Study of Claude Monet (Photo by Julie at The Adventures of Bear)
Even though I’m definitely drawing/painting-challenged, art appreciation is one of my favorite subjects to teach. Montessori education has wonderful ideas and resources for helping children develop an appreciation of art from the earliest age.
Montessori principles encourage parents to expose children to fine art from birth on. Dr. Montessori wanted parents and teachers to provide famous artists’ works hung at eye level for the child to learn a natural appreciation of art. A Montessori home or classroom is specially prepared to bring order and beauty into the child’s environment as well as give opportunities for children to enjoy their own individual art expression.
Montessori Ideas on Art Appreciation
Montessori Philosophy and Practice: 1-3 years – Art from Michael Olaf
Montessori Philosophy and Practice: Age 3-6+ years – Art from Michael Olaf
Art and Montessori from Birth to Age 12 from Michael Olaf
Why Should Children Study Art? from Montessori for Everyone
Studying Artists and Their Works in the Montessori Classroom from North American Montessori Center
Montessori Art from Muddle Puddle Home Education
Montessori Mama on Making and Teaching Art at The Artful Parent
Celma Perry on “Art Appreciation in the Montessori Early Childhood Classroom”
Montessori Art Appreciation Materials
Free artist cards from Montessori Materials
Free Montessori Art Cards For Homeschoolers from That Resource Site
Child-Size Masterpieces by Aline D. Wolf (available for purchase … the art appreciation materials I used in my Montessori school and my family used and loved)
“Child-Size Masterpieces for Art Appreciation”
Emotions in Art Lessons (Photo from Montessori Workjobs)
Montessori Art Appreciation (free emotions in art cards) from Montessori Workjobs
Michelangelo Art Book (Image from Montessori Print Shop)
Artist Cards (available for purchase) from Montessori Print Shop. Free Picasso Art Book and O’Keeffe Art Cards from Montessori Print Shop.
Artist Cards (available for purchase) from Montessori for Everyone
Art Appreciation Materials (available for purchase) from Montessori Services
Free Downloads: Montessori Art Cards and Art Appreciation from Affordable Montessori Homeschool Resources and Free Downloads
World’s Greatest Artists Unit Study (free printable) from Confessions of a Homeschooler (great printable that would be very useful in an art appreciation unit)
Essential Materials for the Montessori Art Curriculum by Andrea Coventry at Yahoo Voices and Touch the Art Board Books Article by Andrea Coventry at Children’s Books @ Suite 101
Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation Activities
A Montessori Approach to Homeschool Art (what my family did)
Art Appreciation Posts from The Adventures of Bear (Photo at the top of this post from Artists and Art – Claude Monet)
Art Appreciation at Home (Photo from The Montessori Child at Home)
Art at Home from The Montessori Child at Home
Project Montessori at Home: Displaying Art from Carrots Are Orange
Toddler Art Appreciation from Little Red Farm
John James Audubon, Astronomy: Van Gogh, Mozart & Mother Goose, Children’s Art Gallery, and A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh from Pirate Ships and Sealing Wax
Famous Artist Study - Miro (Photo from Inspired Montessori and Arts at Dundee Montessori)
Famous Artist posts from Inspired Montessori and Arts at Dundee Montessori
Picasso Study (Photo from Living Life Intentionally)
Picasso and Famous Artist: Monet from Living Life Intentionally
Artist Posts from Little Acorns
Cubism (Photo from United Montessori Association)
Art: Cubism to Quilt from United Montessori Association
Artist Baskets from Montessori Mama
Art Appreciation in a Montessori Classroom from Montessori Plus School
Montessori Art History Lessons from American Montessori Consulting
Have you prepared an environment and/or activities for teaching art appreciation?
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I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 20, and Will is 25. Please see the 
Thanks for featuring our Picasso! It was a fun project. Another really cool project was our tissue paper Monet – it is so pretty it is haning on our walls =-)
Beth
Twitter: DebChitwood
My pleasure, Beth! I love what you’re doing with your art appreciation studies. The Monet project is great, too!
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Thanks so much for all of the great resources, and for linking back to my World’s Greatest Artist study! Love all that you’ve done with it!
Erica @ http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your kind comment, Erica! And thanks for so generously sharing your wonderful study!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Kindness Challenge #2: Montessori-Inspired Kindness
As a painter (as a hobby!) I really wish more people today had an appreciation for good art – I am bringing mine up with as much exposure to different arts and music as possible!
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your comment, Bobby! It’s awesome that you’re exposing your children to the arts!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Kindness Challenge #2: Montessori-Inspired Kindness
I love how you bring all these wonderful resources together in one place! Thanks so much! On a related topic, I have a 2-part post on drawing in the elementary classroom here: http://mont-elementary.blogspot.com/
Thanks again for being such a great resource!
Beth H recently posted..Drawing in the Montessori Classroom, Part 2
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your kind comment, Beth! And thanks for sharing your posts … great information!
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Thanks for this post. We have been using Child Size Masterpieces, which a lot of Montessori stores sell, but Little Miss went through all of the ones at her level in one week. So that leaves me short art appreciation supplies (she really isn’t ready for the next level). In general I’m feeling like we’re in a bit of an art slump, so this post was perfect timing!
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Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks so much, Maureen! I’m glad it helped!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities
Love the video of Celma, who trained me!
For more Famous Artists please visit my 5 posts on the subject.
Carolyn Hadsell recently posted..Art Rubbings
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks, Carolyn! And thanks so much for letting me know about your famous artist posts. I’ll be adding them to my post!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities
Thank you for sharing all of these resources! I just took my kids to the art museum on the weekend and we are now working through some art projects. I’ll definitely be referring to some of these resources. Thanks for linking up to the Afterschool Blog Hop!
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Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks, Julie! It’s great that you took your kids to the art museum … makes art projects so much more meaningful!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities
You’ve done yet another fantastic job… putting all these resources and links and downloads together! Art is so important to our kids including special needs kids like mine! I will add a link to your post in my art blog post!(BTW thanks for including a link to me!)
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Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Lisa! I love what you do with your son and on your sites. Thanks for linking to me, too!
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Oh Deb, I just love the work you do with our children…….I absolutely LOVE the Miro inspired picture….I was brought up on the famous artists having art teachers as parents but it was Miro who I resonated with at an early age. I believe this artist had a real influence on my art today. Thank you for reminding me….off to delve into some old books my parents gifted me so many years ago…joy!
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Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Marghanita! The Miro-inspired picture is great, isn’t it?! How wonderful that you had such a rich art background as a child! Have a great weekend!
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