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Virtual Glass-Blowing for Kids!

March 5th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, March 5, 2011 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
FireWorks of Glass

Age Range: 5-10 (Grade K-5)

This site, sponsored by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, lets kids explore the fiery and fascinating world of glassblowing through interactive games. Each of the narrated interactives explores a different aspect of this ancient craft inspired by glass artist Dale Chihuly’s artwork.

When you get to the site you will see a few of the featured games and activities available. Jump right in or use the menu on the left to learn more about the art of glass blowing. You can also print some materials to engage in family activities about glass design and sculpture at home.

Click on “Games” to find online activities as follows:

Grades K – 2, Non-Reader:

  • Create a Sculpture 1 – Choose your own primary colors, shapes, and textures before placing it on the framework of your choice. 
  • Find the Shape – Identify the shapes hidden in the pictures of glass.

Grades K – 2, Early Readers:

  • Create a Sculpture 2 – Create more elaborate glass sculptures than beginner levels with more frames to choose from.
  • How Glass is Blown – Listen to the glassblower tell her story and then drag and drop slides in the correct sequence to make a live movie!

Grades K – 2, Early Readers:

  • Create a Sculpture 3 – You have choices of many armatures (frames) and secondary colors.
  • The Creative Process – Draw a picture from one of many inspiring objects, then watch as it magically turns into abstract art!

Grades 3- 5 – Readers:

  • Create a Sculpture 4 – All color pallets, frames, and textures are open for you to explore.
  • How Glass is Blown – A step-by-step, narrated, interactive on glassblowing.
  • Design an Installation – Choose a piece of art, then decide where it would be best to display it.
  • Virtual Hotshop – Search out items in the picture to play hidden movies about glass blowing.

While designed for kids, this site is fun and educational for the whole family!

Enjoy!

 

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

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Valentine Art, Crafts, Recipes, & Games!

February 5th, 2011

Hi! It’s Saturday, February 5, 2011 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
AmazingMoms.com: Valentines

Age Range: All  (There are craft activities for all ages. Parental supervision required.)

Valentine’s Day is February 14th. Celebrate by decorating the house with Valentine-themed arts and crafts or bake a special chocolate treat for your sweetie or semi-sweetie. At this ad-supported website you’ll find instructions and illustrations for making:

*Valentine’s Day Crafts – Make a cute and crafty love bug, a valentine mobile, a valentine sachet, a CD valentine, or a woven paper heart.

*Valentine’s Day Recipes – Make a “Box of Chocolates” cake, a Molten Chocolate Lava Cake, Cherry Mousse, or Message Heart Cupcakes.

*Valentine’s Day Party Guide – Plan a Valentine party with these suggestions for decorations, treats, and fun Valentine’s Day games!

*Quick Tips to a Sweet Valentine’s Day – Don’t have time for crafts and recipes?  Try these simple and inexpensive ideas you can do in a jiffy to make the day more meaningful for your whole family!

Note:  This is an ad-supported website, so parents please preview and supervise use.

Enjoy!

 

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

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Art History & Appreciation

January 22nd, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, January 22, 2010 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Web Museum, Paris: Famous Artworks Exhibition

Age Range:  12 and up (Younger children may enjoy the artwork at this site, with parental assistance.)

This website is a free archive of pictures of some of the most famous artwork in the world. When you get to the site, scroll down just a little to the “Themes Index.” There, you will find a menu of choices that include:

  • Gothic
  • Renaissance
  • Baroque
  • Impressionism
  • The 20th Century
  • Japanese Art & Architecture

Click on any one and a new page opens with a description of that particular type of art, along with a menu of eras and styles within that theme.

Click on those menu items to find the names of artists who exemplify that period or style.  Then, click on an artist’s name and a new page opens to his/her bio along with thumbnail portraits of their work that can be enlarged for enhanced viewing.

This site is peppered with links leading to more information for those who really want to immerse themselves in art history.

Note: Artwork depicts many things, some of which may not be suitable for all ages. Therefore, AS ALWAYS, parents should preview this site to determine suitability of content.

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Keith Haring Art Lessons for Kids

December 4th, 2010

Hi!  It’s Saturday, December 4, 2010 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Haringkids.com

Age Range: All (with parental guidance and supervision)

This website, sponsored by the Keith Haring Foundation, is a tribute to the artist Keith Haring, whose bold, vibrant work appeals to kids of all ages. Haring loved children, and through this website the foundation continues to inspire and encourage the artist in everyone.

The site contains a wide array of Haring-inspired, free art lesson plans using different art mediums including crayons, paint, clay, photography, and much more. The lessons were submitted by teachers and students worldwide.

When you get to the site you’ll see an exhibit of kids’ artwork and pictures of kids in art classes along with an introduction to the lesson plans. Use the horizontal menu (in black) at the top of the page to search by age/grade range that includes:

*Early Childhood – One of the lessons is called “Colorful Dogs” and teaches students how to identify basic shapes and colors while assembling paper dogs.

*Elementary 1 – Use these lessons to make holiday ornaments or paint a mural. 

*Elementary 2 – Learn to use oil pastels while creating spontaneous art similar to the subway paintings done by Keith Haring in New York. 

*Elementary 3 – Try your hand at “Drawing with Wire” and discover how to use mixed media such as wire, paper, and markers to create silhouette drawings.

*Middle School – Haring’s artwork contains social commentary. One of his most famous murals was called “Crack is Wack.” This section contains an explanation of the meaning of it, and instructions for creating a Haring-inspired mural. You’ll find other lessons as well.

*Above 14 – This section for older students also explores the messages in Haring’s work while providing lesson ideas for learning how to make clay portraits, animations, and mobiles.

I’ve focused on the HaringKids Lesson Plans for this review. There are many more interesting things to explore at the website. Parents, as always, should preview the content to determine suitability for their own children.

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Art Projects from Nature!

October 30th, 2010

Hi! It’s Saturday, October 30, 2010 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
A Natural State

Age Range: 5-18 (Grades K-12 with most suited for middle school and up. Younger children will need adult assistance.)

ClickScholar Renee recommended this web presentation from the state of South Carolina, that explores how people are inspired by nature to shape, twist, carve, and weave materials collected from the landscape into works of art.

Interviews with natural artists from various geographical zones of South Carolina are included on the site along with samples of their work.

The website provides free virtual workshops with step-by-step instructions and illustrations on how to make artwork using natural materials such as clay, pine needles, branches, vines, acorns, nuts, flowers, leaves, rocks, shells, and more.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of art projects that include:

  • Coiled Clay Pottery
  • Dyes and Dyeing
  • Paper Making
  • Kudzu Basket Weaving
  • Pine Needle Baskets
  • Weaving
  • Bentwood Trellis Making
  • Dioramas

Click on any one to access a very clear presentation with instructions on how to create that object.

The site also offers “Resources” that include free lesson plans and activities for grades K-12 that encourage the use of natural arts in education.

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Free Printable Coloring Pages

October 23rd, 2010

Hi!  It’s Saturday, October 23, 2010 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
The Coloring Spot

Age Range:  All

Who doesn’t like to color? It’s a fun, creative pastime that can be done individually or as a cooperative activity.  My family used to pick a picture and everyone took turns coloring in an object. We got some interesting results that generated lots of conversation and smiles.  :)

At this website, recommended by ClickScholar Amy, you’ll find all kinds of free coloring pages on a wide variety of topics.

When you get to the website, read the introduction and then use the menu to access coloring pages that include the following categories:

  • Animals – Color Aardvarks to Zebras
  • Cowboy Stuff – Blacksmiths to Sheriffs
  • Dinosaurs – Allosaurus to Velociraptor
  • Furniture & Appliances – Beds to Washing Machines
  • Insects (Bugs) – Ants to Yellow Jackets
  • Medieval – Archers, Castles, Jesters, Knights
  • Music – All kinds of instruments
  • Mythical Creatures – Centaurs, Dragons, Fairies, Giants
  • Ocean Life – Anglefish to Zooplankton
  • People & Their Jobs – Butcher, Pharmacist, Surfer, Weighlifter
  • Wonders of the World – Great Wall of China, Stonehenge, Taj Mahal, etc.

You’ll also find coloring pages for various holidays.  Not only that, there are links to other websites with free coloring pages too.

Bookmark this one – it’s a great resource for creative learning activities!

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