Art Is Every Day (PDF)

Art isn't just what you find in a museum, a sculpture park, or a one-period-a-week elementary school curriculum-art is every day. Author and educator Eileen Prince offers projects for parents, grandparents, teachers, and others who want to bring meaningful, rich, and fun art experiences into children's lives. This handy resource contains more than 75 ideas to do at home, in the park, in the city, or at the museum. Go on a photographic scavenger hunt around town looking for forms and shapes. Write an autobiography based on a museum portrait, but only using clues found in the painting. Or make a sandcasting on a trip to the beach. Each project is both easy to do and requires only free or inexpensive materials. What's more, the projects and activities in Art Is Every Day will help children of any age (and adults) improve their basic understanding and production of art, or reinforce concepts they may have already learned. The book stresses art vocabulary, which in turn promotes observation and discovery. It's the perfect resource for parents whose children's school has cut its art program, grandparents looking for some fun activities to share with their grandchildren, or art teachers who would like fresh ideas for meaningful field trips or homework assignments to support their curriculum. Eileen Prince has been an art specialist in the Indianapolis-area schools since 1970, and is the author of the best-selling Art Matters and Art Is Fundamental. She lives in Indianapolis.