Experimenting with paint can help students grow artistically.
Art skills develop in stages. By paying attention to these stages, teachers can plan activities that engage students. After teaching children the basics of art, allow them to express themselves artistically by not restricting the subject matter. The progression will lead from basic shapes to representations of daily life.
Primary Students
As students move from scribbling to drawings that represent the world around them, teach your youngest students to practice shapes, lines and color. An easy-to-hold painting or drawing tool and a piece of paper are all kids at this age need to practice these basic elements of art. Lessons at this age include modeling by the teacher and opportunities to practice drawing different shapes and lines. Time to identify shapes and lines in pictures and real life should also accompany the lesson. Color identification may include a collage of pictures, in one color, cut from magazines as well as paintings created in tints and tones of one color. Making time for experimentation with mixing paints assists children in identifying tints and tones of colors.
Elementary
Art lessons for older elementary students moving from symbolic illustrations of the world to ones that are more realistic must include encouragement and opportunity to practice. Lessons include practice using all the elements and principles of art, so students can feel successful with attempts to make art realistic. The art and drawing class lessons at this age include fun, active lessons that foster success and experimentation. Lessons feature the practice of shape, line, color and texture using representations of everyday life. Students might draw giant shoes that show off an ability to draw different types of lines, shape and texture. Abstract art examples by master artists provide interesting samples of principles, such as form, value and space. Students this age enjoy the challenge of recreating a classic work of art and in so doing, practice a variety of art elements and principles.
Middle to High School
Having mastered or been exposed to the elements and principles of art in lower grades, middle and high school students move on to study art styles and masterpieces. Students experiment with the self-expression of feelings and mood through art, rather than attempt to copy real-life objects without connection to them. An art lesson with older students includes opportunities for research into different styles of art and the feelings artwork prompts. A broad choice of materials and subject matter compose art lessons for this age, so students may work in areas of interest. Teachers may group art lessons and choices of projects around a genre of art such as abstract or impressionist art. For example, a teaching idea might include taking a virtual field trip to Monet's gardens in Giverny, France, an investigation into the impressionist style of art and a creation of the student's choice of subject matter in the impressionist style.
