I start allowing more media choices in 3rd grade. For instance, on our
recent project of "Giants in Town" kids could choose between drawing in
mixed media with pen on white paper with texture sheet crayon buildings,
watercolor and colored pencil OR black paper and oil pastel. One girl
wanted to cut her drawing out and make hers a collage. 3/4ths of them
went for the mixed media. I start with mixed media a lot in 2nd grade
(I'm a glutten for punishment because cleaning up mixed media is more of
a pain than single media...yes, I do it to myself) but I think mixed
media is more creative. We paint a ton of Eric Carle type papers and
save all the scraps that can be used at any time throughout the year
from the general scrap box. I have a variety of different papers out
for collages and in between. When we do clay projects I usually have
several variations of the way they can approach it and I'm open to new
ideas.
Linda Woods
Visit our student's web art gallery at St.John's School
www.sjs.org
click on "Stories of SJS," click on "Arts Stories," click on Linda
Woods' name. View artwork by Lower, and Middle School students as well
as our art archives.
