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3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Sensory Cognitive Child Art Method, montessori

This is a guide to teaching art literacy to 3 to 6-year-old students. There is a downloadable resource available for Montessori guides. In this blog, I will highlight the important aspects of teaching early childhood art lessons. Below, you will find more information on Montessori Early Childhood for ages 3-6, following the International Arts Standards.

Children of all ages can learn visual arts and benefit from guided artistic exploration. Each developmental stage necessitates specific teaching methodologies and approaches. After extensive research and observation of children’s art education. I have discovered that youngsters acquire diverse artistic skills at various developmental planes. You can get more insights by ordering the book Montessori Art Guide – Early Childhood First Plane HERE

3 to 6 kids painting rocks, early childhood

Art Overview for Ages 3-6

Art making for young children involves exploration and discovery. Montessori students in the first plane, 3 to 6 years old, are prepared for simple art tasks. The most effective approach to teaching art lessons at this stage is through process-based art.

Process-based art focuses on the experience rather than the final artwork’s appearance. It emphasizes exploration and imaginative expression rather than creating recognizable pieces.

3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources kids making clay

When implementing process art, provide a brief introduction to how art mediums function and can be utilized. Children in the 3-6 age group are highly curious about art materials and are rapid learners. Art lessons in Montessori early childhood education should encourage students to experiment freely. Without predetermined outcomes, fostering a spirit of exploration.

Incorporating specific activities in the Montessori art curriculum can aid in enhancing young students’ fine motor skills. Engaging in art activities helps refine both large and small muscle groups, promoting controlled movements in young learners. Introducing activities like clay modeling, brush stroking, and safe scissor usage can expedite the development of fine motor skills in children at this stage.


3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Exploring Different Nature of Art® Modes

  • Creative-Mode: This mode serves as the foundation for process-based art learning, where children initiate their art-making journey. In creative mode, students are encouraged to explore art mediums without a specific reference or image to replicate. They rely on their imagination, thoughts, and ideas to craft unique creations.
  • Introducing Copy-Mode: Copy-mode entails structured, step-by-step art instruction. However, in early childhood education, direct replication of images should be avoided. Children at this stage enjoy imitating simple tasks observed in adults, like cleaning, painting, or gardening. Incorporate these activities into art lessons, allowing them to mimic your actions.
  • Transitioning to Copy-Mode: Begin with students replicating a basic design involving one to two steps. Once they grasp the initial concept, encourage them to transition back to creative-mode. This helps them to personalize and complete their projects according to their imagination and preferences.
3 to 6 Art – Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Resources

Art Activities & Mediums

Explore these engaging Montessori Early Childhood art projects designed for children aged 3 to 6. These activities aim to enhance fine motor control and strengthen small muscles in the fingers and hands. All while providing opportunities to engage in both creative-mode and copy-mode techniques. For the necessary non-toxic and kid-friendly art supplies, you can check out Nature of Art for Kids.

  • Doodling: Utilize crayons, colored pencils, tempera sticks, and more.
  • Painting: Experiment with watercolor paints, tempera paints, finger paints, homemade veggie dyes, etc.
  • Color Theory Play: Engage in activities like watercolor painting, dropper painting, and squeeze bottle painting to explore color theory.
  • Clay Modeling: Work with materials such as earth clay, homemade playdough, sculpting tools, beeswax, and non-hardening plasteline clay to mold and create.
  • Simple Crafts: Enjoy activities like paper cutting, string weaving, gluing, block building, and constructing with large popsicle sticks to foster creativity and dexterity.


Sensory Cognitive Child Art Method, montessori

Early Childhood DOWNLOAD FREE GUIDE

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. Or how to set up an art shelf with the materials. Plus how to teach lessons that actually help early childhood students learn art.

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). 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!

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.

3 to 6 Art Resources

If you would like to understand more about which types of art projects children can work on, register for my free video course, Phases of Arts Development.

You can learn about Art Literacy Standards and the benefits of visual arts by reading Defining Visual Arts Paperback (paperback book).

3 to 6 art guide for Montessori education

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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25 Art Supplies Every Montessori Classroom Needs

25 of the Most Basic Art Supplies Every Montessori Classroom Needs

By Spramani Elaun

I’m going to start off with a disclosure, by no means do you only need 25 items to fill your Montessori art shelf. However, because I break down visual arts into five domains—drawing, painting, crafting, clay modeling, and color theory—you just need to make sure you’re giving your students art supplies that fall into each category. There are so many more options and wonderful things to work with, I’d encourage you to explore and purchase anything that inspires you.

This is just going to be a sort of cheat sheet for what you need in your classroom. If you really want a detailed list of everything to include in your art shelf, make sure you register for my online course, Art Teaching Blueprint. I have specific lessons for each domain where I list out all the exact materials I use to teach each domain, where to find those supplies, and how to use them. It’s a ton of valuable information that makes teaching art and setting up your shelf so much easier.

For now though, I want to give you a brief understanding of the different learning areas of visual arts and help you figure out the basic item(s) you need to be able to teach each domain. Grab your shopping list, let’s get into it!

montessori art activities

Drawing

The drawing domain includes doodling, drawing, sketching, and tracing. Many of these materials (like pencils and erasers) can be found elsewhere in the classroom, so I recommend making the items on your art shelf unique. Either buy completely different styles so they stand out or color code them so they stay specifically within your art shelf.

Basic:

Not so basic:

Painting

There are several types of paints that kids can use, and each one has a different purpose and experience. Whichever you choose, just make sure it’s non-toxic and safe for kids.

Basic:

Not so basic:

Color Theory

Color theory is all about learning how colors behave. It can take years to develop a strong understanding of color theory, so it’s important to start teaching the subject when students are young. With color theory, I recommend you begin with primary colors (red, yellow, blue), then teach kids to mix those colors to create secondary colors, and so on. When you’re teaching color theory, the materials are the same as you’d use for the painting domain.

Basic:

Not so basic:

25 Art Supplies Every Montessori Classroom Needs

Clay Modeling & Sculpture

Clay can be a great way to relate art projects to other lessons you’re teaching. For instance, students can use stamps or natural objects (like leaves) to create imprints; they can also use the clay to create figures and animals to go along with what they’re learning.

25 Art Supplies Every Montessori Classroom Needs

Basic:

Not so basic:

Crafting & Constructing

There are so many possibilities when it comes to crafting and constructing. I tend to divide this domain into four categories: sewing, paper crafts, nature crafting, and wood/building.

Basic:

  • Sewing:
    • String (yarn, threads)
    • Fabric
    • Sewing needle
    • Scissors
  • Paper crafts
    • Colored paper
    • Scissors
    • Glue
  • Nature crafting
    • Glue
    • Hot glue gun
    • Natural found objects (rocks, sticks, leaves, etc.)
  • Wood and building
    • Glue
    • Wooden pieces

Not so basic:

  • Sewing
    • Cross stitching fabric
    • Recycled materials (sweaters, t-shirts)
    • Buttons
    • Wool
  • Paper crafts
    • Origami paper
    • Magazines (for collaging)
  • Nature crafting
    • Purchased natural objects (feathers, pinecones, seeds, etc.)
  • Wood and building
    • Nails
    • Popsicle sticks
    • Toothpicks
    • Wine corks

I know this is a lot to digest and a lot more than just 25 items, but these are the tools that will help your students explore, experiment, and really experience art.

If you want more information, specifically on how each one of these supplies work and some ideas on how to use them, make sure you register for my course! I break it all down for you so this list makes sense in the framework of your classroom. And if you have any questions—about these supplies or my course—please feel free to contact me directly by emailing me at Info@Spramani. om.

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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10 Common Shelf Art Supplies

Best Supplies To Start With

10 Common Shelf Art Supplies

There’s something about fall and the back-to-school season that makes you reevaluate and take inventory of your work, study areas and processes. Don’t you just love it? So let me share my favorite materials so you can start off fresh. I think your classroom or teaching space should get the same treatment—starting with an Art Shelf! In this blog, I’m going to share 10 common shelf art supplies to stage that I think every classroom should have around.

If you’ve never had an art shelf in your classroom, I’d like to encourage you to designate a space specifically for art supplies and projects. This can go a long way in supporting art literacy and creating a good foundation of basic art skills. The basic idea is to keep everything your students need to get creative in one easy-to-reach place.

Easy Set Up Ideas

Setting up an art shelf really isn’t all that difficult. Fill it up with a few basic art supplies and keep it stocked and refreshed throughout the year. Here are the 10 items I’d recommend for you to include as you set it up for the new school year. If you want to learn more about organizing and understanding how art can be engaging, head over to my How To Stage An Art Shelf training.

In this blog, I want to focus on 10 Common Shelf Art Supplies you should have around that support independence and art literacy. If you want to learn more about the area of art I recommend, be sure to get my early childhood or elementary Art Guides. Check out these guides to learn the best ways to stage an art shelf with art supplies.

Just by staging these art supplies on a shelf, you can jump-start your students exploring and give them autonomy in creating. Plus you can also find all these art mediums at my online store.

1. Baskets of Paper On the Shelf

10 Common Shelf Art Supplies, Montessori

This will be the foundation for the majority of your students’ artwork. Stock up on plenty of uncoated paper. Include white, uncoated, smooth drawing paper, and thick, absorbent watercolor paper for painting. Also, include colored craft paper for cutting, folding, and collaging. A large roll of butcher paper for younger students is great. For special painting activities, have some type of canvas fabric. Cardboard types of paper are also great for crafting and gluing. Have plenty of scrap paper for inventive ideas. Children love coming up with paper art ideas. Watch my tip video on the sizes I recommend for children here.

2. Painting – Paints + Brushes


Art programming should include some painting activities. You can teach both early childhood and elementary students basic painting skills. Stage different types of paints: watercolor, tempera paint, or student-grade acrylic. You should include a variety of different-sized paintbrushes. Plus, include painting tools to experiment with, such as sponges, paint droppers, and items to make textures (download my painting checklist HERE). If you want to learn more about different children’s paints, check out my book called Kids Painting HERE, Kids Painting Curriculum, or Painting Work Art Album.

10 Common Shelf Art Supplies for painting in the Montessori classroom

3. Drawing & Doodling Supplies

  • Crayons
  • Colored pencils
  • Oil pastels
  • Soft pastels
  • Tempera sticks
  • Sketching pencils

And all these tools are not as messy as paint!

Best Children’s Drawing Supplies to Buy

Children’s Drawing Tools For Elementary Grades


4. Common Crafting Supplies


Crafting offers many areas for children to explore. There are numerous art supplies that can be used in this area. I would try different projects from time to time. Whether a student wants to use buttons for eyes on their clay figurine, or glue a bunch of seeds to accent their collage, small accessories can give them freedom to add some oomph to their projects. I recommend children explore. Bring these things in once and awhile. Here are some of the basics:

  • Glue, glue dots, low-temp glue gun
  • Tape, masking tape, or washi tape
  • Scissors
  • String, yarn, thread
  • Sewing needles
  • Small embellishments like buttons, googly eyes, beads, gems
  • Small fabric, felt, recycled fabric scraps
  • Small wood scraps
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Styrofoam pieces
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Pom poms
  • Seeds, beans
  • Twigs, seashells, seed pods

5. Modeling Clay

Clay is very common for teaching many essential fine-motor movements. I recommend that all art programming for children include some type of clay modeling. Clays come in many forms, from quick-drying to non-hardening. While students will enjoy molding the clay with their hands, providing items like shape cutters (or cookie cutters!), rolling pins, textured plates, and modeling wood tools will allow them to create even more. Clay can be easily placed on an art shelf in containers, or on trays. If you would like to learn more about why clay is important, read Clay Play Theory or check out my Clay Modeling Curriculum HERE.

  • Clay tools
  • Cookie cutters
  • Earth clay
  • Air-dry clay
  • Sculpey clay
  • Plastilina clay – non-hardening
  • Beeswax
clay modeling in the Montessori classroom, Spramani Elaun

6. Stamps + Stencils

Stencils are so much fun to use and great to include in your art shelf. Children love tracing them and coloring inside them. Stencils come in many shapes and sizes. Great for tracing and building hand dexterity.  Stamps also are fun to press in clay and use on ink pads. Surprise your students and put some on the shelf!

10 Common Shelf Art Supplies, drawing lessons, Montessori, Spramani Elaun

7. Seasonal Inspiration

While you want most of these supplies to remain on your art shelf year-round, you’ll find that students will respond creatively to new tools or inspiration. Rotate out your stencils or offer a still life props (like bright flowers in the spring, or gourds in the fall) to reflect the season. Professional Development – How To Stage An Art Shelf Training

8. Art & Clip Boards

Drawing boards can help stabilize paper in place while moving around the classroom. They’re also good for laying down on the carpet. If you can’t get custom drawing boards, you can use a clipboard. A drawing board can even be used outside when there is no table to sit and draw on.

9. Art Story Books

Having fun storybooks that inspire art-making can be something you change from week to week. You can put them on the top of a shelf or in a basket. Some of my favorite books are The Dot, Lines That Wiggle, and Mouse Paint. Learn more about how I love to use storybooks to support art lessons by reading this blog or watching this free training.

10 . Recycled Scraps

I always include a box or basket of scraps of collaging or building. This is a great way to get children excited about the possibilities of thinking outside of the box. I’m always amazed by the ideas children come up with.

I hope these 10 Common Shelf Art Supplies give you some ideas for staging an art shelf! What do you have on your art shelf? Share your go-to supplies in the comments below and send me photos of your new art shelf by tagging me on Instagram (@nature.of.art.for.kids)!

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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10 Back To School Art Tips

Start With 10 Art Tips

I’m excited to share my 10 back to school art tips for the Montessori classroom in this blog! Getting ideas for back to school art lessons might seem challenging if you have no art background. You might wonder which art tip should come first and where to draw inspiration from.

Let me show you how you don’t have to go far to find ideas for your back to school planning and scheduling. Art lesson ideas can come directly from the concepts you’re already teaching in the classroom, from the great lessons to other Montessori books you already own. By simply opening your favorite storybook, you and your students can discover wonderful ideas to create.

Be sure to watch the video ( 10 Back To School Art Tips – For The Montessori Classroom) to understand how you can follow up with art activities after reading your favorite Montessori books.

10 Montessori Back-to-school Art Environment Readiness Tips

If you want to learn more about art literacy, be sure to check out my books. You can further gain knowledge on the basic elements to focus on in each art lesson. Visit my book page for my Early Childhood Montessori Art Guide or Elementary Art Guide, which is filled with plenty of art lesson tips and ideas.

10 tips video highlights

  • Art Shelf: Plan to stage an art shelf in your classroom this year.
  • New Medium: Try out a new medium you didn’t have a chance to explore last year (e.g., oil pastels).
  • Great Lessons: Leverage key lessons as sources of inspiration.
  • Use Story Books: Go through the books you read annually to extract art-making inspiration.
  • Supply List Request: Send out an art supply wish list to parents!
  • Art Planning: Plan ahead with all your other subjects before school starts.
  • Art Helper & Artist Guest: Ask parents if they can volunteer to share a fun cultural art-making idea.
  • Where to Find New Projects: Ask other Montessori teachers for ideas, or check out online resources.
  • Art Album: Plan this year to make an art album where you can quickly add pictures of projects and your observation notes.
  • Inspiration Gallery: Create a space where your students can reflect on their projects and their classmates’ projects.

Implementing the 10 major tips

Make your back to school art experience fun this year! First, set up a special art shelf in your classroom. Try using new art tools and mediums like oil pastels and watercolor. Get some cool ideas from your favorite stories and lessons you are already teaching. Ask parents for art supplies by sending them a wish list, or create an Amazon list. It’s smart to plan your art projects along with the Great Lessons before the year starts. Invite parents to share their interesting cultural art projects too! You can also find new art ideas by talking to your colleagues or looking online on Pinterest. Make an art album to save pictures of your projects, and finally, create a space where you and your students can show off their work. These tips will make art time super fun and creative for you with less stress.

Happy new school year!

Warmly,
Spramani

First year starting an art program For Montessori Children?
Montessori Books – For Elementary Guides, Teaching Art To 6 -12 Children

Order The Montessori Art Guide Today

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.