There are Many ways of using artist in the classroom but here are a few that I have found effective in the classroom.
1) Children don't just have to look at art in an art lesson, I have found that using a piece of art work can be a way of starting a discussion in English around a certain topic, a way of generating a word bank around a specific topic. I find that this can work particularly well with special educational needs children as it gives them something from which to start. When talking about autumn with a special educational needs child I used the image below to stimulate conversation around this topic.
Goldsworthy (1978) Oak Leaves and Hole.
2) Allowing children to look at copies of original pieces, not just on the board but physical copies that allow for children to have a close look at the piece of work. To examine how the artist as created the piece, the techniques used and even to take a closer look at the use of tone or colour (Bowden et al, 2013).
3)Visit Galleries !! Nothing will compare to visiting the real thing, children are able to gain an understanding of the artists scale of work as well as make more accurate judgement of what is the artist was looking to communicate (Edwards, J. 2013: Page et al,2006 ).
4) Having artists come into school and work along side children is an invaluable resource. Children can learn so much about their own art practice through working with and alongside an artist, with this idea being supported by the Room 13, 5x5x5= Creativity study, (Adams,2005: Fawcett and Hay, 2004).
These are my own idea for which I have found literature to support them, I have included my sources in my reference list and would highly recommend taking a look if you would like to find out more ideas or suggestion of how to use artists in the primary classroom environment.
Reference List
Adams,
J. (2005) ‘Room 13 and the Contemporary Practice of Artist- Learners’, Studies
in Art Education,
47(1), pp.23-33.
Bowden, J., Ogier, S. and Gregory, P. (2013) Art and Desin Primary Co-ordinator's Handbook. London: nsead.
Edwards, J.
(2013) Teaching
Primary
Art.
Edinburgh: Pearson.
Fawcett,
M. and
Hay, P. (2004) ‘5x5x5 = Creativity in the Early Years’ Primary
Art
Education,
23(3), pp. 231-246.
Goldsworthy
(1978) Oak
Leaves and Hole [Oak
leaves] Morning
earth [Online]
Available at: http://www.morning-earth.org/ARTISTNATURALISTS/AN_Goldsworthy.html
(Accessed June 2013).
Page,
T., Herne, S., Paul, D., Charman, H.,
Atkinson, D. and Adams,
J.
(2006) ‘Teaching Now with the Living: A Dialogue with Teachers Investigating
Contemporary Art Practices’ Primary Art Education,
25(2), pp.219- 230.
