Overview

How does the program work?
Once a month, volunteers and students engage in discussions about artists and their artwork through a variety of visual aids (from the Art Enrichment collection) and fun projects. Visits are arranged with the teacher and can last anywhere from 30-minutes to an hour. Taking into consideration very busy months of testing and holidays, you may opt to skip a month.

How do I get started?
Each Volunteer is given an Art Enrichment curriculum. Use your AE curriculum to find the appropriate folder in the art closet across from the music room. The AE supplies are located on the last four shelves of the art closet (designated by orange tape). The key to the closet is kept in the office. Folders should be checked out by signing the appropriate card and leaving it in the card file box. This is important so other Volunteers who might need the folder can contact you if they need to.

The AE curriculum is created to give students exposure to many different artists and styles as well as not to overlap the things covered in Ogden's art lessons, such as Cave art, African American art and Egyptian art. Age appropriateness and the regular classroom curriculum are also considered when developing the AE curriculum. For example, when the kindergarten studies “All about me,” the AE curriculum calls for self-portraits. Or when the second grade studies their community, your AE curriculum will have you looking at Grandma Moses and the painted scenes from her neighborhood. The AE curriculum also supports the artists and paintings found at the Art Institute of Chicago, so you can encourage the students to go and see the real thing!

What about art projects?
Please coordinate your art project with your discussion. Many of our folders have project ideas and books you may use along with your discussion. Check AE Resources for links to some wonderful websites (i.e. Crayola, Kinderart, the Incredible Art Department) with great art lesson plan ideas. Also check some of the books in the closet, as they have lesson plans too.

Also, use art activities that go along with the artist. It is important that we relate our presentations to artists or techniques and show the posters as examples. That way we are sure this valuable classroom time is spent on art education. (Craft projects that do not relate to a poster, artist or technique should be reserved for class parties.)

Various art supplies are available on the last four shelves of the art closet (designated by orange tape): paint, watercolor, pastels, sculpture wire, paintbrushes and paper.