Describes a study that compared drawing and discussion as planning activities for writing, to determine the effects of each upon the quality of narrative writing. Reports that, among second and third grade students, the writing quality of the drawing group was significantly higher. (KM)

Reviews past studies of children's drawings and their relationship to academic ability. Discusses the use of Clark's Drawing Abilities Test with gifted and talented secondary students. Finds that the test can be used successfully to identify various ability levels among students. (CFR)

Investigates relationships between drawing skills of children ages four to eight and their ability to identify materials. Regression of measures of aesthetic drawing, developmental drawing, design making, symbol creation, and developed schemata found a positive correlation between total drawing scores and material identification scores; age…

Examines the development of thematic and observational drawings among third and seventh graders, with some receiving formal instructions whereas others did not. Finds that formal instruction did not significantly affect students' drawing achievement, but does find a trend toward decreasing female achievement with age. Makes observations for art…

Describes a social studies methods course in which students explore the buildings where they live and then develop lessons on "buildings" for elementary students that connect to the themes within "Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies." (CMK)

Discusses the imagery and process of an art therapy support group for low-income isolated lesbians, through five related "lenses": (1) women's relational dynamics and the centrality of relationships in lesbian lives; (2) trauma; (3) socioeconomic class; (4) lesbian identity, visibility, culture, and gender; and (5) transference. (SNR)

Describes how to make tunnel books, which are viewed by looking into a "tunnel" created by accordion-folded expanding sides. Suggests possible themes. Describes how to create a walk-through tunnel book for first grade students. (CMK)

Describes a project inspired by the 100th day of school in which first-grade students created a self-portrait of themselves at 100 years old and wrote an accompanying essay. States that the students drew wrinkles on the faces, age-appropriate clothing, gray or white hair, and even glasses as a finishing touch. (CMK)

Presents a lesson plan that enabled students to create their own portraits in the style of Pablo Picasso; students utilized their initial collages/drawings, enlarging them with an overhead projector, to paint their final products using oil pastels. Indicates the students also learned about the different "periods" of Picasso's artistic…

Explores how the universal stages of graphic language development manifest themselves in children living in the Amish community and how the uniqueness of this subculture is reflected in their drawings. Explains that Amish children focus on an agrarian environment and use copying as a means to finding an accepted place in the community. (CMK)

Discusses a project in which the teacher and two third-grade classes collaborated on a mural inspired by the construction of a new wing at their elementary school. Explains that the mural showed the progression of the construction so the students would understand the process of construction. (CMK)

Describes an art project for seventh-grade students in which they choose motifs based on Incan, Aztec, and Mayan Indian materials to incorporate into two-dimensional designs. Explains that the activity objective is to create a unified, balanced and pleasing composition using a minimum of three motifs. (CMK)

The naturalist's journal is a collection of writings and sketches that captures selected thoughts or observations of nature and represents both immediate learning and raw material that is available for more polished work. This article talks about a naturalist's journal as an effective teaching and learning tool. Creating a naturalist's journals…

Describes three integrated science and art lessons: (1) first-grade students created paper sculpture space helmets; (2) fourth-grade students created self-portraits as astronauts using foreshortening; and (3) fifth-grade students created a "Martian community." Includes descriptions of each lesson, materials, and learning objectives. (CMK)

Two studies are presented on expressive happy and sad drawings made by British 4- to 12-year-olds (n = 80 and 160, respectively) in which the drawings were assessed individually for the quantity and quality of expressive devices. Quantity was measured in the number of appropriate expressive content themes and formal properties evident in each…