This Calder fish mobile lesson has become a bit of a staple around here as there’s more to it than meets the eye. While we aren’t crafting a “true” mobile with every piece dancing around, this project is a great first step into some other big ideas.Ever heard of kinetic art? This project gives kids
Art History
Joan Miro: from Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism
Is Miro a Surrealist?While he is often mentioned among the great fathers of Surrealism, Joan Miro never officially joined the movement.
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Art Education
Play Like a Surrealist: 13 Surrealist Games and Techniques to Unleash Kids Creativity
In the context of art education, Surrealist games can be a useful tool to disinhibit students and unlock their creativity.More so, they are a valuable component of any open-ended art exploration and a wonderful addition to project-based curriculums.
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Inquiry-Based Learning
Involuntary Sculpture: Tactile Art Exploration
Before fidget spinners became a thing, restless students used to torment pens with their fingers. There are some interesting studies that argue that fidgeting actually improves memory and learning tests scores, or at the very least recognizes it as a subconscious attempt to increase arousal in order to improve attention.
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Lesson Plan
“Letterscape” Calligram Art Activity: Text Art Exploration
A “letterscape” is what I call a landscape drawn with text. More accurately, a letterscape is a form of calligram, a piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves.
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Lesson Plan
How to Create Calligram Poetry: Surrealism Art Interdisciplinary Lesson Plan
What is a Calligram poem?
A calligram is a word or piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves.
This Lesson plan includes the history, contemporary use of calligram, as well as examples from different cultures. The practical inquiry encompasses four activities and art explorations.
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Painting
Decalcomania Painting Art Exploration | Inquiry Based Learning Lesson Plan
A Decalcomania is a kind of painting created by pressing a thin layer of wet paint between two surfaces. It can be done by folding papers in half, like in this lesson, or by picking up wet paint from a smooth surface (such as glass) with paper or canvas.