Almost every art lesson can be adapted for every art ability and/or grade level. Generally, age groups tend to follow certain patterns in approach to art and ability. Understanding the common challenges and strengths of your kids will help you construct more successful lessons.

Almost every art lesson can be adapted for every art ability and/or grade level. Generally, age groups tend to follow certain patterns in approach to art and ability. Understanding the common challenges and strengths of your kids will help you construct more successful lessons.

Preschool and Kindergarten

Work is mostly comprised of scribbles at this stage--some random, some in pattern. Lines, dots and simple symbols start to emerge. People and animals are often depicted with a circle for a head and lines radiating out to denote arms. Size is based on importance and colors are chosen for arbitrary or emotional reasons.

The two most important things that you can do are to encourage your students and to reinforce proper usage of art tools. A good rule of thumb is to not assume anything about the students' artwork. Always ask questions and try to make specific comments about parts of the art itself, example "I like the way that you added blue here."

First and Second Grades

Students begin to individualize their symbols. By this time, bodies are added underneath the head and the limbs migrate down. They add more detail and start to use colors in systematic ways--blue for water, brown for tree trunk, etc. They also start to draw as if with X-ray vision. For example, people might be presented inside of a house and the house drawn around them.

This is a good age to experiment with color and to develop color usage. Good topics include animals, fun activities, favorite objects and toys, and make believe scenes.

Third and Fourth Grades

Children of this age are starting to be more aware of artwork reflecting reality. They are more aware of proportion and begin to compose their pictures, placing objects on different planes. They are developing a sense of perspective.

Mixing new colors and adding details are two good teaching points. Students also enjoy learning a few artist techniques if it helps them with a particular project they are working on. Good topics include self-portraits, sports, animals and insects, plants and flowers, interesting objects.

Fifth and Sixth Grades

Self-doubt and self-criticism are strong at this stage. Many students become obsessed with creating realistic looking artwork. Ironically, they seek to achieve this by memorizing and reproducing symbols, such as the eye symbol, instead of really looking at a shape. Students really enjoy learning artist tricks on perspective, shading, composition, and people.

One manifestation of students' art insecurity is drawing objects very small. It's important to equip them with specific skills and to encourage them to fill up the page with their images. They will need authentic motivation for creating art and a lot of encouragement and reinforcement. Good topics include still lifes, cartoons, dreams, and scenes from life.

Middle School/Jr. High

The emotional roller coaster of this age is apparent during art instruction too. Art becomes more expressive and illustrative, often tied to important ideas and opinions about the world. Art ability is much the same as in 5th and 6th grade, but some have more skill depending on art instruction and experience. Shading, cross-hatching, and design concepts assist students expressing themselves more effectively.

Students get embarrassed by being in any kind of spotlight, whether criticism or praise. You can avoid this by making general comments at critiques and delivering feedback in quiet discreet ways. Good topics include important moments, dreams, historical scenes, political views, and emotions.

©2001 Jennifer MacLeod