Blog
Collaborative “I am Human” Display
With Dot Day coming soon (September 15), I thought I would share another collaborative display that my students and I created a few years ago. For this display I decided to take Dot Day in a different direction and combine it with the amazing new book “I Am Human” by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds. If you haven’t read it yet, this is a book all about what it means to show empathy, how we all have the ability as humans to make choices, learn from our mistakes and show kindness and compassion. Each student in our school “made their mark” by painting their self-portrait in the style of Peter Reynolds. This mural was inspired by the cover of the book with all of the small faces behind the main character. Peter Reynolds’ illustration from the book I Am Human, the inspiration for our school mural. I facilitated this mural with the help of my amazing specials team in the gym. I had a large piece of black bulletin paper laid out that was the length of the bulletin board I planned on displaying it on. I then used Crayola Premier tempera (regular & fluorescent) paint mixed with a bit of white paint to make the paint more opaque so that it would stand out on the black paper. I mixed each color of the rainbow, as well as the intermediate colors (red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, Yellow, etc..) in several container cups so that multiple students could paint at the same time (probably 3-4 cups of each color) and had them laid out along the side of the black paper in ROYGBIV order. In small groups, I had students come up to the black paper (starting at the top of the paper so they wouldn’t step in wet paint) and carefully paint a simple self portrait illustration similar to the style of Peter Reynolds, but also painted uniquely to represent each child. Once every student in the school had a chance to paint their portrait, I hung our rainbow portrait mural in our hallway with a line from the book that said: “I am Human. One of billions but unique”. My students loved finding their self-portraits and the impact this collaborative piece had in our hallway. If you decide to try a mural like this in your school, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your amazing work!
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Dot Day Rainbow Display
Looking for the perfect collaborative art project for Dot Day? Celebrate creativity, courage, and school-wide connection with this Rainbow Dot Day Display inspired by The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Ideal for elementary art teachers, this vibrant monochromatic display uses simple materials like oil pastels, watercolor, and tempera to help students explore color theory and radial design. It's one of my most recreated Dot Day art lessons—sure to wow your school community and get everyone talking!
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40 Engaging Drawing Prompts for Kids
Stuck on what to draw?Whether you're an art teacher looking to spark creativity in your classroom or a parent trying to inspire your child at home, this list of 40 fun and imaginative drawing prompts is sure to get those creative juices flowing! From “Design your dream treehouse” to “Draw a dinosaur ice cream shop,” these prompts are perfect for early finishers, sketchbook warmups, or brain breaks. Bonus idea: Write them on craft sticks for a fun, randomized drawing challenge!
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5 Reasons Sketchbooks are Important in the Art Room
Sketchbooks are more than just blank pages—they're a space for students to experiment, reflect, and grow as artists. In this blog, discover five key reasons why sketchbooks are an essential tool in the art room and how they can inspire creativity, build confidence, and support artistic development all year long.
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