All primary school teachers have to teach art but few have sufficient formal training to feel confident with the subject. This book shows how teachers and their pupils can get the most out of art lessons.

Art has always been an important part of the primary school experience. It is now one of the foundation subjects in the National Curriculum. In this book, John Lancaster helps teachers rise to the challenge of art for young children. He encourages thought about the purpose of art teaching, and at the same time provides a wealth of project ideas and helpful advice on how to organize art, craft and design in the primary classroom. The book, fully illustrated with charts and black and white plates, gives practical advice on how to: define suitable objectives and plan lessons so as to achieve them make the best use of natural and man-made resources within and outside the classroom present children's work effectively by display throughout the school encourage aesthetic awareness and art knowledge by a study of the historical and cultural aspects Organise and benefit from visits to local art galleries approach assessment of children's art and craft activities This is a basic philosophical and practical guide which will give confidence to new teachers and fresh ideas to their more experienced colleagues.

1. Art in the Primary School 2. The Framework for Planning Art Activities 3. Planning What to Teach 4. Organizing Art Within the Primary Curriculum 5. Art in School 6. Art Outside
the Classroom 7. Some Ideas 8. Four Starting Points 9. Two case studies Brief glossary of terms Bibliography Index