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Advocacy for Use of
Sketchbooks in Elementary
Every year someone posts to the Art
Education lists with questions about sketchbooks in elementary - How
useful are they? And what proof do you have they are beneficial? Not too
long ago, I did a web search to find research on using sketchbooks. Most
of what I found (ERIC documents) was the benefit to CORE subjects - which
is a plus for you, too. No, I do not have the research documents - only
found that they are available to you. All Getty TeacherArtExchange List
members who use sketchbooks with elementary have found them to very
beneficial. Students feel like real artists.
Anyone who is trying to "sell" the idea of sketchbooks to your
parent organization - or administrator - should sit them down in front of
this video: "Sketchbooks: How Artists Use Them"
This is one you can get for FREE from Art Video World (Buy three - get one
free - 1-800-644-3429 - video #8690 - only $29.95 - page 7 - Buy it
yourself and include this in your tax deduction).
The video interviews three artists and
shows them using their sketchbooks. It also shows ways to use sketchbooks
to integrate art with literacy, math and science I can certainly see
social studies, too. It is really enjoyable to see the elementary students
talk about how useful their sketchbooks are to them. (An interesting
tidbit - my son still has a drawing and clay model he made of a cell in
elementary. He is now 21. I bet if I asked him - he could still tell me
all the parts of the cell and what they do)
The video is 20 minutes long. This may not be a video you would pop in and
have your classes watch from beginning to end - but you might want to show
segments of it. You can decide after you get the video. It is definitely a
must if you have an administrator that just doesn't want to buy into the
purchase of sketchbooks -when you know they are needed. Sometimes it is
best to just shell out the money yourself when you need a resource (I did
all the time - and it was worth it. An now the government encourages it
with your tax deduction for educators).
Maybe this would make a good research topic for you? (Those elementary
teachers who are planning on getting your masters degree) Come up with a
topic that is narrowed down to art/elementary students (you decide what
grade level to introduce them). Then you can make your own video to
convince the school board to continue funding the books. Sketchbooks CAN
motivate learning in all subjects. What if you worked closely with Math
and Science teachers and used the same sketchbook? Art lessons would
utilize drawings done in math and science, too....just a thought.
Connections...connections...connections.
Larry Prescott has a project on his site that reminds me of cells:
http://mms.d321.k12.id.us/webart/html/student%20work/papcutde.html
Turn it into an "Under the Microscope" lesson. The microscope
always fascinated me. My father had one that I used as a kid. I guess that
is why I used the microscopes with my classes (7th grade - patterns in
nature - Fish and plants) ~ Judy Decker
You might also want to consider: "Building
a Nature Sketchbook" Art Video World # 8718.
Links for Sketchbooks and Visual
Journal to come:
Lesson Plan: Sketchbooks/Visual
Journal - Jeffco Visual Arts
Sketchbook ideas (middle school - high school)
Sketchbook
ideas K- 8
Lesson Plan: Make a
Sketchbook (middle school - high school) http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/Files/draw.htm
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/Files/sketchbook.htm
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/sketchbook.html
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/MakingofSketchbook2.htm
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/sketchbookHS.html
Artist Jim Pollock is an advocate
for using sketchbooks with students. View
his sketchbooks. Jim has done email interviews with students. Contact information is
on his site.
How To Make
Sketchbooks:
You will find tons of info on
making sketchbooks in Getty TeacherArtExchange archives.
Enter make sketchbooks teacherartexchange in Google for starters. Be sure
to click on the see more results at bottom of the search results page.
If your school has one of those book binding machines, that is the way to
go. Get some parent volunteers to help make the books. See these name
design sketchbooks submitted by Denise Pannell. If you don't have one
of those machines, invest in some three hole folders (on sale now in many
stores for 5 cents a piece). Buy some three hole paper and
assemble books (again - get some parent volunteers - or even older
students for this method). Of course, you can punch the holes yourself...
but it would sure save hours of time to buy the paper already punched -
the time saved is well worth the expense.
Cheapest of course would be to insert photocopy paper inside a folded
piece of construction paper and staple (put as many sheets in as you can
and still staple). Once that book is full - make a new one.
Here is Craig Roland's instructions from @rt Room:
http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sketchbk/make_a_sketchbook.html
Craig Roland's instructions with elaboration
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005662/Thinkquest/sketchbook.htm
another easy "how to"
http://www.kinderart.com/across/sketchbook.shtml
More advanced "how to" lesson:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/MakingofSketchbook2.htm
For some REALLY nice handmade sketchbooks - see this how to:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/2623/184/index.php
You can adapt this using drawing paper.
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