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Free Art Lessons & Interactives!

April 27th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Saturday, April 27, 2013 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

The Kennedy Center: ArtsEdge Lessons

Age Range: 5-18 (Grades K-12, with parental supervision)

The Kennedy Center sponsors this website that provides multimedia activities and in-depth lessons on Dance, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts integrated with other subjects such as Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, and Technology. 

When you get to the site you’ll see some featured lessons and a “Lesson Finder” search engine. Simply select:

*Grade Band

  • K-4
  • 5-8
  • 9-12  

*Arts Subject

  • Dance
  • Literary Arts
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Visual Arts

*Other Subject

  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Language Arts
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Technology
  • World Languages

Click “Find” and a new page opens displaying the title and description of the lesson. Click on a title and another page opens displaying the lesson overview and objectives. Then, just click on the arrows to get the instructions and activities with links to resources such as printable worksheets and other materials. Some of the lessons include an online interactive game.

You will be astounded by the scope and depth of the material provided. It is designed for classroom teachers but can be adapted by home educators. There are even tips for how to  prepare to present the material to your students in a way they will enjoy. High school students shouldn’t have any problem navigating these lessons independently, although parents (as always) should review the content to determine suitability.

 

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The Art of Vincent Van Gogh!

April 6th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Saturday, April 6, 2013 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Van Gogh Gallery

Age Range: All (The artwork is for all ages; the information is geared for about ages 11 and up with parental supervision)

This ad-supported website provides an online archive of information on the life and work of the artist, Vincent Van Gogh including his biography, paintings, drawings and much more.  The site was designed as a resource for students, educators, and art lovers, and is frequently updated with information, news, and events.

When you get to the site you’ll see a moving display of Van Gogh’s artwork and a welcome message below it that thoroughly explains what is available on the site. It contains click-through links to  various topics of interest, or you can peruse the menu on the left side of the page to find:

*The Works – Visit the online gallery of Van Gogh’s paintings, drawings, sketches, self-portraits, and more.  Plus, you can learn about his stolen and missing artwork.

*The Man – Read Van Gogh’s biography and personal letters,  discover his artistic influences, and learn about his health.

*The Legend – Discover fun facts about Van Gogh, and explore the impact he had on art and pop culture.

You can also purchase Van Gogh prints and posters at this site, but you don’t have to buy a thing to enjoy the free resources and stunning artwork.

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The MET’s Awesome Art Adventure for Kids

March 9th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Saturday, March 9, 2013 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

The MET: Aaron’s Awesome Adventure

Age Range: 6 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers this free, online, read-aloud, short story about an inquisitive red-headed boy’s adventures in the Museum and the four pieces of artwork he encounters there.

When you get to the site you’ll see the storybook cover. Just click on the arrows to read the illustrated story.

When you’re finished reading the story, look for the menu directly below the storybook screen, and click on “About the Art.” A new page opens where you can learn more about the art featured in the story. Unfortunately, some of the links to learning more about the artwork aren’t working – so, I took the time to find the links as follows:

Temple of Dendur

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Funerary Mask (Peru)

Arms & Armor (This is a gateway to the Museum’s collections on armor.)

Note: Should you have trouble opening any of the above links, just go to the Met Museum’s home page at www.MetMuseum.org and enter the name of the artwork into the search engine.

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Virtual Tour of the Museum of Web Art

January 19th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Saturday, January 19, 2013 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

MOWA

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with adult supervision)

The Museum of Web Art sponsors this website that offers a free virtual tour of online galleries and exhibits featuring artistic renderings created for websites, along with a Kid’s Wing featuring interactive games and stories.

When you get to the site, simply follow the directions and once you’ve entered the virtual museum, click on the “continue” button (located in the upper right corner of each page) to explore:

*Gateways – See an exhibit of artistic “splash pages” or opening pages of a few websites.

*Wallpaper Exhibit  – See textile designs for web pages from decorative to functional.

*Buttons Exhibit – See examples of a few fun , interactive buttons installed on websites.

*Installations Exhibit – Enjoy examples of interactive designs on websites.

*Kids Wing – Play some interactive games and puzzles, and read some interactive stories.

This is not an extensive website and it seems a bit dated. Frankly, in my web explorations, I’ve seen better examples of art blending with technology than those featured at this site. Nevertheless, it’s a simple way to introduce the concept of the art-tech connection, and the kids will enjoy playing the games. 

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Make Easy Holiday Arts, Crafts, & Giftwrap!

December 15th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Saturday, December 15, 2012 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Websites:

See Below

Age Range: Varies (something for everyone with parental supervision)

There’s still time to make artistic holiday decorations and gifts. Here are a few sites to get you started…

Build a Mini Gingerbread House! Sometimes, building a gingerbread house from scratch can seem too daunting. This site offers a simple solution that’s easy and fun for the whole family.

Make a Pomander Ball! Take an orange, stud it with cloves, tie a ribbon around it – and presto! – you’ve made an aromatic decoration or gift. This site has simple instructions illustrated with pictures.

Make Candles! Candles add glow to every holiday party, and some varieties are simple to make. At this website you’ll find instructions for making crayon candles, sand candles, and even make a candle in a coffee or cocoa mug!

Once you’ve made an assortment of holiday gifts, visit this website for some eco-friendly ways to wrap them all:

Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Gift Wrapping

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Fun & Simple Turkey Arts & Crafts!

November 17th, 2012

Hi! It’s Saturday, November 17, 2012 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

DLTK: Turkey Crafts

Age Range: All (Fun for the whole family, with parental supervision.)

This ClickSchooling recommendation was inspired by a message I received from the Fran’s World blog that said, “Make a family hand turkey!” If you haven’t visited the site before, don’t miss it. You’ll find all kinds of clever learning ideas that your kids will enjoy.)

The “hand turkey” reminded me of the Thanksgiving arts and crafts projects that school kids make and take home. Homeschoolers typically aren’t forced to do these kinds of annual art projects, but I’ve known plenty of homeschoolers who enjoyed nothing but a draw-cut-and-paste “curriculum” year round. :)

For those who can’t get enough of arts and crafts, and especially for those who have never had the pleasure of making a “hand turkey” or any other turkey-inspired art, today’s website will keep you creatively engaged for hours. When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of “Turkey Crafts” that include:

  • Make an Autumn Leaf Turkey
  • Make a Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
  • Make a Fingerprint Turkey
  • Make a Variety of Handprint and Footprint Turkeys
  • Make a Paper Plate Turkey
  • Make a Turkey Napkin Ring

Click on any item and a new pages opens with complete instructions and illustrations.

Many of these projects are so simple, they’d make a great activity for your Thanksgiving guests. Simply provide the materials needed and a space for assembly, demonstrate how to do it, and let everyone create their own memorable party favor. :)

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