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- Determine your objective(s) for each presentation. An objective helps you stay on track with your lesson. Select one or two main ideas you want to introduce/teach, and then structure all your questions and information accordingly. An idea can be as simple as the use of patterns or colors, or something more complex like the mood created by the artwork, and the artist’s technique. After planning your presentation, review it and make certain that all your questions/information are focused. A short two sentence summary, and question or two at the end of the lesson can affirm the objective of the lesson for you and the children.
- Be flexible! You must assess the group's abilities and interests and conduct your presentation accordingly. It's better to sacrifice a polished, "rehearsed" presentation for one that's impromptu if the children are going to be more interested and attentive.
- Listen very carefully and thoughtfully to the children. If their answers are not related to the topic, affirm them for their effort and steer them back to the topic in a gentle, positive way. We want them to use their own ideas and thoughts with these lessons – what one of us may see as a blue splotch on paper, someone else may interpret as a pond. Praise their effort!
- Acknowledge each child’s response, perhaps by repeating it so all can hear. Ask for clarification if needed. Accept all interpretations as reasonable as long as they are grounded in the student’s observations. You may not think them correct, but let the group interaction sort the ‘truth’ out. It usually does. Point to what has been mentioned, so all can see. Acknowledge agreements and disagreements.
- Never be afraid of saying "I don't know; that's a good question." It shows the children that art is an ongoing learning process and it makes them feel more comfortable expressing their opinions and questions.
- Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Instead, ask questions that require careful looking, thinking, and a thoughtful response.
- Keep the presentation interactive and conversational. You can try a variety of activities to reach all types of learners — visual exercises, written sheets, and activities that require physical movement.
- Keep biographical information, vocabulary, and dates to a minimum; only incorporate when the information is necessary to the main objectives you are trying to achieve. Extraneous information can confuse, frustrate, and "turn off" children to true learning.
- Always remember that the main goal of these presentations is to excite children about art and about looking. You must be the "judge" who determines when this goal has been accomplished. There is no set time period for a presentation. If you have gone through all your material in 10 minutes, then fine! Don't drag a presentation on longer solely for the sake of filling time. It should last as long as it should last!
- Encourage the children to spot art in the world around them. Get them enthusiastic about the beauty of the outside world. Ask them to look at sculptures in our parks or wherever they go outside, paintings in a doctor’s office, graffiti along the rail tracks, etc. Challenge them to ‘find’ art everywhere!
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