In the Art Room: Introducing Painting to Children

This week, all of my students in first through fourth grade started painting. It was their third day of art (you can see how we spent our first two days of art here and here). Keep in mind, with 30 minute art classes, cramming is as much as I like is tough. Our focus on this first day was to learn my painting procedures...all while making beautiful art. I won't go too much into it here as I have a big ole podcast episode all about it. Take a listen:

 If you are like me, you wanna see how the lesson is taught. So I recorded myself and I thought I'd share with you. What I always learn when watching myself teach is that I TALK TOO MUCH...but on that first day of teaching painting, there is so much to learn! So here you go:

On my Instagram this week, I've been sharing a lot of my painting set up and supplies. Because I got a lot of feedback about those shares, I thought I'd create a little Art Teacherin' 101 video all about my favorite supplies for painting: 

From here, my students will spend their second painting day doing a lot more painting and with a lot less talking from me. On the second day, I just do a reminder of our procedures and what it is we are working on. By the way, we are painting those shapes you saw in the first image. I bought those packets of precut shapes at IKEA. I initially thought they were just $1.50 a pack but they are actually $7 a pack with about 80 precut papers inside. Not the bargain I had thought it was. 

 We will be using those precut painted papers for a collaborative piece that I hope to share with you soon. If you watch the videos, you'll find out all the details on these LIDDED ice cube trays (where have you BEEN all my LIFE, trays?!). 

 All the heart eyes, people. All of 'em.

And my second favorite art supply for painting with children, these doggie dishes! Like I said, many more details on my painting set up and supplies in both the podcast and the video...so in an effort of not repeating myself, I'll stop yammering and let you take a listen and a looksee. Thanks, y'all!

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