Art Stations in the classroom and art room

❤️ Have you considered setting up exploratory art stations or fast finishers art centers in your classroom or art room? 

Why not? What is holding you back? In short - We can no longer omit art explorations from our classrooms because art can make a powerful contribution to our students' mental health. In addition to helping students develop a number of important skills, free expression (like using art stations or art centers) is also good for overall health and well-being.

Giving young children a creative outlet can help relieve stress and work through things happening in their lives. By encouraging artistic expression, you can help facilitate further learning and engagement. Making art can help children to deal with a wide range of mental health issues and psychological stress, like anxiety. 

You can view further information about this topic from Michigan State University HERE

❤️ Types of Stations you can set up

Convinced yet?  Then you may benefit from these sets of art station set-up guide cards I created for my classroom,  to help you get started. Suitable for students in elementary grades, you will find guides, so far, for:

→ What is Collage

→ What is Papier-mâché

→ What is Clay

→ What is Wax Resist

→ What is Sculpture

→ What is Paint

→ What is Drawing

Typically, these guides includes 10x square shaped slides for:

1. The guide cover
2. What is (Media)
3. Famous (Media) artists
4. Materials list
5. Making a (Media)
6. Can you make a (Media) - instruction card
7. (Media) clean-up guide
8. Teacher Information x2
9. Teacher instructions
10. Blanks slides for you to add your own instructions x2

And a bonus slide with a recommended lesson for your next whole class (Media) project, with links.

If you would like more topic cards added to these guides, or a guide created for a specific center, please comment on this post below. Then follow my TPT store so that you don't miss the new set when it's added.

Bundles are also available to save you $. Read this feedback from teachers who have already used:

→ CLAY, COLLAGE and PAPIER-MÂCHÉ BUNDLE 1

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Thank you for creating this art lesson, my students were engaged in this project and the outcomes were great"

❤️ The benefit of Art Stations for your students

Are you wondering why you should run art exploration centers in your classroom? Isn't that just for art teachers? The short answer is NO.

✅ Use this art resource to build independent prior knowledge before starting a whole class project.

✅ Guides new learning for students who have not experienced an art medium before

✅ Consolidates knowledge for students who have used a medium in the past.

✅ Avoid possible frustrations for students working on your guided art projects, that result from not having time to explore a media or technique, beforehand, and build that crucial prior knowledge and confidence with this medium.

With these Art station guide cards, you can either print and file into clear sleeves - with blank spaces on either side of the images where you can also add your own notes, or...

print 2/page, laminate and add cards to a jump ring for students to use.

Introduce the art station guide to you students by sharing the PDF slides on your large screen, discuss your expectations and answer any questions. Then leave them to it and watch them grow in responsibility and self management. You can even put some students in charge of the clean up section on a rotation basis.

❤️ How will this resource help busy teachers, who are nervous about teaching art?

No worries - I’ve got you covered.

This guide comes with illustrated cards & teacher information, giving you the confidence to run art centers in your own classrooms.

⏰ How long should I run an art station for? 

If you are an art teacher, then you can make that call based on your programme. For classroom teachers, I recommend that the art center stays open for at least a week, prior to starting your guided, whole class art project, with this media.

Then for another week after completing that project, so students can further experiment independently, especially those early finishers, giving you time to support those that need it.

❤️ So what is special about these art station guides?

Introduce students to the techniques of creating with a particular medium. Learn about the history of a medium or meet famous artists that have created with this medium. A list of the materials that students can use. A starter project is included with an image and simple instructions, or to a video with QR code link, to foster further independence. The clean-up card will encourage responsibility and blanks cards have been included for you to add further resources or personalise for your classroom needs. Teacher information cards will up-skill your knowledge about each medium so that you can wow your students. Media specific, teacher guided lessons are also recommended in each guide, as follow-ons.

❤️ Where can I find more information about these art station guides?

→ You can browse all my Art Stations / Early Finishers / Sub support resources on TPT, in their own custom category, HERE

→ Browse all my comprehensive art lessons provided as PDF presentation lesson on TPT HERE: VISUAL ART STORE

→ If you would prefer the added support of guided video tutorials, browse my growing collection in this custom category on TPT HERE: ART LESSONS WITH VIDEO TUTORIALS

→ For my Elements of Art lessons on TPT, click HERE: ART ELEMENTS

All lessons are also available directly from my own Website, Help Me Learn, HERE 

❤️ Why should you trust my lessons?

I am both a general ed. classroom teacher and currently practising as a Visual Art and Digital Media specialist educator, teaching students from ages 4-12, at a primary school. I do this every day, just like you! I’ve done it all for you and trialed these art station guides in my own fast finishers art centers.

Thank you for stopping by, be sure to pop back and read my next post about the scaffolded activities that I am creating for each art station.

With love, Te Aroha 

Timea 

Let's connect:

My TPT store 

My Pinterest Page 

The Gram 

My Website

Set Up An Art Table In Your Classroom

Hi there!

Ever thought about setting up an art table in you classroom? But not knowing where to start or how to stock and manage an art center?

And then wonder - isn't that just for art teachers? 

The short answer is NO. 

We can no longer omit art explorations stations from our classrooms and ignore the value that they bring to your students. 

For starters, independent explorations at an art table can make a powerful contribution to our students' mental health.  Free expression (using art materials at an art center) is really good for overall health and well-being. Giving young children a creative outlet can help relieve stress and work through the things happening in their lives. Making art can help children deal with a wide range of issues and psychological stress, like anxiety.

In addition, creating at an art table helps students develop a number of important learning skills. By encouraging artistic expression, you can help facilitate sustained focus and engagement. Testing out ideas, problem solving through multiple iterations, making modifications and persevering through challenges are just a few skills that students develop at the art table in your classroom.

And finally, don't forget that art is also beneficial for both fine and gross motor improvements. With the need to use your grip and pinching actions, cutting with scissors, applying a range of pressures as needed and working with greater accuracy all contribute to building those motor skills.

But don’t just take my word for it.  View further information on this topic from researchers at Michigan State University HERE

Click here to follow One Teacher’s Journey on TPT

Convinced that setting up an art table immediately, will have a tremendously positive impact for your students?

So where to start? Don't worry - I have your covered!

I have written a series of 4 Art Table guides so far, for a range of art media, that you can use to set up an art making station in your classroom. New sets are added regularly.  They are fantastic for low stakes explorations and can be used to:

1. Build independent prior knowledge before starting a whole class project.
2. Guide new learning for students who have not experienced the medium before
3. Consolidate knowledge for students who have used the medium in the past.

So which one are you going to set up first, before your next whole class guided art project?

Collage … Papier Mâché … Clay …  Wax Resist?

And if you have a specific medium that you require a resource for, please drop a note below in the comments. I will be glad to make it for you and I know it will benefit other teachers too :)

These art station guides each cover a specific art medium and include square shaped slides for:

1. The guide cover
2. What is (medium)
3. Famous (medium) artists
4. Materials
5. Making a (medium) artwork
6. Can you make a (medium) project instruction card
7. (medium) clean-up
8. Teacher Information x2
9. Teacher instructions
10. Blanks slides for you to add your own instructions x2

And a bonus slide with links to recommended, whole class, art projects for (medium).

You can either print out the pages and slip into a clear file for students to refer to, or print 2/pg, laminate, punch and slip onto a jump ring.

Take a closer look at these Art Table guides for 2nd Grade - 5th Grade, by clicking on any of the images above.

I wish you all the best with setting up these great experiences for your students too! If you like the sound of all 4 sets so far (and why wouldn't you - they are all great),  take advantage of purchasing the bundle and save $$$. 

Why trust One Teacher’s Journey resources?

Because I too am a full time teacher, just like you, with years of experience and current Visual Art Specialist responsibilities. In other words, I do this everyday - just like you.

You can contact me through my store Q & A or email me through my website if you are looking for anything specific. 

That way I can get in touch to better support you. info@help-me-learn.com

Click here to follow One Teacher’s Journey on TPT

Remember to share this post with a friend who might need this.

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I would love to have you join me and experience my resources first hand because my hope is that you will happily become an advocate for this product lines.

More Spring Themed Art Lesson Plans and Video Guides for Classroom Teachers

In my previous post I wrote about the benefits of harnessing the arrival of Spring as a starting point for some great art lessons with your students. This post will further expand on those benefits and also align some specific pick-up-and-go comprehensive art lessons that you can use with your students today. Some lessons are step-by-step PDF guides while others are narrated video demonstrations. You can find one that suits you and your students, the best.

More Spring-Themed Art Lesson Plans and Ideas

Abstract Garden Quilts & 3D Spring Flowers

Spring flowers are a symbol of new beginnings and can be the perfect subject for a spring-themed art lesson. Have your students collect different types of flower pictures or take photos of flowers. Both of the following art lessons will build problem solving skills and also result in each student’s work being unique.

Abstract Garden Quilts  focuses on the art concept of ABSTRACTION for 2nd grade and up. Use oil pastels and paints. This is a fully narrated video tutorial that demonstrates all steps in real time. Stream the video lesson on your large screen and free yourself up to roam your classroom and support your students. This lesson plan focuses on:

• Break up and recompose photographs

• Extract basic shapes to compose an image

• Under-painting to create the garden mood

• Show depth in an artwork through layering shapes and using analogous colours

• Contrast warm and cool colours to create focal points

3D Spring Flowers is a 3D painted paper collage art project for grades 1-3. Includes a fully illustrated PDF teaching guide that demonstrates every step. Introduce students to the elements of SHAPE and FORM, & the principle of PROPORTION (sizes and location). 2 colour schemes are demonstrated in the guide. Students also learn about colour value and using stencils to create repetition. 

Spring Flowers 3D art project has built in choice for differentiation, while keeping the skills taught consistent across the class, to save your sanity.

Praise for SPRING FLOWERS: 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ "did this with my first grade class. Took us about 4 art classes to complete. turned out so absolutely beautiful that they were displayed in our school foyer"

Butterflies and Bees Art works

Butterflies and bees are a common sight as spring arrives, and they make great subjects for a drawing lesson. Have your students study the different parts of these insects, including their wings, body, and antennae. This helps to create artworks with more understanding about the subject matter. 

Butterfly mobiles  

is a fully narrated video tutorial created for K-1st grade, that demonstrates all steps in real time. Stream the video lesson on your large screen and free yourself up to roam your classroom and support your students.

Benefits of using a video lesson:

• The lesson has already been tested

• All steps are viewable from start to finish

• Techniques are demonstrated

• Rewind and rewatch as many times as needed

• Narrated explanation adds depth to understanding art theories

• Its like having an art specialist in your classroom 

Bee Brave Art project for Back to School guides students to create values based artwork at the start of the new school year. Each student draws and paints a large flower design, symbolising learning growth in a happy classroom. Then add an observation drawing of a bee that representing themselves as the busy learner. Finally students incorporate a classroom value word of their choice, e.g. Bee Positive or Bee Kind. You will love the results and they can stay up on display all year as they remind students about the class expectations of a happy learning environment.

PRAISE FOR Bee Brave

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "What a great back to school project. Great messages to go with this project and the students really got into it. I love the process of it and that if fits more than one grade level. Thanks!"

Blossom covered Spring Trees & Landscape Paintings

Spring trees and landscapes can be full of vibrant colours and interesting textures. Have your students study photographs of blossom covered trees and  landscapes and then create their own artworks using collage or a variety of colours and brushstrokes.

Bird Song Spring art lesson plan for BIRD SONGS COLLAGE suits Grades 2-4 introduces students to the wonderful media of paper collage. This comprehensive art project for grades 2-3, or older was inspired by the illustrations of popular children's picture books and the artworks of Henri Matisse.

• SHAPE - identify and use 2D shapes to compose artwork

• SPACE - Create space by layering shapes

• COLLAGE - gain experience and skill working with this medium

• STENCILS - gain experience and skill for making and working with stencils

This is a great art unit to combine with a Science inquiry focused on seasons (Spring) or animals (birds). For a literacy connection, collage picture books have been suggested as reference among other resource links, and a clear and comprehensive photo journal of each step of the process has been provided, along with student and teacher exemplars of work in progress and completed work.

This lesson plan focuses on:

Colour Value Landscapes is a project that can relate to plant life cycles and seasons, Sharing the Planet or How The World Works. Your students will love creating this unique and impactful art project that has a strong focus on the Element of Colour (Value) and the Colour Blocking painting technique. Learn about why as artists, we need to use multiple values in any hue and build painting skills with different paint brushes and tools.
COLOUR VALUE LANDSCAPES is a comprehensive visual art lesson plan for paint & oil pastel that will guide your students through creating artworks of trees on a hillside in a season of your choice, including spring. This lesson has tons of built in choice for differentiation

Spring Weather Art

Spring weather can be moody and unpredictable. Showers one minute and windy the next. Some great drawing and painting artworks can be created using the weather for inspiration. Combine with a poetry lesson, like writing Haikus about weather, and you’re onto a winner.

Rainy Days is great when you're teaching a unit on weather and needing an impactful Art Lesson that also helps to consolidate Science learning. Your students will love creating this bright art project with tons of built in choice for differentiation, while keeping the skills taught consistent across the class, to save your sanity. 

Take the guesswork out of teaching art, avoid the epic fails that result from not having the time to trial the lesson or media yourself before teaching it. I’ve done it all for you and trailed this lesson with my own students, aged 5-6, in 1st and 2nd grade.

Windy Weather is another great art project when you're teaching a unit on weather and needing an impactful Art Lesson that helps to consolidate Science concepts. Your students will love creating this fun art project about a kid with an umbrella, blown off their feet by the force of the wind. With an art focus on the principle of MOVEMENT, this lesson has tons of built in choice for differentiation. I’ve trailed this lesson with my own students, aged 6-8, in 2nd grade through 4th grade. 

PRAISE FOR WINDY WEATHER:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This is a great project, my grade two students definitely found it challenging. We had to stop and replay the video several times. I found the guide pages very helpful.”

And finally...

Easter themes

As Easter falls into spring (Northern hemisphere), bunnies form another popular subject matter. These create a gorgeous wall display in your classroom, and students can add eggs and / or flowers to further embellish their display.

Fluffy Easter Bunnies is a comprehensive art lesson plan to guide your Easter art project in grades 1-3, using poster paints and sponge printing techniques. Includes a PDF teaching support document with printable drawing guides and display suggestions. This lesson comes with the instructional video that demonstrates every step, supporting students with creating texture in paint, using the element of SHAPE and the principle of PROPORTION. 3 versions (colour and bunny poses) demonstrated, to guide originality. Created with students aged 5, this lesson plan is aimed at early elementary but also includes an extension for older/ more capable students, and focuses on:

• the element of SHAPE concepts and principles of PROPORTION

• painting techniques (sponge painting)

• and fine motor skills (drawing, cutting, composing)

So as you can see, Spring brings many options for incorporating amazing art projects into your teaching days and your students will love you for introducing them to a range of art processes and creative options.
If you would like to know more about any of these lesson plans, click on any of the images or links to be taken directly to that lesson on TPT.

If you find TPT overwhelming, you might prefer to browse my website  instead. All links for where you can find me are below my signature at the end of this post.
And please reach out in the comments or on any of my platforms if you have any questions about my products or about teaching in general.

Remember to share this post with a friend who might need this.

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We would love to have you join us and experience our resources first hand because we hope that you will happily become an advocate for our product lines,

Thank you for stopping by,

With love, Te Aroha 

Timea 

My TPT store 

My Pinterest Page 

The Gram 

My Website