This article examines how children's construction of relationships in exploring materials helps to explain the constructivist foundations of the Reggio Emilia approach. A quasi-naturalistic study of 12 preschool children, ages 3 and 4 years, individually exploring different kinds of collage papers reveals a range of constructivist categories…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate modes of art instruction for children in kindergarten. These modes were derived from an experimental art instruction program. The experimental modes consisted of all possible combinations of the following instructional components: (1) a series of charts demonstrating Line, Shape, Color, and…

Discusses the meaning behind children's art and what teachers can look for when analyzing art. (RK)

To reverse the general decline in school performance, educationists must restructure learning experiences to balance the present fragmented and specialized linear processes with the sensory/spatial processes, so that an educational system commensurate with the neutral balance of both cerebral hemispheres might emerge. (MB)

Defines aesthetic education and explores knowledge of feeling. (RK)

This document briefly critiques some of the basic theories upon which art education studies are often based, summarizes the research generalizations that may be made at this time, and reviews pertinent experiments that hold promise for future research. The Haptic-Visual Theory of Perceptual Development (Lowenfeld, 1957), the Differentiation Theory…

Reviews research about young childrens' focusing on the ability to transform a perceived scene into another representation. Reports on a study of 109 children and 18 college-age students on their ability to mold a lump of clay into a three-dimensional figure. Finds that cognitive maturity alone does not automatically lead to competence. (CFR)

Explores the relationship between drawing pictures and the development of reading skills in preschool and primary grades. Maintains that a definite link exists between the two and briefly notes some of the relevant research. Concludes that further investigation is warranted. Includes an 11-item related bibliography. (MJP)

Responds to Claire Golumb's research on the cognitive development of young children's ability to create representations of reality using visual arts. Asserts that young children must find acceptable pictorial substitutes when producing representations. (CFR)

Harvard Project Zero provides a series of technical research reports which study artistic creation and comprehension as a means toward better art education. The emphasis of the research is to improve art education through a better psychological understanding of symbol systems and media of art and through better understanding of the perceptual,…