
Each pillar of our ‘Experience, Reflect, Make’ sequence incorporates several lesson plans to roll out for each age group, and no matter what the scale of the activity, discussion is highly encouraged. Each lesson plan and accompanying worksheet should be a collaborative experience where students share their work, so...
May 09, 2023The arts are a fundamental part of any well-rounded education, yet they are often the first subject to be cut when schools face budget cuts. The defunding of arts education in public schools is a growing crisis in cities across the United States, with devastating consequences for students and...
May 01, 2023Whether you’re a classroom teacher teaching art for the first time or an art teacher who could use a simple refresher, check out our helpful glossary of art terms! This list of terms could also be used to make a short quiz for your students or to play a...
Mar 27, 2023We love receiving artwork from our Shared Walls partners across the city, showing us what they’re up to! Art teachers at participating schools are provided with a copy of our Art Lesson Plan Book, as well as an art installation for their schools featuring a working artist. Teachers use...
Mar 26, 2023At IPaintMyMind, we are super passionate about screen prints. When our founder, Evan La Ruffa, first started collecting art, he couldn’t afford the high-priced original paintings. Instead, he started with screen printed band posters. They were accessible, well-priced, and just as cool as the much more expensive art. Plus,...
Mar 24, 2023Chicago is jam-packed with incredible art institutions and resources. But–did you know that many of your favorite museums and public art spaces have published lesson planning resources for educators? Many of the lesson plans are Common Core Standards compliant and adaptable to different grade levels and classroom settings. Check...
Mar 06, 2023Art is a human right! It’s not just a slogan, but a true mission at IPaintMyMind. But, nowhere is access to art more important than in our classrooms. It’s essential that children are encouraged to be creative and expressive at a young age. It makes for self-aware, creative and...
Dec 12, 2022The classroom is a space for exploration and learning. It’s where the majority of our art education occurs, but with the arts frequently being underfunded and resources being restricted, the confines of a classroom can have its limitations. Art exists and functions far beyond the classroom, making experiential learning...
Nov 14, 2022From our friends at Blick, we’ve compiled a list of essential classroom art supplies. These items are inexpensive, durable, and high-quality, and make our shortlist for the most useful and practical supplies to stock up your classroom with. They’re also useful for tons of different types of projects at...
Oct 31, 2022If you are an art teacher who is brainstorming ways to make smart long-term purchases for your classroom, here’s a list of 5 affordable investment purchases for art teachers. Maybe you have a little extra money left over at the end of the year, or have some funding coming...
Oct 03, 2022