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Dwellings Around the Globe

In this activity students will explore dwellings across the globe. They will conduct collaborative research on cliff dwellings, igloos, longhouses, and yurts.

›› Full lesson

	Coast-to-Coast B...
	60-30-10
	Turn Off the Tub...
	Tour + Workshop ...
	Tour + Workshop ...

›› Take the Tangent and Run

›› Working on my 1st design

›› CHAD & C-H SDI

›› Mural Project

›› Navigating through 'Conve

12/5/2006 1:45:01 PM Posted By Deborah Klose As an artist and as an educator I have a great love for books. I have assembled an extensive library in my classroom for my students. I have art history books, how to books, picture books, design books, theater books, trivia books, reference books and many other genres. In our quest for technological answers in a technological world there is still an important place books. Because of the internet era, many students don't know how to find answers to their questions or even find what a specific insect looks like without using a computer! Sometimes when a student asks a question I run to the bookcases to locate the answer (even when I know it - after all, we are actors at heart). Some students think that artists are not rooted in academics and have no need for reading. We need to encourage our students to become creative learners and to explore the past through books to create the future.
12/9/2006 2:40:58 PM Posted By Lisa Verrilli very well said!
12/12/2006 11:10:29 AM Posted By Lee Sappingfield We have great collection of book to. One major thing we focus on is technical reading. The notion of time is money affects employers’ decisions to hire employees that can adapt and research effectively. A true knowledge for hands on research will pay dividends in college and industry.
12/14/2006 11:20:55 AM Posted By Barbara Nikoomanesh Working toward our building reading goal, we use scholastic art magazine as a tool. Students read about various artists and styles, and then we proceed with a lesson that coincides with the reading.
12/17/2006 12:59:01 PM Posted By Aruna Arjunan Very true - I LOVE art - but I am severly lacking in any artistic skills. Everything I have ever learned about art and design has come from my reading about it. Encouraging learners to read about it is a great way to reach those with interest but no experience, or those who feel too clumsy to be any good at it (like me!). If my high school art teacher had never asked me to pick up a book and read about impressionism - I would have never become the art history lover that I have become!
1/13/2007 3:18:47 PM Posted By Carolyne Kellner Kids love reading books espeically aobut art!
2/9/2007 9:27:26 PM Posted By Marianne Aalbue Last year I began creating an art library in the art room I teach in. Aside from the obvious benefits ours students reap from reading, my library now provides an activity for students who finish their art work early. As I teach K-5, I am not able to level books the way they are grouped in classroom libraries. My books are grouped according to the recommended age groups posted by the publishers. I also have baskets which contain sheets for the students to fill out as they read their books. One sheet asks the student to: record the title and author of his or her book, list new information acquired and list new vocabulary words. Another sheet asks the student to describe book illustrations. Students are asked to discover, identify, and describe any elements of art an illustrator has used. This helps develop arts related vocabulary.
3/15/2007 6:54:25 PM Posted By Monique Fineman I have a library that is a bit small still but growing. I do not tend, at this point, to allow the students free access. I teach middle school students. A good deal of the books have nudes. Unfortunately, I feel I have some parents who would object. Has anyone out there had this type of situation come up and how have you delt with it?
3/24/2007 10:10:14 AM Posted By Marianne Aalbue I have spoken to quite a few art teachers about books that feature nudes. Those of us who know it would be inappropriate for our students to view this type of art are careful to screen all books that students are able to view on their own. As teachers, we work hard to expose our students to all cultures in an effort to instill cultural sensitivity. We must be culturally sensitive to the viewers in this situation. If you feel strongly about this matter you could initiate a discussion about nudes in art. This could be a great art appreciation/art history lesson. It would be valuable for students to hear different opinions on this subject. Without showing your students reproductions you will have made them aware of this genre and those who wish to study this further will. After all, encouraging students to become life-long learners is one of our goals.
3/28/2007 5:30:00 PM Posted By Lisa Liu Our school library has been closed and non-fucntioning for several years now. However, they are planning to re-open it now and want teacher input on what books to purchase. Any suggestions for books that incoporate art and desigh that are must haves?? I am in a K-8 school.
4/1/2007 8:00:40 PM Posted By Donna Sharpe Lisa, As the Library Media Teacher in a K-12 school, I have to encourage you to get those who are planning the reopening of your library to purchase as many of Mike Venezia's books as possible. He has several series out now - Getting to Know the World's Great Artists, Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers and Getting to Know the US Presidents. His work is very informative in a VERY non threatening style - it's like a biographical comic book. I highly recommend them!
4/2/2007 10:03:59 PM Posted By Lisa Liu Thanks for the tips Donna!!! I'm going to look into it. Hopefully we'll get some into our school library.
4/3/2007 10:05:47 PM Posted By Donna Sharpe I'm glad you'll be looking into Venezia's books - your students won't be disappointed!
4/4/2007 11:53:53 AM Posted By Monique Fineman I have also used Venezia's books in the past at the elementary level with good success. I finally got a new set at my current school to use at the middle school level. Great set, comes in soft or hard back.
4/4/2007 2:16:57 PM Posted By mel ruth A great way to use books and to remember how truly functional they are. My students see me use my vast collection of book in my class all the time. I have also used Venezia's books, especially, the one on the presidents. Short, sweet, and a great example of work.
4/4/2007 11:42:09 PM Posted By Donna Sharpe Monique, do you find that the soft cover books last long enough for your classroom? I know in the library I'm much better off purchasing materials in library bindings or at least re-inforced or re-bound. Soft covers don't seem to last more than a few checkouts.
4/7/2007 3:07:11 AM Posted By Marianne Aalbue I also have a set of Venezia's Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists books in my art room. These non threatening and informative books are fun and students soon become very engaged with reading them. Students also like to share the comic book type illustrations with each other.
4/8/2007 6:27:33 PM Posted By Leslie Lami-Reed I am an elementary art teacher, too and I do scan the books I have for nudes...but the African art books have quite a lot, and then I figured I was censoring unnecessarily. If a child is going to take the time to thumb through an art book, maybe the occasional nude wont' hurt...since they would see the same thing in an art museum, and we want them to understand that. I lay newspapers on the desk everyday for a work surface, and they may see worse there. I have removed newspapers for content...but I am sure I can't get everything. This is our world! I had one child point our a rather modest photo in the newspaper and I asked her if she had seen any "Victoria's Secret" commercials on TV? She said she had and I said, well then, I guess you've seen just about everything! Today I found out about an art site I would like you to know about...it is a video streaming site and it is free. Give it a look! It is called www.artpass.com Enjoy, Leslie
4/8/2007 6:31:36 PM Posted By Leslie Lami-Reed Oh, and Lisa, I recommend any origami books you can get for your students. If they have a few minutes and a square of paper, they can have a ball. My students love them and they can be quite competent. They need to be able to follow the visual directions and usually reading is not necessary. Teamwork is also encouraged. Get a book for beginners...soft cover or hard.
4/9/2007 9:48:38 PM Posted By Monique Fineman I would much rather get the books in hardback but they are obviously cheaper in paperback. I had just enough this year for the paperback copies. Next year I am going to try to get donations through Donors Choose ( a web site for teachers to get donations) to further my library. Last year I used Donors Choose and was lucky to have a family donate funds for a dry rack for the room! It is a great site - check it out if you have not already.
5/8/2007 9:41:59 PM Posted By Marianne Aalbue Regarding Donors Choose...an art teacher friend of mine who has used Donors Choose often, told me that she is more successful when requests total $500.00 or less.
6/1/2007 12:13:01 PM Posted By mel ruth Our school does not have a library so any books on art that you have used and feel are absolutely essential please inform. We try to order books for each design room and indivual classroom in the hope of someday having a space that allows us to create a REAL library.
6/2/2007 10:02:51 PM Posted By kathy murphy A few years ago I discovered that my students were very quiet while creating their artwork if I played a "book on tape". It's really quite unbelievable how quiet and focused they become. I have always had a lot of books available for when they are finished with their art project but I have found the " listening" aspect of playing "books" while they are working to be very interesting. I find old cassette "books on tape" at the Goodwill and have asked parents to donate what they no longer use at home. Some of these include Harriet the Spy, Junnie B. Jones, and the Chinese Siamese Cat. One of the students favorite books is Nancy Drew--The Hidden Staircase! Lately the students have been very excited to tell me that Nancy Drew is coming to the movie screen. Many of my students have never been read to and will hear vocabulary in these stories that they might not have heard before. It creates a very peaceful atmosphere that is more conducive to creativity. It is not something that goes well with a project that requires a lot of movement such as a 3-D project where they have to get materials etc. I've had students come up to me in the hallway and say that they can't wait to come to art again to hear what will happen next in the story!! I hope to write a grant in the fall to purchase some more tapes as they can be expensive if you buy them new. I think that it's a great literacy connection!
6/11/2007 1:50:39 PM Posted By Kathleen Lee We are paperless and don't have books. Where can we find e-books on line on this topic that are free?
6/26/2007 10:57:21 AM Posted By Maxine Feldman-Cohen Barbara, I do hope that you get to respond to this. I have many copies of scholastic art magazines and have never figured out just how to use them! I see my students once a week for 45 minutes and they resent when I bring anything that takes away from hands on time in art! any suggestions? I teach elementary art. I do have an afterschool class and am thinking that perhaps I could incorporate this into that class. The kids are 2-4th graders.

12/5/2006 1:45:01 PM

Posted By Deborah Klose

As an artist and as an educator I have a great love for books. I have assembled an extensive library in my classroom for my students. I have art history books, how to books, picture books, design books, theater books, trivia books, reference books and many other genres. In our quest for technological answers in a technological world there is still an important place books. Because of the internet era, many students don't know how to find answers to their questions or even find what a specific insect looks like without using a computer! Sometimes when a student asks a question I run to the bookcases to locate the answer (even when I know it - after all, we are actors at heart). Some students think that artists are not rooted in academics and have no need for reading. We need to encourage our students to become creative learners and to explore the past through books to create the future.

12/9/2006 2:40:58 PM

Posted By Lisa Verrilli

very well said!

12/12/2006 11:10:29 AM

Posted By Lee Sappingfield

We have great collection of book to. One major thing we focus on is technical reading. The notion of time is money affects employers’ decisions to hire employees that can adapt and research effectively. A true knowledge for hands on research will pay dividends in college and industry.

12/14/2006 11:20:55 AM

Posted By Barbara Nikoomanesh

Working toward our building reading goal, we use scholastic art magazine as a tool. Students read about various artists and styles, and then we proceed with a lesson that coincides with the reading.

12/17/2006 12:59:01 PM

Posted By Aruna Arjunan

Very true - I LOVE art - but I am severly lacking in any artistic skills. Everything I have ever learned about art and design has come from my reading about it. Encouraging learners to read about it is a great way to reach those with interest but no experience, or those who feel too clumsy to be any good at it (like me!). If my high school art teacher had never asked me to pick up a book and read about impressionism - I would have never become the art history lover that I have become!

1/13/2007 3:18:47 PM

Posted By Carolyne Kellner

Kids love reading books espeically aobut art!

2/9/2007 9:27:26 PM

Posted By Marianne Aalbue

Last year I began creating an art library in the art room I teach in. Aside from the obvious benefits ours students reap from reading, my library now provides an activity for students who finish their art work early. As I teach K-5, I am not able to level books the way they are grouped in classroom libraries. My books are grouped according to the recommended age groups posted by the publishers. I also have baskets which contain sheets for the students to fill out as they read their books. One sheet asks the student to: record the title and author of his or her book, list new information acquired and list new vocabulary words. Another sheet asks the student to describe book illustrations. Students are asked to discover, identify, and describe any elements of art an illustrator has used. This helps develop arts related vocabulary.

3/15/2007 6:54:25 PM

Posted By Monique Fineman

I have a library that is a bit small still but growing. I do not tend, at this point, to allow the students free access. I teach middle school students. A good deal of the books have nudes. Unfortunately, I feel I have some parents who would object. Has anyone out there had this type of situation come up and how have you delt with it?

3/24/2007 10:10:14 AM

Posted By Marianne Aalbue

I have spoken to quite a few art teachers about books that feature nudes. Those of us who know it would be inappropriate for our students to view this type of art are careful to screen all books that students are able to view on their own. As teachers, we work hard to expose our students to all cultures in an effort to instill cultural sensitivity. We must be culturally sensitive to the viewers in this situation. If you feel strongly about this matter you could initiate a discussion about nudes in art. This could be a great art appreciation/art history lesson. It would be valuable for students to hear different opinions on this subject. Without showing your students reproductions you will have made them aware of this genre and those who wish to study this further will. After all, encouraging students to become life-long learners is one of our goals.

3/28/2007 5:30:00 PM

Posted By Lisa Liu

Our school library has been closed and non-fucntioning for several years now. However, they are planning to re-open it now and want teacher input on what books to purchase. Any suggestions for books that incoporate art and desigh that are must haves?? I am in a K-8 school.

4/1/2007 8:00:40 PM

Posted By Donna Sharpe

Lisa, As the Library Media Teacher in a K-12 school, I have to encourage you to get those who are planning the reopening of your library to purchase as many of Mike Venezia's books as possible. He has several series out now - Getting to Know the World's Great Artists, Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers and Getting to Know the US Presidents. His work is very informative in a VERY non threatening style - it's like a biographical comic book. I highly recommend them!

4/2/2007 10:03:59 PM

Posted By Lisa Liu

Thanks for the tips Donna!!! I'm going to look into it. Hopefully we'll get some into our school library.

4/3/2007 10:05:47 PM

Posted By Donna Sharpe

I'm glad you'll be looking into Venezia's books - your students won't be disappointed!

4/4/2007 11:53:53 AM

Posted By Monique Fineman

I have also used Venezia's books in the past at the elementary level with good success. I finally got a new set at my current school to use at the middle school level. Great set, comes in soft or hard back.

4/4/2007 2:16:57 PM

Posted By mel ruth

A great way to use books and to remember how truly functional they are. My students see me use my vast collection of book in my class all the time. I have also used Venezia's books, especially, the one on the presidents. Short, sweet, and a great example of work.

4/4/2007 11:42:09 PM

Posted By Donna Sharpe

Monique, do you find that the soft cover books last long enough for your classroom? I know in the library I'm much better off purchasing materials in library bindings or at least re-inforced or re-bound. Soft covers don't seem to last more than a few checkouts.

4/7/2007 3:07:11 AM

Posted By Marianne Aalbue

I also have a set of Venezia's Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists books in my art room. These non threatening and informative books are fun and students soon become very engaged with reading them. Students also like to share the comic book type illustrations with each other.

4/8/2007 6:27:33 PM

Posted By Leslie Lami-Reed

I am an elementary art teacher, too and I do scan the books I have for nudes...but the African art books have quite a lot, and then I figured I was censoring unnecessarily. If a child is going to take the time to thumb through an art book, maybe the occasional nude wont' hurt...since they would see the same thing in an art museum, and we want them to understand that. I lay newspapers on the desk everyday for a work surface, and they may see worse there. I have removed newspapers for content...but I am sure I can't get everything. This is our world! I had one child point our a rather modest photo in the newspaper and I asked her if she had seen any "Victoria's Secret" commercials on TV? She said she had and I said, well then, I guess you've seen just about everything! Today I found out about an art site I would like you to know about...it is a video streaming site and it is free. Give it a look! It is called www.artpass.com Enjoy, Leslie

4/8/2007 6:31:36 PM

Posted By Leslie Lami-Reed

Oh, and Lisa, I recommend any origami books you can get for your students. If they have a few minutes and a square of paper, they can have a ball. My students love them and they can be quite competent. They need to be able to follow the visual directions and usually reading is not necessary. Teamwork is also encouraged. Get a book for beginners...soft cover or hard.

4/9/2007 9:48:38 PM

Posted By Monique Fineman

I would much rather get the books in hardback but they are obviously cheaper in paperback. I had just enough this year for the paperback copies. Next year I am going to try to get donations through Donors Choose ( a web site for teachers to get donations) to further my library. Last year I used Donors Choose and was lucky to have a family donate funds for a dry rack for the room! It is a great site - check it out if you have not already.

5/8/2007 9:41:59 PM

Posted By Marianne Aalbue

Regarding Donors Choose...an art teacher friend of mine who has used Donors Choose often, told me that she is more successful when requests total $500.00 or less.

6/1/2007 12:13:01 PM

Posted By mel ruth

Our school does not have a library so any books on art that you have used and feel are absolutely essential please inform. We try to order books for each design room and indivual classroom in the hope of someday having a space that allows us to create a REAL library.

6/2/2007 10:02:51 PM

Posted By kathy murphy

A few years ago I discovered that my students were very quiet while creating their artwork if I played a "book on tape". It's really quite unbelievable how quiet and focused they become. I have always had a lot of books available for when they are finished with their art project but I have found the " listening" aspect of playing "books" while they are working to be very interesting. I find old cassette "books on tape" at the Goodwill and have asked parents to donate what they no longer use at home. Some of these include Harriet the Spy, Junnie B. Jones, and the Chinese Siamese Cat. One of the students favorite books is Nancy Drew--The Hidden Staircase! Lately the students have been very excited to tell me that Nancy Drew is coming to the movie screen. Many of my students have never been read to and will hear vocabulary in these stories that they might not have heard before. It creates a very peaceful atmosphere that is more conducive to creativity. It is not something that goes well with a project that requires a lot of movement such as a 3-D project where they have to get materials etc. I've had students come up to me in the hallway and say that they can't wait to come to art again to hear what will happen next in the story!! I hope to write a grant in the fall to purchase some more tapes as they can be expensive if you buy them new. I think that it's a great literacy connection!

6/11/2007 1:50:39 PM

Posted By Kathleen Lee

We are paperless and don't have books. Where can we find e-books on line on this topic that are free?

6/26/2007 10:57:21 AM

Posted By Maxine Feldman-Cohen

Barbara, I do hope that you get to respond to this. I have many copies of scholastic art magazines and have never figured out just how to use them! I see my students once a week for 45 minutes and they resent when I bring anything that takes away from hands on time in art! any suggestions? I teach elementary art. I do have an afterschool class and am thinking that perhaps I could incorporate this into that class. The kids are 2-4th graders.

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