A guide for using our resources

In honor of Women’s History Month, students will learn about artist Alma Thomas.

Vocabulary: style, museums, dabs

Social Studies Focus: Women’s History Month

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 key details; RF.1.2 phonological awareness; RF.1.3 phonics and word analysis; SL.1.1 collaborative conversations; L.1.6 use new vocabulary

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• The bright illustrations in Ablaze With Color bring Alma’s legacy to life. This book is rich with resources to continue learning about this brilliant artist.

• Work together to find all the compound words in the article. Students can underline the two words that make up each compound word. Words to look out for include teacups, classroom, sometimes, sunset, airplane, and spaceships.

• Provide students with sticky notes or index cards that have key points from Alma’s life written on them.
• Key points should include: Alma took her first art class; Alma becomes an art teacher; Alma paints a spaceship; Alma’s paintings are put in museums.
• Challenge students to put the cards in order by revisiting the article. What did Alma do first?

Skill: fine-motor skills, writing

Materials: construction paper, paint and cotton swabs or dot markers, lined paper, and pencilss

• Get inspired by Alma and create a piece of art using her painting technique. Revisit the photos in the issue. Point out the dabs of paint that Alma used in her paintings. Tell students that they will try to paint in Alma’s style.
• Model drawing a simple shape or image with a pencil. Dip cotton swabs in paint and trace over the pencil. Fill the shape with more dabs of paint! Ask students what they would draw using dabs of paint. Provide paper, pencils, and painting materials.
• As students complete their artwork, provide lined paper and pencils for students to title their artwork. They can glue it onto their artwork, or it can be used to label their artwork in a class display.