A Fun and Efficient 1st Grade Art Curriculum for the Classroom Teacher

Dear Classroom or Home Educator,

Welcome to Art Ed 101! If you are considering this 1st Grade art curriculum, chances are, you are a classroom teacher or parent who has been assigned the task of teaching visual fine arts to your students....and you don't have an art degree. No problem! This "Fun and Efficient art Curriculum" has been written just for you. The goal of this curriculum is to make art lessons flexible and enjoyable for you and your students.

The 7 Elements of Art: Form, Shape, Line, Color, Value, Space and Texture, have been divided into 6 groups by combining Color and Value into one element. These 6 elements of art will be the themes of each of your 6 curriculum units. Each of the 6 curriculum units contain three lessons for a total of 18 lessons in this curriculum. Each lesson will usually take two, thirty-minute classes to complete, but children's art creation speed and differing material choices will alter that time estimate. In a typical classroom or E-Learning environment, this 18 lesson curriculum will span 36, thirty-minute classes.

Each lesson will give you options on the level of "messiness" you have time for that day. Sample lesson plans are included in each unit, but please make up your own lessons to coincide with what you are teaching in other subject areas. Make art work for you. I'll give suggestions in each lesson on combining art with math, reading, writing and science, into one lesson. Chances are, some of you are already doing this, and fitting art into your already over-loaded day will seem almost effortless.

Have fun, and don't stress. As long as the kids are creating something with their hands at least once a week, you'll be on the right track.

Good Luck!

Genelle Andersen

Art Educator