I Spy 7 Elements of Art
May 9, 2017
The moment your children step out from their school compound, what they’ll be learning next rests on you. Some parents rely on books and flashcards, but it takes a big bang of creativity to make lessons engaging. An art topic, such as the 7 Elements of Art, is a good place to start. If you’re planning to tap into your children’ inquisitive nature, indulge them with an interactive game of ‘I Spy with My Little Eye’ in your garden.
Adding a burst of creativity into any at-home art lessons can do wonders in keeping things fun and engaging for the children. Coupled with an enjoyable game where they can learn and play, your child will be picking out the elements of art during your morning drive to school or playtime at the neighbourhood park in no time.
1. First Element of Art: Line
Sunny afternoons are the best backdrop for a little quality time with your children. Introducing the first element of art called line is easy because they come in many types such as horizontal, vertical, wavy, and diagonal lines. Get those little feet moving and roam around the garden to find them.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Bench, water hose, or white picket fence.
2. Second Element of Art: Shape
Next, get your children to identify various shapes you can find in your garden. The shape is essentially a combination of multiple lines, so dart your eyes on objects that carry geometric shapes (with points and lines) or organic shapes (all things nature).
I Spy with My Little Eye: Soccer ball and mailbox (geometric shapes) or clouds and puddles (organic shapes).
3. Third Element of Art: Space
Since your garden is filled with trees and potted plants, it’s the perfect location to introduce your children to the element of space. Clue your little ones to the distance between two trees, the space between two potted plants, or the gap between two clothing lines to showcase space.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Trees, potted plants, or clothing lines.
4. Fourth Element of Art: Value
Next, explore the garden with your children to seek out an object that showcases value. In other words, the varying shades of lightness and darkness of a certain form or object. Spy your little eye on different leaves and flower petals that come in various shades.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Leaves or petals with light to dark shades.
5. Fifth Element of Art: Form
Any time your little ones discover a three-dimensional object, tell them that it is an example of form. Trees and plants are two of many examples in the garden. You can even send clues that point towards flower vases, fruits, and vegetables.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Trees, plants, vases, fruits, and vegetables.
6. Sixth Element of Art: Texture
Let your child’s sensory experience take over when the element of texture is in the picture. By touching and feeling different surfaces, it allows your children to get creative in describing one texture after the other. Whether it’s smooth, rough, hard or light objects, there are many examples in the garden you can go for.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Rocks, pebbles, soil, and grass.
7. Seventh Element of Art: Colour
There’s no better place to demonstrate the element of colour than your garden. Colours happen when an object absorbs all wavelengths except the colours that are reflected back to our eyes. Clue your little ones towards bright and colourful objects such as flowers and leaves with varying hues and intensity.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Flowers and leaves.
Sunny afternoons are the best backdrop for a little quality time with your children. Introducing the first element of art called line is easy because they come in many types such as horizontal, vertical, wavy, and diagonal lines. Get those little feet moving and roam around the garden to find them.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Bench, water hose, or white picket fence.
2. Second Element of Art: Shape
Next, get your children to identify various shapes you can find in your garden. The shape is essentially a combination of multiple lines, so dart your eyes on objects that carry geometric shapes (with points and lines) or organic shapes (all things nature).
I Spy with My Little Eye: Soccer ball and mailbox (geometric shapes) or clouds and puddles (organic shapes).
3. Third Element of Art: Space
Since your garden is filled with trees and potted plants, it’s the perfect location to introduce your children to the element of space. Clue your little ones to the distance between two trees, the space between two potted plants, or the gap between two clothing lines to showcase space.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Trees, potted plants, or clothing lines.
4. Fourth Element of Art: Value
Next, explore the garden with your children to seek out an object that showcases value. In other words, the varying shades of lightness and darkness of a certain form or object. Spy your little eye on different leaves and flower petals that come in various shades.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Leaves or petals with light to dark shades.
5. Fifth Element of Art: Form
Any time your little ones discover a three-dimensional object, tell them that it is an example of form. Trees and plants are two of many examples in the garden. You can even send clues that point towards flower vases, fruits, and vegetables.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Trees, plants, vases, fruits, and vegetables.
6. Sixth Element of Art: Texture
Let your child’s sensory experience take over when the element of texture is in the picture. By touching and feeling different surfaces, it allows your children to get creative in describing one texture after the other. Whether it’s smooth, rough, hard or light objects, there are many examples in the garden you can go for.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Rocks, pebbles, soil, and grass.
7. Seventh Element of Art: Colour
There’s no better place to demonstrate the element of colour than your garden. Colours happen when an object absorbs all wavelengths except the colours that are reflected back to our eyes. Clue your little ones towards bright and colourful objects such as flowers and leaves with varying hues and intensity.
I Spy with My Little Eye: Flowers and leaves.
Adding a burst of creativity into any at-home art lessons can do wonders in keeping things fun and engaging for the children. Coupled with an enjoyable game where they can learn and play, your child will be picking out the elements of art during your morning drive to school or playtime at the neighbourhood park in no time.
