Kit Bernal
Troop 118
Art Masterpiece: What Is It?
Art masterpiece is a national volunteer run program designed to enhance children’s
knowledge of art through critical viewing, art history, and a related hands-on project.
Students learn about a variety of art movements, styles, terms, and specific artists,
while also creating their own projects that are flexible and easily tied into current
school curriculum and Colorado based standards.
“The purpose is not
Marisa Hambleton,
program coordinator
and parent volunteer at
Broadmor Elementary
to teach specific art
techniques, but
rather to increase
the child's awareness
of art and enhance
visual literacy.”
How Does It Work?
Art Masterpiece looks at one prominent artist or work per lesson, which is used
to teach about art terms and concepts such as design, color, artistic movements,
and different media.
Following the brief and interactive lesson, students create a work of art that is
inspired by the one shown, and used to reinforce the specific techniques
discussed. This can be easily customized to any grade level and tied into
curriculum.
Because Art Masterpiece can be
planned so far in advance, it
requires no actual artistic
prowess or knowledge from Those
teaching it, only a sense of
enthusiasm
Kindergarten, Paul Klee’s “Senecio, head of a man”
Paper Collage
Terms taught: Shape, portrait, symmetry
Sixth Grade, Traditional Chinese Calligraphy
Paper lantern
and ink calligraphy
Terms taught: positive
and negative space,
contrast
The Gold Award Process
\1. Project Planning and Identification of Issue
Issue: Lack of Art Education for Home-Schooled Students
> No Set Curriculum or Time
Project: Art Masterpiece Program
> Introduction to Art Styles, Movements, and famous Artists
2. Community Outreach
Advisors: people connected with the homeschool program, parents
Team: Local art stores, etc.
3. Creating A Plan
Institute a supplemented and pre-planned art/art history program within
the homeschool to increase awareness of art and artists, foster creativity,
and relate art back to other meaningful educational subjects.
How Would We Do It Here?
Because the homeschool not only plans so far in advance but cycles through the plans,
a relating “Art Masterpiece” curriculum could be used indefinitely.
Unlike traditional Art Masterpiece programs, the ability to tie it so directly into the
curriculum allows teachers to do the projects directly in class, and related to the
current unit.
Each Art Masterpiece lesson includes
> Specific Work of Art or Art Movement (primary source)
> Art vocabulary and ideas related to Art Movement (pre-written lesson)
> Plan for related, grade level appropriate project
> Example of project
As this is my project, I would
be able to plan according
lessons for the units planned,
and write the curriculum
Common Theme: Southwestern Native American Cultures
Primary Source (Woven Navajo Blanket)
Project: Navajo Blanket
(kids get pre cut out shapes and
arrange them in a pattern, or could
color pre printed blanket)
Art Terms: Shapes, Symmetry, Color
Scheme
Why is it Important?
In most public schools, art education and funding are the first to be cut. While this is not as
much of an issue within homeschooling programs, art is still often not an emphasized subject
due to lack of resources.
Art literacy
improves
> social skills
However, art is especially important in the formative elementary years for development and
> motor development
growth. Art Masterpiece is an easy program to institute and sustain, due to the fact that lesson > curiosity and motivation to
plans can be made for months in advance, and it requires no artistic prowess to teach and
learn
> critical thinking skills
little time in the classroom (typically an hour lesson per month).
> creativity and problem solving
> intuition and emotional development
Art Masterpiece is also highly customizable, allowing it to be catered to different
(right brain development)
age groups, curriculums, and Colorado Based Standards.
Students who participate in arts
are twice as likely to read for pleasure
are three times more likely to
> be recognized for outstanding school attendance
> be elected to a class office position
are four times more likely to
> be recognized for academic achievement
> participate in a math or science fair
> perform community service
Source: americansforthearts.org
“Involvement
in the arts is
associated with gains in math,
reading, cognitive ability,
critical thinking, and verbal
skill. Arts learning can also
improve motivation, concentration,
confidence, and teamwork.”
Fran Smith, Edutopia contributor