Art Education: More Important Than One May Think

Classroom Help

Published with Permission
Written by Dr. Heather W. Allen
www.TOSMagazine.com

 

According to the Oxford Dictionaries’ website, art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”1 Taken one step further, the arts are “the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.”2 According to The American Heritage Dictionary, art is “the conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.”3

As I researched this topic, looking for data pertaining to artists and art history, specifically as it pertained to education, I focused on the study of the arts and its importance in general. I think this focus will provide a more comprehensive foundation for why the study of the arts is important in the education of our children.

There were studies that indicated that participation in the arts positively affects brain development. (more…)

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Autumn Leaves: 9 Fall Crafts for Kids

Classroom Help, Just For Fun, Projects

The following is a post from contributing writer Jamie.

No question about it, autumn is my favorite season. Once the sweltering heat of the Georgia summer is over, I want to get outside as often as possible. Anytime I do have to be inside, I want to either be baking or crafting — or maybe crafting something while snacking on whatever goodies I baked earlier!

I’ve rounded up nine fun fall leaf-themed crafts I plan to do with my kids as soon as the leaves start to change.

fall leaf crafts

1 – leaf “stained glass”

Start with an autumn nature walk, then come home and start crafting!

2 – leaf critters

Yes, this page is in Russian but, no instructions are required for this project; just look at the leaf critters on that site to get creative ideas to make your own adorable leaf animals!  (Use Google translate if you want to read the page in English.)

3 – leaf maze

Got a yard full of leaves? Have a little fun while you rake, and make a maze for the kids!

4 – shaving cream leaves

This craft doesn’t use real leaves but it’s still a fun leaf-themed project for just about any age child — or mom! If the kids are doing a fun craft, why shouldn’t mom get to join in? In fact, the kids will think it’s even MORE fun if you join in!

5 – hammered leaf prints

This simple project could make wall art if done on nice paper and framed! A parent or older child should be the one to wield the hammer, but little ones can find beautiful leaves of different colors to use for the project.

6 – maple leaf rose

I will most definitely be making some of these myself! This project may be too hard for younger children, but older ones (and mom!) can have fun creating roses out of maples leaves.

7 – fall mobile

A simple enough project for elementary aged kids, but interesting enough for much older kids to make, too. Use leaves, pine cones, whatever fall treasures you find in your yard or on a nature walk.

8 – negative leaf impressions

Don’t miss the blogger’s advice to press your leaves for a day after collecting to make this project come out even more art-worthy.

9 – salt dough leaf prints

These are so beautiful, I think they’d make delightful grandparent gifts!

Jamie is a wife, mama, home educator, and shutterbug who never ventures far from a steaming hot mug of tea. Her kid range in age from preschool to adult, which means there’s rarely a dull (or quiet!) moment in her home. Also find her on twitter or facebook.

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Schoolhouse Memories

Biography, Classroom Help, Informative, Just For Fun

Written by Reese Whitaker and Emma Swan

It is Sunday and I am busy preparing dinner for my family. It is a tradition we hold dear to our hearts, as the whole family gathers for dinner every Sunday after church. Today is a bit different, though; my great-grandkids have asked to interview me about my childhood.

The door opens and my tiny house is filled with the joyous sounds of children. I have two boys and a daughter visiting, along with their families. My only granddaughter, Elizabeth, has three gorgeous kids. The twins, Grace and Brooke, are doing a research paper about East Tennessee. They have chosen to write about my experiences as a student attending the Greenbrier Schoolhouse. I cherish this opportunity, eager to pass my enthusiasm for history on to their generation.

The sounds of their voices filled the room as soon as they trotted into the kitchen. I couldn’t help but smile as they talked about their project. At times, it’s hard for me to imagine how much the world has changed since I attended school. I’ve seen the invention of numerous items, lived through wars, visited every state in the country, and traveled to other parts of the world. Through the years, I’ve lived in various areas of the Southeast, but nowhere felt like home until I returned here.

Today I’ve chosen a typical Southern meal to prepare for the family: fried chicken, pinto beans, and cornbread, along with fresh veggies from the garden. The smells and tastes of this simple meal have my mind drifting to the past, and memories flow through me like fog flowing with a stream.

My eighty-seven years seem to be catching up to me, and I sit down at the table while my daughter, Lucy, takes over the cooking duties. She brings me a cup of tea and I try to gather my thoughts about what I would like to pass on to my grandchildren. I want them to know how different our lives were back then but also to know how very blessed we were. (more…)

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