Art and Craft in the classroom: a waste of

time?

Art and Craft in the classroom: a waste of

time?Workshop

by Caroline Campbell6-7th September 2013

2nd ELT Conference Malta

In our digital classrooms, is there still room for art and craft activities?

Why do EFL teachers use art and craft activities in the classroom?

Reasons given by teachers

« It gives the children something to do.»« Children like art and craft activities more than the ones in their coursebooks.»« Children really enjoy it!»« Children calm down and remain in their chairs for longer.»« Children can take something home with them.»« It makes the lesson less boring»« Time passes really quickly.»« It gives me a little break!»

Discuss

How can EFL teachers makesure art and craft activities are not a waste of time?

Preparing for art and craft activities

Appropriacy Is the activity you have chosen

appropriate for the young learners in your class?

Age – Linguistic and motor skills – Adequate for boys and girls – Interests etc.

Will the children spend too much time cutting, colouring in, pasting, etc.?

Preparing for art and craft activities

Will you end up doing all the work for them?

Will you be able to provide enoughmaterial for the children to complete the activity?

Preparing for art and craft activities

Will all the children be able to achieve the end result? Does it work?

Will all the children have a finished product which they

can use after the activity?

Preparing for art and craft activities

Language Is there a context to the art and craft

activity you have chosen?Linked to a topic - a text - a language point?

Will the children need to interact and communicate while doing the activity?

What is/are the learning aim/s of the activity?

Preparing for art and craft activities

What language will the children practise? Before, during and after the activity.

Can you adapt the activity such that it is simpler, perhaps less artistic but more

language focused?

Can you add more language to the activity to make your lesson more effective?

Preparing for art and craft activities

Classroom management Have you thought about classroom management?

• Before - During - After the activity.• Giving instructions.• Working individually – in pairs/groups.• Tidying up.• Dealing with disruptive behaviour.

Activity

Elephants

Blind dictation taken from A. Wright, Art and Crafts with Children. OUP

Before an activity

• Give clear and simple instructions. Demonstrate.• Introduce children to the equipment/material

they will be using.• Pre-teach vocabulary.• Show the children an example of a finished product and tell/show them how they will use it. • Motivate the children before they start the

activity.

During an activity

• Give simple and clear step by step instructions. • Make sure the children know what they have to do.• Talk to the children as they work. • Use related songs or chants.• Monitor as children work. Give individual

attention. • Ask questions. Use «No-no questions».

During the activity

• Praise the children (if appropriate).• Comment on their work. Ask them questions• Model language e.g. Paolo, can you pass me the

scissors please? • Encourage the children to ask for what they need.• Have something up your sleeve for early finishers.• Ask early finishers to help you tidy up.

After the activity• Tell the children how they will use the end

product. Demonstrate.• Ask questions about the art/craftwork itself.

Use «no-no questions»• Use a variety of language skills.• Set up the activity well. • Set a time limit.• Monitor and help with language/take notes.

After the activity

• Make sure the activity does not lead to rowdy behaviour.

• Make sure the children have their names on the end product.

• Put the art/craftwork away if you would like to continue with other activities.

• Encourage the students to use art/craft work outside the classroom and to keep practising the language they have learnt.

Add language to the art and craft activity

• Vocabulary – e.g. introduce a set of words• Grammar - e.g. students tell a story in the

present/past/future• Reading – e.g. students read a short story/text• Listening – e.g. teacher reads out a story/text or students watch a short videoclip• Speaking – e.g. a presentation• Writing – e.g. students write a story to go with

their drawing or craftwork.• Functional language – e.g. describing

Online creative activities

http://thisissand.com/

http://storybird.com/

http://thisissand.com/

http://storybird.com/

Some art and craft activities

Paper flowers

Plasticine fruit and vegetables Monster masks

Origami game

Task

Discuss

• How would you use these activities in class?

• What do you need to prepare?

References

Read, C. 2007. 500 Activities for the Primary Classroom, Macmillan

Wright, A. 2007. Art and Crafts with Children, Oxford University Press

There is still room for creativity in the classroom!

«Creativity is contagious, pass it on» Albert Einstein

Thank you!

• Powerpoint Presentation available at:www.carecampbell.blogspot.com

• Contact me at:carecampbell@icloud.com

Caroline Campbell