In the winter of 2021, the Smithsonian American Art Museum announced the theme for their annual art contest for DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) students. For young artists in kindergarten through fifth grade, that theme was Up/Down. It was a perfect connection to the open-ended themes I planned for my young artists as opposed to the more teacher-directed work I had previously taught. It was also an excellent opportunity for students to think about their audience as they worked through the stages of the artistic process.
Art teachers present a variety of lessons that emphasize student choice and the Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) approach. Students work in groups to create a project using unfinished artwork; participate in an afterschool TAB program based on the Studio Habits of Mind; use the concept of the lighthouse to create personal pieces that honor who or what inspires them; embrace brainstorming and media exploration through sketchbook art journals; and more.
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