The Amazing Checklist

^{One of my favorite things about being an art teacher is the amount of control I have over my program.  Like most art teachers, I am constantly looking for new and creative ways to teach the concepts students need to be successful artists and thinkers. But when I add in new projects, I sometimes struggle, as we run out of time to cover all of those experiences I want my students to have.}

  ^{I recently read “The Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande and decided to put his ideas (and some common sense) to work by designing a Media Checklist.  By using this checklist, I can see at a glance what we still need to experience, what new ideas can be swapped for older ones and what areas of my curriculum need to be beefed up.  I can also tailor it for any class, from my fourth graders to my seniors!   Here is an example of my freshman Art 1 class checklist:}

Art 1: Media Checklist

(Start year with a CREATIVE CHALLENGE)

DRAWING:                  ___ Foundations of Drawing

                                    ___ Enlarged Object Drawing OR

                                    ___ NEW: Mini Still-life w/clothespins

                                    ___ Pastel Still Life

                                    ___ Colored Grid Drawing

                                    ___ Caricatures

                                     

                              

PAINTING:                   ___ Color Theory Cartoon Cubism

                                    ___ Monet/Van Gogh Painting

                                    ___ Monochromatic Watercolor Painting

                          

                

MIXED MEDIA/            ___ Art History Teaching Poster

 COLLAGE:                   ___ Collage: Tribute to Wayne Thiebaud

                                   ___ Personal Grid – Final Term Test                      

                                   

CLAY:                          ___ Personal Clay Box

                                  ___ Vessel from human or animal form

                          

SCULPTURE:                ___ NEW: Family Sculpture

(using cereal box board)

                                  ___ Found Object Art/Assemblage (evernote)

                                    

GRAPHICS:                  ___ Song Lyrics/Quote 4 Square Design

                                   ___ Illustration: Glidden’s Guernica (Picasso)

                                   ___ Collograph/Glue Printmaking

                                            

LETTERING:                 ___ EXTRA CREDIT: Logo based on initials

DIGITAL ART:              ___  Design NEW

                                  ___  Design NEW

MULTICULTURAL

CRAFTS:                      ___ Indian Beading

                                   

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EXTRA TIME:                ___

OTHER NEW STUFF:    ___

(evernote)                   ___

What kind of a checklist would you design for your art classes?