual art concepts, the optimal sequence of essential steps, and valuable insights accumulated over Spramani’s three decades of experience, this book offers actionable advice aimed at supporting beginner teachers and parents alike.

By simplifying intricate ideas surrounding art lessons and subjects, addressing common questions, and tackling challenges head-on, this guide empowers Montessorians with the knowledge and resources necessary to excel as an art facilitator.

This Essential Second Plane 6-12 art guide will:

Cover the essential visual art standards
Identify foundational building blocks and key initial lessons
Show you how to select suitable art materials
How to set-up art environments
Set up a proper Montessori art shelf effectively
Learn what art elements should be taught in elementary grades
Master Effective Teacher Management
Implement optimal art routines
Create Engaging and Meaningful Art Projects
Understand the Benefits of Integrating Art into the Montessori Curriculum
Foster Positive Art Dialogue and Encouragement
Receive guidance on crafting comprehensive art lesson plans

This book caters to Montessori teachers, art instructors, and homeschooling parents, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in teaching art. By the end of this read, you’ll feel more confident and prepared to create a meaningful art program for elementary students.

Spramani shares foundational principles and practical examples drawn from her extensive 30 years of hands-on teaching experience. Her systems and processes streamline the art instruction process, making teaching art to children a rewarding and structured endeavor.

Embrace the vivid color pictures, rich examples, and insightful stories woven throughout this book to gain the confidence and support you need on your artistic teaching journey.

About the Author

Spramani Elaun is an author and art curriculum developer from San Diego California. She is a homeschooling mom, 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 twenty years. She is the founder of Nature of Art® Art school & Art supply company, Art Teaching Blueprint Montessori Certification Training Program. Spramani holds degrees in Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Communications, Print Media, and Fine Arts.

Other Books by Spramani Elaun

Montessori Art: Early Childhood Art Guide – Visual Arts Guide For Teaching 13 month olds – 6 years

Montessori Art – Esseintal Art Guide for Secondary 6-12 years

Early Childhood Art: Visual Arts Teaching Guide For 13 Months – 6 Years Old

Defining Visual Arts: Children’s standards for arts education, using the language of artist

Kids Color Theory: Contemparay color mixing guide with pigmented colorants for children.

Kids Painting: Teach young kids how to paint, materials & set-up guide

Clay Play: The natural art method that aligns with a child’s growth.

Nurturing Children in the Visual Arts Naturally

Introducing Visual Arts to The Montessori Classrooms: The natural art method that aligns with a child’s growth

September 28, 2023September 30, 2023

Montessori – Using Visual Arts to Support Language Development

By Spramani Elaun

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.

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.

Montessori - Using Visual Arts to Support Language Development, Art Lessons For Teachers

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.

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

[Order the book online HERE]

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.

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023

10 Fun Big Bang Art To Share With Your Montessori Students

By Spramani Elaun

Fun Big Bang Art To Share With Your Montessori Students, spramani art album

As a Montessori teacher, you know it can be overwhelming to choose the best art activities for your students. That’s why I’m here with some guidance on which Montessori art activities for Big Bang lessons are most appropriate for your classroom.

Art activities related to the Big Bang are some of my favorites to teach. 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 with science helps kids express ideas creatively, stimulates their senses and provides tactile experiences. And when it comes to teaching the universe’s and the Big Bang, there is no shortage of art inspiration.

To get started, take a look at some of your books for visual inspiration. One of my favorites is “Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story” by Jennifer Morgan. The illustrations are sure to inspire your students to create.

And for more ideas, download my top 5 Montessori Big Bang Art Activities. These activities can easily be adjusted to fit early childhood, lower elementary, or upper elementary classrooms. Click here to get started!

The Big Bang Theory is a fascinating science topic that Montessori teachers can incorporate into their art projects to make the learning experience interactive and fun. Below are ten art projects that Montessori teachers can use to teach elementary kids about the Big Bang Theory.

10 Fun Big Bang Art

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 about the Big Bang Theory and explore the vastness of space in a fun and interactive way.

Montessori Art Activities | Big Bang Art Lessons

Order my Montessori Art Books & Curriculum HERE

February 25, 2023February 26, 2023

Montessori Art Routines & Art Language Part 2.

Art Routines

Last week I started a series on the topic of art routines Part 1. By having routines in place you can stop chaos during art sessions. Having these routines in place has helped me in classroom management.

Art Smocks
Art Material Set-up
Art Language

Continuing on this topic I’m sharing my insights on art talk & the artist language we teach. If you are not familiar with what art language means, it’s how we describe artworks and our process. It’s art’s own language. You can learn more by reading these books Defining Visual Arts, or Early Childhood Art Guide.

Montessori Art Routines & Art Language Part 2.

Art literacy is not only about making art, but also teaching students how to communicate. Keep in mind I’ve been teaching children for over 30 years. These routines and expectations came together over a long period of time. So it will take time for you to practice.

Over the years I’ve had my share of students disrupting my art classes. At some point I reflected on the times I spent in fine art studios working with other artists. I wanted my teaching sessions with kids to have that same feeling of expressive openness. So I came to the conclusion that my role was not just to show them how to make art, but also how to behave and talk like an artist. I created fine art studio behavior models (art expectations).

Only communicate in art language
No negative peer critiquing
Observe like an Artist
Reading Instead of Disturbing

As a now roaming art specials visiting classrooms across the county, I use these with all ages from 3 – 12 years.

Only communicate in art language

This means you are talking about your art, your art process, or helping someone with their art. Not what you are eating for lunch, or what happened at recess. This is also how I can hear when my students are getting off track.

No negative peer critiquing

Unnecessary comments could affect a students confidence to express openly in the classroom. I make time to explain how acceptable critiquing is using art language. I explain that I will make time for open refection time. And any student can volunteer to share with the classroom their art. I describe what positive critiquing sounds like.

Example

Negative – “Why does that nose look like that, it looks weird!”

Vs.

Artful talk – “I noticed he used thick wavy green lines to create the nose. That’s not something I expected to see in his drawing.”

or ,

“I wonder why he put purple leaf shapes in his nature drawing, rather than making green shapes”.

You can model this type of art language with practice. If you would like to learn how to talk to children artfully, check out this mini art training course.

Observe like an artist

I explain that if they want to look at someone’s art, to walk quietly around them, and observe with eyes only. So not to interrupt a working artist. In fact I show my young students how to observe by putting their hand behind their back. The action is like they are viewing art in a museum, to not disturb the art. I explain it’s OK to be curious and look at everyone’s work, but observe like an artist.

Reading Instead of Disturbing

When a student is disturbing the classroom, I give them a choice. Join us in art, or dismiss yourself into reading quietly until we are done with art. This usually works because the student feels left out when everyone is enjoying art. Generally students usually ask to return back to art. I will ask if they agree to participate artfully, leaving it up to them.

Love to hear your feedback!

Warmly,

Spramani Elaun – Art Instructor

February 25, 2023February 26, 2023

Montessori Art Routines & Expectations– Part 1

I have been getting some good questions from parents and teachers about art routines. So I will be doing a 3 part series explaining my most successful Montessori art routines and expectations.

Art Routines

Art routines can help you not worry about prepping daily, plus stop classroom chaos! When students understand routines they know how to encounter the art space. When you design art routines there’s less guess work for the student. Plus children actually thrive and succeed with routines in place. Outlining routines lays the foundation for actions and expectations from your students.

Montessori art routines can be simple and last only minutes. While others may be complex with students working up to an hour. Children already have routines that start the minute they get out of bed each morning. Like brushing their teeth, dressing, eating, and getting to school. In most cases you usually have your students in routines at the start of the day. So why not set them up for art.

Today I will share what some of these routines look like. I’ll share two key important routines to start with, and the others in part 2 and 3 in this series:

Art Smocks
Art Material Set-up
Art Language
Process-Based
Creative Flow

Art Smock Routine

These routines have worked with tens of thousands of children I’ve worked with. The first expectation is that art is messy and I have a system in place to ensure messes don’t spread around the room. This system keeps wet mediums from spreading around the room or on clothes. I have this conversation before children touch any mediums. Here’s how that might sound.

“Today I thought I would introduce you to the art space I’ve designed to work in, and how to manage the artist materials. The art space is available to those who agree to follow my simple rules.”

With that agreement, then you can move into the smock demonstration.

I explain how messes accrue from spills, hands and splatters. I further explain how the space is designed to manage that type of mess. The first thing I do is introduce the artist’s smock (apron). I explain how artists wear a smock when working on art projects. I explain the function of a smock is to keep their clothes and hands clean. I explain when their hands become spoiled, they will use their smock to wipe them, kind of like a big napkin. I explain that artists do not go back and forth cleaning their hands while working. This helps to keep mediums from spreading around. They stay in their work space and use their smock to manage that type of mess.

I don’t have rags or napkins nearby to wipe with. This eliminates paint, glue or pigmented mediums from smearing around the space. Cleaning hands happens after everything is put away, and they are ready to transition out of art. Then I show them what this action looks like by wiping my hands on my smock. I also show them where to find their smock, how to put it on, and where to return it.

I recommend you have your students always wear a smock or art tee-shirt when working in these spaces. If they are working like an artist, they should dress like an artist. It may take time to implement. But if you keep reminding them, everyone in the class starts to behave artfully.

Material Set-up Routines

Set-up presentations are key and can support your students in many ways. By introducing these routines children will be able to set-up independently. This helps with getting into creative flow states. They will be able to construct and use the materials in artful ways. They will be able to clean-up the materials on their own. They will also take on the responsibility of leaving the materials ready for the next student to use.

So what type of material set-up routines should you introduce to your students:

How to gather art materials
The expectations of how they will work in the art space
How to use tools & mediums properly
Where to store artworks
How to clean up the materials
How to return them for the next student
How to transition out of the art space

Most art activities require students to get everything they need to construct. So beforehand you will need to decide which materials to stage for easy access. Group work is where you set-up stations for students to pick up their materials, or you pass them out. Independent work is when you stage the materials for students to collect on their own. Either way you will have to be sure everything is ready to access. For both you still want to explain the expectations and procedures and order of work flow.

Example: You will gather around the circle so I can discuss the art mediums, how they work, and show art technique. And even share some artist samples. Then direct when it’s their turn to get their materials. How long they work, and where to store completed artworks. How-to return the materials back to their station, how-to be dismissed to put their smock away and wash up.

After you have presented a few times, your students will understand these routines.

Diverse Learners

Chaos happens when students don’t understand their individual role. You might have diverse learners in your classroom. Some might be good at art, but not good at following the linear work flow. In this case you may need to group your diverse learners into a smaller group. To process the instructions slower giving them more time to go through the flow of the activity.

Some might get distracted or confused in larger group commotion. In this case I would recommend you set aside time to work with them in a slower smaller paced group.

You or an assistant can work throughout the work cycle showing them the steps. You may have to slow down every step. Showing them how each step looks like. Picking up the materials, working along side them, and how to store finished artworks. Even how-to gather and clean and return materials. Make time to answer their individual questions. You will eliminate the chaos and your studwents will fall into routines.

If you would like to know more about my art method, check out my books, curriculum and teacher professional development [PD] HERE.

Warmly,

Spramani Elaun – Art Instructor

January 5, 2023April 15, 2024

Montessori Art Activities | Color – Colour, Harold and The Purple Crayon Story Book

Some times it’s hard to think about how you’re going to teach art to Montessori early childhood children, but I promise it’s much more fun and easier than you think. And if you use a fun book to tell a story it becomes even more exciting

In this blog I want to share a fun idea I came up with in my art class. I have shared this idea on instagram and facebook and many parents, bloggers and Montessori guides have shared their inspired stories of how children loved this Montessori art activity using the story book Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Some Montessori parents have written me to say…

“We read the book together and I created a fun art space for drawing with different types of purple crayons, thank you for such a great idea, my daughter loved it!’
“My son loves doodling and this book was an instant hit, in fact he started to draw parts of the story!”
“My child loves purple, and this was such a fun adventure for them”.
“I loved how this was so easy to set up by just reading the book, and choosing purple art supplies we had around the house.”

One of my favorite things to do is combine children’s story books with art activities. If you would like to learn more on how to do this check out this free training How To Theme Art Activities With Story Books. This Montessori video training will show you how simple this concept can be.

Recently I had a chance to to take this into an 3-6 classroom in Vietnam. Wow what fun we had after story time.

Montessori Art Activities | Color – Colour, Harold and The Purple Crayon Story Book, spramani elaun — This is a classic book I’ve been using for years. The author of the book is Crocett Johnson. You can find this book in paperback and a thick board book. The children loved it so much in Vietnam that I left my copy and had to buy a new one!

To set up this Montessori art activity, all you have to do is find some purple drawing mediums like:

Crayons

Oil Pastels

Dot Stampers

Markers

Color Pencils

Paint

Ink Stamp

Tempera Paint Sticks

You can start with a purple crayon, but you can also use any color you want. Typically when I share this activity, my young students will sometimes choose other colors they like. Let your students choose any other color they like even if you only offered purple. You want to promote the idea of doodling and drawing.

Montessori Art Activities | Color – Colour, Harold and The Purple Crayon Story Book

Watch my mini video

drawing and doodling for montessori kids art activities with art teacher spramani elaun how to montessori

This is a great way to stage a montessori toddler art shelf and introduce the color purple.

If you are currently teaching your students colors, they will love this story.

This book is fun for all ages, not just for little kids. I use this book also with lower and upper Montessori elementary kids.

Children love reading the same story over and over, so you could read this book, and introduce a new color like orange, red or green.

Try to use lots of different mediums easy for children to control.

You can choose to use one color to isolate the concept.

I have a tray with lots of different color purple mediums in my examples above.

You can guide children to make lines, textures, patterns and simple shapes.

This is just a fun creative way to introduce an isolated color.

You can find this cute book Harold and The Purple Crayon – Story Book in book stores, barnes and nobles, amazon, used online book stores.

Order purple crayons here!

Order square block crayons here!

Order purple colour paint here!

Learn why I make square block crayons here!

Love to hear your feedback!

Blowing purple with a straw creates so many fun shapes.

Montessori Toddler Art Environment | Setting up, by Spramani Elaun

Montessori Toddler Art Activities | Staging Environment

September 25, 2022January 15, 2023

Montessori Elementary Art | How To Bring Art In To The Classroom

How to bring elementary art into the Montessori classroom

By Spramani Elaun

Every Montessori school should have an art environment. Whether an art shelf inside the classroom, dedicated classroom, or specials visiting. Elementary students should be engaging in some type of art. Allowing them to express creativity plus building basic skill sets. One of the reasons art programs exist is to expose children to different kinds of mediums. When exposed to different art activities students are likely to find the right art domain they enjoy. When children find the right art experience they enjoy, they become independent as they practice these skill-sets. When Montessori elementary students work independently they can also self regulate their own stress with hand work. Independent working students can also reach creative flow states! So where should you start with bringing Montessori elementary art into the classroom?

There’s six areas to focus on first:

Schedule Art
Choose Art Subjects
Teach Art Elements
Choose Art Mediums
Choose An Artist Technique
Teach Skill Building Foundations
Focus On Art Direct Aims

Schedule Montessori Art Lessons

Start with scheduling regular interactions with art making. Schedule daily, weekly or even bi weekly art lessons. Even bi monthly if your teaching schedule is super busy. I did this as a visiting Montessori art specials and I heard from Montessori guides how the children learned so much from just 4 visits! Once you have chosen the day, move to creating time segments. Be sure your timeline is specific to lower or upper elementary attention spans.

Art Subjects

Then move into deciding which visual art subjects you want to explore. I recommend choosing from my five art domains. Subjects like painting or color theory. Learn more about the 5 domains by buying: Defining Visual Arts Book HERE

Montessori Elementary Art | How To Bring Art In To The Classroom

Teach Art Elements

To meet the national art standards it’s important to teach children the Art Elements. The Art Elements cover things like line, color, shape – etc.

Each one of your art lessons should always focus on a key art element. I can’t stress enough how important this is to a solid art program. I meet many Montessori teachers not even aware of art literacy standards. Even the artistic process, or how-to scaffold art lessons, or what art sequences should come next. Learn more about the Art Elements by buying: Defining Visual Arts Book HERE

Mediums & Technique

Then the fun stuff starts by deciding on which mediums to experiment with first. This also includes what presentations and demonstrations to schedule. For example you could teach the subject of painting and focus on the watercolor medium. Then show children a crayon technique – wax resist marks. Or let’s say you decide to integrate a sensory craft with zoology. Like cutting sea life shapes from paper with a collage – technique.

Building Montessori Art Skill-Sets

The best advice I have for you is to teach how to set-up, clean-up, and prepare the environment for their next classmate, learning to complete the cycle in the Montessori way first is important. This supports independent work through the school year. Then foucs on building skill-sets and don’t waste time on the wrong type of art lessons. Like focusing on the Masters, copying images, or too much process- based art. Try not to focus lessons on copying the Masters artworks. These lessons can be lacking in developing independent art skill-sets or their own creativity. Montessori elementary students need the right order of skill-set lesson first.

Focus on Montessori Art – Direct Aims

The other important thing I want to share is even if you can’t draw or paint you can still teach proper art lessons. Your own refined skill-sets are not the focus. What’s important is knowing your direct aims. Direct aims like preparing the environment, and presenting the right order of demonstrations. Scheduling and choosing age appropriate art lessons. Indirect Aims will happen like – your students brainstorming or conjuring up original ideas. Even exploration that leads to the most optimal state of creative flow!

Teaching art can be intimidating without any basic knowledge or experience. But I’m here to tell you I’ve taught thousands of parents and teachers. I have lots of preparatory teaching methods easy for you to follow. But here’s a secret… you will learn right beside your students, I promise!

Art Professional Development

I invite you…

No matter what capacity of training you desire, I’ve built art teaching resources you can have access to!

Choose:

Art Lesson plans

Sequential Art Curriculum

Montessori Professional Development

Montessori In-service Training (email info@Spramani.com)

Montessori Art Certification

Custom Art Programing (email info@Spramani.com)

December 9, 2021January 2, 2023

Montessori Practical Life Activity | Winter Wrapping Paper Collage: Cut, Tear & Glue

Get ready to save all your wrapping paper scraps for a winter wrapping paper collage!
Bring them into the classroom and recycle them to give students the opportunity to create unique pieces of art. Ask your parents and students to collect their home wrapping paper scraps for this Montessori art activity.
This is one of the simplest Montessori practical life activities to keep kids busy. And while I put this into the winter art projects category, you can really do this any time of year, with any type of recycled scrap paper. This art activity is great for all ages, early childhood, lower and upper elementary.
And you can actually teach scaffold tasks while building essential foundational skill sets.

Coordination
Independence
Scissor cutting or tearing
Gluing & Pasting
Composition
Problem Solving

For more Montessori activities related to this project, download my Ultimate Winter Arts & Crafts Idea Guide and check out page 9.

Need more Collage ideas? Read my Collage Ultimate Montessori Collage Guide

Preparing the Environment for Wrapping Paper Collaging

Supplies

Wrapping paper scraps
Scissors
Glue
Paper
(Optional) pencil and eraser

How to:

There are so many reasons you want to give your students the opportunity to gather their own materials, one is truly allowing the child to work creatively. Gathering allows children to create their own individual creations. Second, this supports problem-solving skill sets. Children will go back and forth working out their design elements.

This project can be done two ways:
1. Let students choose the paper designs they want to work with.
Cut or rip pieces into different shapes.
Using these pieces, they can aim to create a specific object/design or keep it abstract.
Have them move the pieces around their paper and experiment with the design.
Once they’re happy with their image, have them glue the pieces onto their paper.
Or,
2. Have students decide on an image they want to create (fish, butterfly, face, mountains, etc.). Lightly draw an outline of the design onto their paper.
Cut the wrapping paper into shapes that will fit within their image.
Once they’ve put the pieces together to their liking, glue them onto their paper drawing.

Toddler/Early Childhood Group Collage

Gluing and pasting are essential art practices for young students that lead to advanced craft skills. Here is a simpler setup for early childhood grades as a group activity. You can have a couple of students working at one time, or have one student walk up to this activity table.
For more information on setting up for early childhood children, be sure to read my Early Childhood Art Collage Guide https://montessori-art.com/montessori-early-childhood-art-collaging/

Basic table set up steps:

Tape down a large paper filling up a tabletop
Tape masking tape down on paper into interesting sections so children can collage inside the open spaces
Prepare materials like wrapping paper scraps, glue, scissors in a basket or tray for children to reach easily
Demonstrate the movements of tearing, cutting, and gluing onto the large paper
When it’s fully covered, slowly pull take off, hang in the classroom as art the children can look at and be excited they took part in

Have fun creating your Winter Wrapping Paper Collage Art!

June 3, 2021April 23, 2022

How-to PAINT PAPER like Eric Carle | Montessori Art

A fun Montessori art activity: Paint paper like Eric Carle

Every summer, I host art camps in San Diego, and my students’ top favorite project to do with me is to paint papers! In this post, we will teach you how to paint paper and collage like artist and author Eric Carle.

So I thought I would share this fun Montessori art activity you could introduce to your students.

I like to give my students unusual tools, bright paint colors, different colored papers, and crazy things to make interesting textures and patterns.

This also prepares papers for future projects that can be cut and collaged into interesting shapes.

Teach the Elements and Principles of Design concepts

This is also a great way to teach the Elements and Principles of Design concepts texture and patterns, a vital art standard topic children should learn in Montessori art lessons.

The artist and author Eric Carle is famous for doing this fun and vibrant method in his book illustrations.

Eric Carle is famous for PAINTED PAPERS and collaging them into beautiful creatures featured in all his books.

Eric Carle, artist and children’s book author

Paint paper like Eric Carle — How-to PAINT PAPER like Eric Carle | Montessori Art

What is paint paper?

Painted paper is basically paint applied onto paper.

You can paint plain white paper or colored paper.

Paper painting can be created with different mediums like watercolor, gel paints, tempera, or acrylic paints (any paint).

What can you do with painted paper?

Like Eric Carle, the famous artist, paint the papers first, let them dry second, then third cut them up into new collage artworks.

Eric Carle’s famous painting papers created The Very Hungry Caterpillar book with this unique painted technique.

What tools do you need to make painted papers?

Paint mediums
Paper
Paintbrushes
Interesting objects that make patterns and textures
Drying rack
Interesting tools

Painted papers can be taught in a process-based manner

Process-based painting is more about the experience rather than following directions.

When kids paint process-based, they are able to go in any direction they choose.

They can explore any texture, use any color, and have any outcome happen, but have very cool painted paper; they can later cut turn into another art piece.

Process-based art lessons and painted papers are a great way to start teaching Montessori art lessons.

Spramani Elaun

Early Childhood Guide – Book

You’ll learn:

The importance of early Art Literacy
How to speak the ‘Artist Language’
The art subjects students need to know
The characteristics of child artists
Methods and approaches to teaching
How to create art activity environments
The best art materials for your classroom
How to plan level-appropriate activities

Buy Guide Now!

January 24, 2020January 14, 2021

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary

Collaging offers many benefits to children of all ages; it gives them the opportunity to conjure up creative ideas, improve their fine-motor capabilities, and work on projects independently. In this blog, I’m going to focus on Montessori art collaging for lower elementary students, giving you some helpful hints and inspirational activity ideas to get them going with this type of crafting.

This is part of a larger post, The Ultimate Montessori Art Collaging Guide, goes into further detail on the benefits and provides tips and resources for all Montessori levels.
You can read the blog by clicking here.

Collaging is the process of selecting, assembling, and pasting materials into a unique arrangement or a beautiful work of art. Montessori art collaging is perfect for lower elementary students because they’re at a great age to start exploring textured materials and trying out different art-making techniques.

Lower L students are also capable of planning out their designs with intention and seeing out their creative ideas through realization and the completion of their activity. They can also follow simple, guided-art instructions and begin to work with more abstract themes and concepts.

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary, kids activities

Montessori Art Collaging, Lower Elementary Materials & Concepts

One of the best things about collaging is that it can be done with almost any kind of material, including: papers, fabrics, natural elements, recycled objects, buttons, tiny beads, sequins, and all other kinds of man-made embellishments. You can even use textured materials like foil, glass, wire, and burlap. There’s really nothing that can’t be collaged!

Since the types of collaging materials you can use are basically endless, the glue or paste you use is important. Some materials won’t stick with a simple glue stick, so you’ll have to decide what adhesive you want to set out so your students will actually be able to collage successfully.

I’d suggest using glue sticks for tissue collaging and light-weight paper; white craft glue can be used for construction paper, fabric, and small embellishments; and a low-temperature glue gun (used with supervision!) works best for plastic, wood, and larger objects.

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary, art ideas

Giving students the right materials will take care of most of the work for this Montessori art collaging activity. The process is easy for you to demonstrate and easy for lower L students to practice. Collaging really only consists of three steps:

Cutting – students should begin with cutting interesting shapes out of varying raw materials
Arranging – once students have the shapes and items they want to work with, they can arrange the elements into designs, patterns, or interesting layouts
Glueing – after students have an idea of what they want to create, they will apply glue to the back of the materials, then place them back onto the arrangement

Make sure students have the freedom to explore and devise their own layouts. Have your students work in creative mode, with only very simple copy-mode steps. Children at this age level are developing better control of their fine-motor skills, such as scissor use, and will have fun cutting out different shapes out from the materials. And since they’re starting to be able to plan out their art works in their imagination ahead of time, it’s a fun age to see brilliant concepts and ideas come to fruition within their projects.

Where to Start: Montessori Art Collaging Lower Elementary Skills

If your students have never collaged before, start with simple materials, such as paper, before giving them more options. Then, you can even try introducing different patterns and themes, and even show students different artist samples for inspiration. Just make sure students are always allowed to work out their final designs on their own.

5 Montessori Art Collage Ideas for Lower Elementary

Collages can be put together in many different ways, they can be sewn, glued or weaved. They can be abstract in nature or even resemble an image. Here’s five different ways to approach collaging with lower elementary students.

How to Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary

Paper + Tissue

Tissue and paper are ideal to start out with because they’re easy to tear and cut. Their lighter weights mean most craft glues will be able to hold them down securely.

Up-cycled materials

A collage created with up-cycled materials can be made with almost anything, from old cardboard to broken toys. I’ve even used old wetsuits before (like in the photo below)! Using old materials is both an earth-friendly and cost-effective way to create art.

Natural Elements

Collages can also be done using natural elements, such as flowers, leaves, seeds, and twigs. Natural materials can give collages diverse texture and interesting features. Some food items can also be collaged, like dried beans and pasta. The trick to collaging with natural elements is to use a hot glue gun (you may need to do this yourself, or supervise children while they use it), or weave and sew the materials onto the collage base, since craft glue isn’t usually strong enough to hold these objects.

how to teach collage art to montessori Lower Elementary

Styrofoam

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary, recycle

Styrofoam isn’t the most earth-friendly materials, so I suggest using only recycled pieces. The one reason I do like to use it is because the material is super easy for younger children to cut through. Painting the pieces before using them also introduces the painting domain to your students, and make their creation even more interesting. If you can start repurposing these materials instead of sending them to landfills, you can help the environment.

how to teach Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary, spramani

Montessori Art Collaging: Lower Elementary, activities for the classroom, art albums

Images & Design Prompts

Once you have given your students plenty of time to collage their own ideas and explore with different materials in a process-based way, you can then provide them even more inspiration using themed prompts based on subjects you might already be working on. For example, geometric shapes can help with math concepts, while a collage of a bird is a great way to instill zoology lessons. You can even challenge kids to bring color theory into their creations by asking them to create warm, cool, or contrasting color layouts.

One Step Further: Register for My FREE Online Mini-Course

Introducing your lower elementary students to collaging concepts is just one Montessori art activity out of thousands. Lower elementary students are capable of so much when it comes to art! But if you want to keep your students interested in your demonstrations and keep the mess down to a minimum, you have to understand how they learn. That way you can find the perfect balance of teaching them without overwhelming or boring them. And I’ve developed a FREE digital mini-course—the Phases of Art Development—to help you do just that!

It’s an online course that explains how art making helps students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. Not only will it help you teach your students, but I make it easier on you by giving you some examples of art projects lower elementary kids will enjoy creating.

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

Sign-up to receive video course & Montessori art teaching e-newsletter.

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.