My favorite part about teaching art is showing all the different ways the students can make art. It is very fun to see which medium or lesson a student will enjoy the most! Below I have a few examples of art lessons I've done for middle and High school classes.

Teaching Art

Split Self Portrait

I have Mirrors for each student to use to draw half their portrait. They will need at least an hour on this first half. For the second half students draw items they use to identify themselves; favorite movies, activities, pets, etc.

The first thing I tell the students is that it does not have to be a realistic portrait. Every student has their own style so if they want to make a more cartoon or stylized portrait they definitely can! I've had some really fun stylized portraits come from this, and it helped ease some of the kid's minds who don't like drawing realistically.

Project

Lesson

Students learn to think about how they feel about their own identity and applying it to their art.

Positive and Negative Space

You will need paper with a circle or square in the center. Inside the circle or square is going to be the negative space, outside the shape will be positive. Students must draw shapes going in and out of the positive and negative space and color them in depending on which space they are inside.

Project

Lesson

Learning the difference between positive and negative space and how artists can use it to create logos, abstract art, and simplified illustrations.

Recycled Ginger bread House

The class before starting the project I ask the students to bring in Cardboard, other recycled materials, and things around their house to make their own card board house! I also provide some recycled materials just in case. I like to allow the students to make their own building shapes. Ive had a few do factories and others make classic gingerbread house shapes, even some castles. It can be a great lesson on architecture as well!

Project

Lesson

This is a wonderful lesson on teaching kids alternative ways trash or recycling can be used. Trash and recycled art is also a large part of art history, so I like to have the students discuss the positives and negatives of recycled art.