How Children Make Art: Lessons in Creativity from Home to School » (1st Edition)

With his unique and refreshing perspective, Szekely shows educators how to use ideas from home art and play activities as the basis for a school art program that is meaningful to children. The author presents memorable descriptions and inspiring moments from a lifetime of studying children's home art--all to introduce readers to a wealth of art teaching possibilities. In these pages we learn what happens when children entering the art room are treated as colleagues, bringing their own ideas to an art curriculum that doesn't overshadow them with adult art plans and teachings about adult artists.

Preface     xi
Learning from Home Studios     1
Inside the Green Cabinet     2
Why Visit Children's Studios?     3
Reports from Home Visits     4
The Final Frame     10
Children's Rooms as Art Studios     12
Bed Artists     13
Artists on the Floor     16
Pillow Artists     20
Playhouse Artists     24
Art in Childhood Events     29
Birthday Artists     30
Parade Artists     34
Gift-Giving Artists     37
Remaking the World, One Object at a Time     42
Handwork Artists     43
Personal-Container Artists     46
Mail Artists     51
Phone Artists     54
Finding Art Opportunities Everywhere     57
Kitchen Artists     58
Store-Play Artists     62
School Bus Artists     66
Outdoor Artists     70
Learning Design by Designing at Home     77
Shelf Artists     78
Dress-Up Artists     81
Home-Chore Artists     84
Discovering Art in Everyday Playing     89
Water Artists     90
Flashlight Artists     93
Disguise Artists     96
Home Drawing Experiences Guiding School Art     100
Line Players     101
Drawing Inventors     105
Scissor Artists     110
From Copyist to Artist     114
Painting at Home and Painting in School     118
Brush Artists     119
Color Artists     123
Canvas Artists     126
Experienced Printmakers Wanted in School     131
Pocket Printers     132
Life Printers     136
Print-Store Artists     139
Discovering a Third Dimension: Children's School Sculpture     144
Block-Playing Artists     145
Doll Artists     149
Hanging Artists     153
Art on Wheels     157
Small-Scale Artists     160
Children Invent the Future Art World     164
Idea Artists     165
Inventor Artists     169
Children as Art Teachers     172
A Lifelong Appreciation of Beautiful Objects     177
Art History and Appreciation at Home and in School     178
Showing Home Art to School Art Classes      184
Children's Art Is Real Art     192
Sample Lesson Plan     193
Select Bibliography     199
Index     203
About the Author     211