Engaging Your Students in Art
Picture this: It’s your first art class of the year, and there are mixed feelings about this within the room. Most are happily making space on their desk for the upcoming project, while a few kids are groaning or giving you nervous looks. You are silently hoping your project goes over well for the sake of the anti-art students.
Many of your students may not be artistic or creative outside of school, which means when they return from time off of school holidays they may be reluctant to participate.
Here are a few tips I’ve found incredibly helpful in my own classroom when it comes to getting them involved (especially at the beginning of the school year):
Keep it simple - Try to take out the guess work and the challenging drawing or painting elements. Provide templates or allow tracing when applicable.
Break it down - Students often need scaffolding in art just like in other subjects. It helps to do the project yourself prior to teaching the lesson and jotting down instructions and tips as you think of them.
Keep it colorful - Don’t underestimate the power of color in a project! Explore different styles and be inspired by artists who create art similar to the style you’re focused on.
Extend the project - Allow students the freedom to extend a project to challenge their skills on occasion, or let them research an artist and create a slideshow, write a biography, or make a poster for an artist of their choice.
Creativity can’t be rushed -Encourage students to take their time! Look up some famous artists and find out what (kid-appropriate) habits they had when they created art in their time. Perhaps classical music, special lights, or setting a timer for focused art time will up the creativity for your students.
Gallery walk - Let students walk around and see their neighbours work (at prescribed times during the lesson). Have them practice saying a compliment and remind them that any criticism can be framed as a question (ie. Why did you choose to use that color?).
Positive vibes - It may sound silly, but the teacher’s attitude towards art will rub off on the students. Try to keep it positive and give them encouragement, both as a whole class as well as individuals.
If you’re looking for a project that will maximize engagement in that first art class, I have a foolproof self-portrait project that is sure to have kids “ooooh”-ing and “ahhhh”-ing as they turn their faces into vibrant works of art in the style of Andy Warhol!
Andy Warhol Inspired Self Portrait
Enjoy your first art class of the school year! Comment below with your own beginning of the year art tips - I’d love to hear them!
