Artists use many tools. Crayons, pencils and markers make lines. Paint and brushes spread color. Clay can be squeezed into shapes. Scissors and glue turn paper into pictures.
Key idea
Each tool makes a different kind of art. Art is not only crayons and paper.
Why it works
A pencil line can be erased. Paint can cover a big sky fast. Clay can stand up on the table. Choosing the right tool helps you make what you imagine.
Worked example: Let's look
Ruby wants to make a little bowl she can hold. Which tool should she use?
- A bowl is solid, not flat.
- Clay can be squeezed and shaped with your hands.
Answer: Clay.
Common mistake
Some children think art means only crayons on paper. Clay animals, paper cutouts glued into a collage, and paintings are all art.
For the grown-up. Set out two or three materials (crayons, a lump of play dough, paper and child-safe scissors) and let your child make the same animal with each. Talk about which was easiest and why.