A few times a month, my children ask to “create projects”. This means they get out every art & craft supply we have and assemble a masterpiece. I like that they are imaginative and enjoy exploring in this way. What I enjoy more? When those creations are related to something we have been learning about. I’m not always so good at coming up with those ideas though. That’s why I was thrilled to receive Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions from Around the World by MaryAnn F. Kohl from Gryphon House to review. This book has tons of ideas!
I have used a few other books by MaryAnn F. Kohl in our art adventures. I was happy to see some of the same features. The needed items are listed with easy to follow directions. A single line drawing of the project (either completed, a variation, or in progress) is included for each project. I really appreciate that it is not a photograph of perfection. My children often get frustrated if their creation is not exactly like the picture. The drawings leave room for creative interpretation too.
At the beginning of each section (continent), all the activities within are listed by country. The outline of the continent is shown along with some things that region is know for – such as the parrots of the Amazon rainforest shown above. I like this emphasis on the geography.
Also at the beginning of each section is an overview of the art of the region. A listing of books that can accompany a study is found here as well. For the youngest children, this can be a complete unit for studying that country. It makes a wonderful supplement for other curricula your elementary-age children are using.
The arrangement of the projects by continent (or in some cases, people groups) makes it easy to include these with your geography lessons. Sometimes the projects utilize a technique known to that culture. Other times, it is the end result that resembles the original with a technique a little less than authentic (though very child friendly).
There are icons at the top of each project letting you know at a glance several things about it. You can tell which activities are for those with little skills to those needing stronger skills. Planning and preparation are also designated by a number. Most activities only need common items. Those that require more unusual items (light bulbs or slide projector slides) are indicated with a 3.
The activities and projects are also classified by the technique. It is not all painting or drawing. We found projects for printing, collage making, sculpture and construction, too! I think my children’s favorites are the construction projects. After doing some studies we found online of Niger, we made these decorative necklaces. My 10 year old recognized them as being similar to ones we saw in an episode of the Young Indiana Jones Adventures. I love it when they make these connections on their own!
On the page for the project you can also read a bit about the people and the art or craft being made. One of the things my daughter (5 years old) chose to do was a ribboned hat from the Mayan culture. We read that the men would come to a carnival or feast wearing hats decorated with ribbons. We then attached her selection of ribbons to a wide-brimmed straw hat.
My favorite section of Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions from Around the World is the index. Each project and activity can be found by name, technique, experience, preparation, country and by materials used. This makes the book an even greater resource. You can plan a unit study based upon the project you have the materials on hand for. You can find an activity for a technique you want to teach. You can find an activity or project for just about anything you can think of. Though this book is aimed at younger children, preschool to early elementary, my nearly-a-teen daughter and I have just as much fun doing some of the art we find inside.
Global Art can be ordered through Gryphon House ($16.95). They have a huge assortment of other books for your younger learners. Other Crew members also reviewed The Homegrown Preschooler: Teaching Your Kids in the Places They Live. You can read all of our reviews by heading over the Crew blog through the graphic below.
