A note about sketchbooks....

This past January, we started a new thing in art class: using sketchbooks! Each student was given a sketchbook that I had put together for them, and this has turned into a fun and engaging activity that I either use as a "warm-up" at the beginning of class, or as an option for students who finish the art project early, and need something to do while the other students are still working. Inside the sketchbooks are several art activities which students can work through at their own pace, and in any order they choose. When they complete a page, they are given a sticker. Activities include copying shapes and lines, and idea prompts for free-choice drawing. These activities encourage students to look attentively and really see the elements of an image. They also help warm up the small muscles in the hands, and in the arms and shoulders. Additionally, sketchbooks are great for getting the brain ready to think about and make art. At the end of the year, the sketchbooks will go home with the students' portfolios and will be a nice record of their artistic ideas and growth.