The author analyzes variations in composition and feeling apparent in simple sketches of the same object by three different students. (SJL)

A teacher and her students explore the structure of "bubbles" in comic books. Evaluating the use of narration in comics led to the use of narration in books and how characters relate in stories. (Author/RK)

Discusses the instructional method called drawing mental models that allows teachers to examine students' mental models of science concepts and its use as a diagnostic tool for probing the depths of students' understanding. Presents guidelines for using this strategy. (JRH)

Investigates the use of the Naglieri Draw-a-Person Test (DAP) for its appropriateness for use by art therapists. A total of 306 drawings were collected from 34 children, ages 5 to 10, over a 1-year period in three phases. Concludes that the Naglieri DAP would be a useful tool for art therapists in the assessment of cognitive development. (Contains…

Describes the experience of creating and working with the Face Stimulus Assessment (FSA). Six samples of the FSA completed by clients with multiple disabilities are presented. As the FSA is a work in progress and has yet to be established as a valid and reliable assessment, implications for further research are also discussed. (Contains 32…

Had children draw two blocks arranged in depth, and then moved either child or array and had children draw what was then a left-right arrangement; the transformation was then reversed for a final drawing. Found that when children moved to a new standpoint, there was a significant increase in vertical portrayal (as depth portrayal) between first…

Studied drawing strategies used by children ages 2 to 4 in Singapore nurseries and kindergartens using experiments and naturalistic observation. Found that during period when children are supposedly "scribbling," they make systematic investigations of visual structure and develop a cluster of representational strategies involving patches…

Discusses how students in a culturally diverse fourth grade class explored their own cultures and learned about other cultures, using quilts as a context. Notes that the students read books about quilts, conducted oral interviews of family members, wrote about their cultural traditions, and designed individual quilt squares. Concludes that the…

The article describes development, testing, and use of a new instrument, Clark's Drawing Abilities Test, and its success in screening and/or identifying artistically gifted students. Significant correlations have been found between results from this test, the Children's Embedded Figures Test, and teachers' ratings of pupils. (Author/PB)

Presents an assignment which utilizes alternative ways to absorb new information: using a small section of the material to be learned, students illustrate on a poster board what they think it means and teach each other when they present their posters to the class. (RAE)

A study explored the relationship between human figure drawing performance as measured by Ayres and Reid's assessment technique and the more commonly used Draw-a-Person-Test (DAPT). Data indicate that Ayres and Reid's self-drawing score system may be a useful replacement for the longer DAPT. (JOW)

Used standardized three-picture art interview, Diagnostic Drawing Series (DDS), with older people. Collected artwork from 24 patients diagnosed with Organic Mental Syndromes and Disorders (OMS/D). Structural qualities found in art were identified using DDS. Observations of these qualities may aid in early diagnosis of OMS/D and help educate…

Designed and tested battery of drawing techniques with scoring methodology appropriate for investigation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Variables as a whole and most hypothesized drawing features provided significant discrimination between age-matched controls and AD subjects. Capability to discriminate was also provided by objective measures of use…

Examined the influence of three factors on five-year-olds' drawings of a transparent mug with its handle turned away. The factors were mug contents; label used to describe the mug; and explicitness of the drawing instructions. Subjects were most likely to produce view-specific drawings when given specific instructions and presented with a mug…

Investigated in four experiments claims that young children's event recall can be facilitated by drawing. Found that object recall was enhanced by replacing objects on a board as they were recalled. Recall was reduced in 5- to 6-year-olds and not enhanced in older children by drawing the board and objects concurrently with or just prior to verbal…