Creativity Express

I would like to share one more resource I use with my elementary students.  It is a program called Creativity Express through madcaplogic.com.  You can get it as a software or web based product.  The program introduces the characters of Furnace, a polar bear, and Ruby and Tickles, both penguins.  They look at art, learn about art and discover art elements and principles.  It is even connected to history and science.  Short video clips introduce students to concepts and then there are interactive activities for student to reinforce learning.  I have used these clips as short introduction to my lessons as a way to grab the students’ attention.  They love the clips and the characters.  Students can move through at their own pace.

The sixteen-lesson curriculum focuses on the ways that artists visually convey messages and ideas through emphasis, contrast, and structure of the core artistic principles.  Each lesson explores artwork in context with other relevant facts and disciplines to assist students in gaining a deeper appreciation for the works of artists and the historical events and technological developments that influenced them.  Artistic principles are taught using a creative, interactive process that makes learning fun and accessible, combined with a contextual approach that makes art more relevant to one's daily life.

The online version allows students to track the sections they have completed and how they have done in the activities.  Teachers can monitor student progress as well.  There are many reviews and much information on line about the program.  I think this is an awesome resource and hope this information helps you.

-Thom Knab