Visual Arts-elements, principles, and illustrators

It has been fun learning about art elements and principles. I think it is important to teach children about proportion, balance, rhythm, variety, emphasis, and unity. Teaching these elements gives them words so they can name and identify what they see in art. These elements also expand their knowledge and vocabulary in other areas besides art. I think analyzing art opens up a new world of expression to them. It expands their view of the world and allows them to better understand other points of view.

I would love to use the SWAPP pictures. If the school that I teach at doesn't have the pictures I will definitely buy the postcards. Using these pictures would introduce the students to different styles of art. These pictures would be a great way to introduce the elements of art in an interactive way like we did in class. The postcards have a great variety of art on them and I like that some information about the artist and the picture are included.

It was so much fun learning about the children's books illustrators. This would be a great way to introduce children to illustrators, authors, and fun books. It would also be a good way to introduce them to different principles of art such as collage, line drawing, painting, etc. It would be fun to have the students pick an illustrator and do reports and have the students do projects like we did. My children have done author reports at school about their favorite author. This project was a great way for them to read, write,and report orally. They also learn about other books that interest them from other children.

I definitely want to teach about art in the classroom to help the students become better artists, to give them an appreciation for art, and inorder for them to just enjoy art.