Things had been going so well. Half the year over, successful lessons, sunny days and then…boom! Fifth grade clay day. Sound the drums! Fifth grade is a big grade level.... Learn More

I received this question via email today and thought my answer, plus any comments from readers, might help Megan out. Here is her question: Hi Patty, First I want to... Learn More

  Last summer, I purchased the book Ship-Shapes by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Siobhan Bell. The  fabric art provided just the inspiration I needed for a shape-based lesson for... Learn More

Regular black markers morph into beautiful watercolors with the help of a bit of water and a few techniques. An elephant is a perfect subject in which to experiment with... Learn More

I think the process of creating this rainforest batik art is quite magical but unfortunately it has a low success rate. By that I mean, students are usually frustrated or... Learn More

Here is a cute lesson that I did a while ago with my second grade students. It’s a great lesson for achieving good cutting skills which I think by second... Learn More

Everyone has done a watercolor birch trees art lesson. They are such a lovely tree, stripped of their leaves and shimmering with black and white bark. Most kids in Southern... Learn More

Tropical Birds are a wonderful way to teach a variety of lessons: color wheel basics, color mixing, drawing techniques. Parrots are an art room staple. They are easy to draw and... Learn More

After a recent trip to Seattle where Picasso’s “Dora Maar” was on exhibit, I knew my fifth graders would love an art project that would express what Picasso did: express... Learn More