Art Classroom Ideas

The art classroom presents unique challenges regarding storage, procedures and the development of supplemental activities. An art teacher must provide a framework within which the students will be most productive while still allowing for collaboration and creativity. With careful planning, an art classroom can become stimulating, vibrant and constructive.

Storage

An art classroom must include ample storage for supplies and projects. Supplies should be stored and labeled for easy access. Many secondary art classrooms use a supply table for the supplies used most often. Placing the supplies on the table allows the teacher to monitor the quantity and type of supplies being used. Younger students can bring their own art boxes to class. Art boxes should be stocked with basic supplies, such as white glue, crayons, safety scissors and markers. Project storage also poses a problem because art projects tend to be larger than normal class projects. To solve this, students can make folders in which to carry their work. Creating folders also provides an opportunity for the students to express themselves by decorating the covers.

Procedures

Because art classes take place in a limited period of time, students must understand procedures for entering the classroom, getting supplies, working, asking questions and cleaning up. Clear procedures allow the students to work independently and maximize class time. For secondary students, the teacher should write daily instructions in an established place on the chalkboard; students can enter the classroom and read what to do. For younger students, teachers should establish an entering procedure in which students put their heads down until they are quiet and ready to listen to the teacher's instructions. Teachers may want to name one person per table to be in charge of supplies. Guidelines should be set for how the students should behave while they are working. The teacher should take extra care to stress safety procedures for potentially harmful supplies. Teachers also may require a procedure for asking questions, such as sitting down and raising one's hand. Teachers should also establish clear guidelines for cleaning up. Students' areas should be approved to make sure that everything is clean and ready before the next class.

Supplemental Activities

Teachers must use their imaginations to intelligently utilize space in the classroom for supplemental activities. Organize the art classroom to maximize productivity. For instance, a computer center can be set up for research or graphic design.

Bulletin boards can be used to generate supplemental lessons. The teacher could post images of famous artworks without providing the titles or artists. The teacher could then provide extra credit to the students who find the name of the artworks and artist by a certain time.

The teacher could also create a reference library with art history texts and require the students to complete artist profiles.