Cody Thomas

Study of Youth Created Art

29 January 2023

K-12 Art Projects for Individuals with Developmental & Physical Disabilities, and Impairments

Artwork Image Description of Artwork Annotation Notes

(Website or (Artists, class, age)
source info)
Paper line sculptures great for I/DD students https://www.artis This project is for all students K-12
as it allows them to manipulate a piece of basic.com regardless of grade levels and where they
paper by thinking of creative ways of folding, /2015/09/paper- stand on the spectrum or how much
tearing, applying (either glue or tape), and so line-sculptures- assistance they may need from peers or
forth to one another to make a 3D sculpture, with- teacher.
principles and elements of art (Line and types kindergarten.htm
of lines). It also allows the students to develop l Artists & Movements, Ideas:
fine motor skills, colors, and spatial Mark di Suvero sculpture, Piet Mondrian,
manipulation by intersecting and zig-zagging Kenneth Snelson, Songye, Marino Marini,
the paper strips. lines in architecture

Works made by third graders at an

elementary school using construction paper,
tape, and glue, markers.
Texture collages made by elementary
students. Students use construction paper,
yarn, tissue, foam blocks and a variety of
other materials to make a sensory collage
where they learn about five senses and how
others may use other senses every day.
http://kcato.blog This project can be adapted to any grade
spot.com/2013/0 level for special needs or students with
9/our-five- other types of impairments or disabilities.
senses.html Children will learn about five senses by
describing textures, scents of things, as well
as sounds different objects make.

Artists & Movements, Ideas:

Discuss multisensory museums, artworks.
“Wingsong” by student artist Saniya Sanders,
age 14, Student at Alabama School for the
Blind. She likes dragonflies and butterflies. Her
favorite words are “whispering, screaming,
and butterfly”. This piece was made from
tissue papers, construction paper, glue,
piping, and paint, paint stamps.
Various students from the Kennedy Day
School located at Franciscan Hospital for
Children, created their own portrait or idea of
how they look using adjectives as key words
for their own portraits. Ages ranged from 3 to
22. Student’s used various mediums such as
foam clocks, felt, googly eyes, yarn, markers,
paints, cans, and many more to construct
their portraits.
These four crayon resist fish/sea creature
pieces were made by children artists ages 5-
12. By discussing the life of a aquatic fish/life
and looking at images, the children
constructed artwork of their design of a
colorful fish and it’s environment. Students
used crayons and/or oil pastels, paper,
tempera paints (watered down), and paint
brushes. Some used colored craft glues for
decoration.
https://www.anni 2020 Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama.
stonstar.com/fre This work would be a great example of
e/helen-keller- asking the students to create their favorite
art-show- insect, animal, or something from a
celebrates- summer or spring day. All mediums used in
students-with- this project is great for sensory across all
visual- impairments and disabilities.
impairments-
with-photo- Artists & Movements, Ideas:
gallery/article_72 Tristram Paul Hillier, Mandu Adeusi,
9db2ae-79d3- Monet, David Guhl
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67181d559039.ht
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https://franciscan This project is ideal for learning about
childrens.org/blo descriptive words, identifying facial
g/creativity-at- features, and how to make a sculpture (and
work-the- components of such as the stand/ base and
kennedy-day- whether the students want their piece to
school-art-show/ be hung on wall or free standing).
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Picasso, Cubism, George Braque, Self-
Identity, Culture , John P. Kelting
https://kinderart. While discussing different fish in the
com/art- ocean/sea/lake, discussions can arise about
lessons/painting/ pollution, sun exposure, safety in water, as
crayon-resist- well as class discussions about student’s
fish/ vacation spots. Students will select one or
even more sea creatures to look as to draw
their artwork using crayons or oil pastels.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Color, Line, Pollution, Sea, Fish, Jellyfish,
Sharon Cummings, Cathey December,
Warm & Cool Colors
This leaf (community/class) project was made
by students of all ages in a K-12 school made
by students with physical, perceptual, and
cognitive challenges. Instructor, Sandi Kovach-
Long, designed this project that promotes
students to color patterns and themes if these
chose and to not stay in the line. Students
used printouts of different leaves to decorate
with markers, colored pencils, or crayons.
After that, they were cut out and the students
selected where they wanted their leaf/leaves
to go. This tree stands 6 feet tall.
https://kinderart. I would encourage students to be taken
com/art- outside to collect their own leaves as
lessons/seasons/ inspiration. Students can count and
autumn/leaf-by- organize the leaves if they choose.
leaf/ Discussions can take place of the different
trees and leaves in the school yard/woods.
Students can trace the leaves or use cut
outs provided from the website.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Seasons, Different types of trees, Renie
Britenbucher, Eric Sadowsky, Rachel Deane

Thompson Intermediate School student, https://www.anni Students love to talk about their day and
Haiden Hawkins, who is autistic, constructed stonstar.com/fre how they spend them. This would be a
this piece, “Sunflower of Alabama”. Age 9 and e/helen-keller- great project for mixed-media. This work
in fourth grade, she loves to create art. This art-show- can be an example of exploring how artists
piece was created from a memory of the celebrates- connect to nature as inspiration. Flowers
sunshine when she rides her bike in the family students-with- are the inspiration.
driveway and playing at home, outside, with visual-
her little brother. The artist used acrylic impairments-
paints, a plate and foam shapes to make her with-photo- Artists & Movements, Ideas:
flower base, jewels along the borders, gallery/article_72 Flowers, Nature, Acrylic, Collage, Mixed
sunflower seeds and hot glue to outline the 9db2ae-79d3- Media, Painting, Abstract, Andy Warhol,
flower. 11ea-b8bc- Georgia O’Keefe, Van Gogh
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This project that is classroom/community https://franciscan Students and teacher can work together on
based was made from the Franciscan childrens.org/blo ideas for a theme for the project. By
Children’s Day School. The theme of the g/creativity-at- looking at historical stained-glass windows,
project was peace and brotherhood. These work-the- students can see examples of themes,
works were made to mimic stained glass by kennedy-day- characters, and colors. I would focus this on
using wax paper and pastels. school-art-show/ examples primarily from Chagall’s stained-
glass windows.
 Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Chagall, Henri Matisse, Stained Glass
Window, Theme in artwork, Stained Glass

“Ice Skating in Winter” by 12-year-old Georgia https://www.anni Students will use clay to make a slab of clay
Aplin. This student attends Alabama School stonstar.com/fre (or already made by teacher) that will later
for Blind and was in sixth grade when this was e/helen-keller- be used as a canvas for the students to uses
made. This piece was made from her art-show- texture and color to make their own
experience of ice skating one winter with her celebrates- representation and image of a hobby of
family. Inspiration for her art comes from students-with- theirs.
playing outside. This piece is made from air visual-
dry clay and acrylic paints. This piece was impairments- Artists & Movements, Ideas:
made and placed in the 2020 Helen Keller Art with-photo- Clay, Sculpture, Hand-building
Show of Alabama. gallery/article_72
9db2ae-79d3-
11ea-b8bc-
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Third grader made a collage of lines and https://www.artis This is a great source to learn the
circles using a variety colors. Students were basic.com/2012/ importance of artistic expression,
asked to select their favorite colors and to 02/third-and- abstraction, and graffiti. Students can learn
experiment with shapes. fourth-grade- about what mediums work best for the
collaborative- idea they have along with hand-and-eye
circle- coordination.
paintings.html
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Circles, Abstract Paintings, Shiniqua Smith,
Picasso, Graffiti, Japanese calligraphy,
Frank Stella, Sargy Mann, John Bramblitt,
Color, Taha Sabie, Jonathan Gemmell,
Kandinsky
Fourth grade students made monsters by
working in a pinch pot form. The process of
clay was introduced, how to make pinch pots,
hot to assemble pieces together by slip-and-
scoring. They then used different glazes to
paint their monsters.
Students from this third-grade special
education class made mixed-media self-
portraits inspired by works of Claude Monet.
The teacher took photos of the students. Each
student used a 9”x12” tagboard then cutting
and tearing smaller pieces of tissue paper that
will later be placed down as the background
mimicking the famous bridges in Monet’s
work. Students use brown construction paper
to draw their bridge and then cut out. They
place their self-portrait above the water and
then place the bridge over them to give the
effect of standing on the bridge. Watered
down glue is used as the adhesive and regular
Elmer’s glue for the photo and bridge.
http://missartypa Students can use their imagination to plan
nts.blogspot.com a project through to make a clay monster.
/2014/02/pinch- The teacher will work with the students as
pot- they work with demo’s completing their
monsters.html own project. Students will be able to learn
to sculpt with clay. This will also improve a
physical and mental health state of mind
and improve fine motor skills. Clay is such a
tactile medium that all individuals will get a
feel for their own sense of “self”. History of
ceramic work throughout time would be
great for middle and high schoolers.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
James DeRosso, Kathy Jeffers, Pinch Pot,
Imagination, Artistic Process, Score-and-
slip, Studio Best Practices with Clay and
Martials
https://www.art This project could discuss impressionism
withmrsfilmore.c and modern art. Students will learn about
om/special- background, foreground, and middle
education/ ground (spatial and negative/positive
space) . This is great to allow students to
learn about colors (cool and warm) and
how that relates to nature. Students will
also learn motor skills and safety
procedures when using scissors to cut
tissue paper and construction paper.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Landscape, Water lilies, Floral, Trees,
Water, Reflection,
Six-year-old Sam Borek attends Jenkins https://www.patr Students observe. It’s what they do. This
Elementary School created this self-portrait iotledger.com/sto project would be great as a observation on
complete with paints, ribbon, and seashells. ry/news/educatio what they think they look like or how they
The visually impaired student, only in second n/2008/12/15/bli see themselves. The use of mixed media
grade, won in his age group by the American nd-scituate-boy- will help students on pushing their work
Printing House for the Blind with his self- wins- further as it will then be 3D. This
portrait. He enjoys making paintings in his free national/4012997 assignment will be great with K-12 grades.
time. 1007/
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Self Portrait, Degas, Favorite Colors,
Identity, Culture, Mixed Media
This hands-on interactive approach to abstract https://www.mes I think this project would be fun for the
making was made my elementary students by sylittlemonster.co students as it shows there is more than one
watering down pain and placing them into m/2016/05/wate way (the traditional ways) of making an
water guns then spraying canvases and r-pistol-painting- artwork. Students could learn about
papers. Students selected two colors to create outdoor-kids- different art movements and artists. There
their own painting like Jackson Pollock. art.html are different types of water guns and ways
to spread paint, so this project is adaptable
to meet all students needs physically.

Artists & Movements, Ideas:

Abstract, Expressionism, Abstract
Expressionism, Jackson Pollock, Vasily
Kandinsky, Joan Mitchell, Keith Salmon
Special needs elementary student, Ethan,
used a printmaking technique to make a
bouquet of flowers. The teacher assisted by
drawing bouquets of flowers on a Styrofoam
place for each student. Students sprayed over
the black lines with a dull colored pencil,
Ethan needing hand-over-hand assistance
from his teacher, successfully completed his
image. After the tracing was complete, the
students selected washable markers and
colored on the foam plate. After that, the
students and teacher sprayed their paper (80#
paper) and the foam sheet was placed onto
the damp paper revealing the image.
Students in this 3rd grade class used pizza
boxes as their canvas to create flower(s)
sculptures made from paper towels, glue, and
acrylic paints. Students used the perspectives
that O’Keeffe uses in her artwork on natural
objects she painted. Observing her paintings
and flowers, students designed their flowers
onto their pizza boxes. Then with watered
down glue, students dipped paper towels into
a bowl of the mixture, then squeezing the
excess water-glue mixture out, the students
sculpted their flowers by draping the paper
towels onto the pizza box and the sides using
the entire box as surface area. After letting
the glue dry, students painted their flowers
with colors they have selected.
https://www.art This is a great introduction to printmaking
withmrsfilmore.c that is simple for all ages and levels to
om/special- complete. The project could also be altered
education/ to let the students draw their own image to
print, but this is themed for a vase of
flowers. Students can learn about color
theory, what colors go with flowers. This
could also be a chance to bring in real
flowers to allow students to touch and
smell them to understand flowers. Some
students can learn by touch, of feeling the
imprints left by the dull pencil to get a
sense of image.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Nature, Flowers, Andy Warhol,
Printmaking, Blockprint, Van Gogh, Gustav
Klimt, Henri Matisse, Mara Clawson,
Doreen Kay, John Bramblitt
http://kaygranger This lesson would allow students to learn
art.blogspot.com/ about Georgia O’Keeffee, perspectives, and
2013_05_01_arch nature. Students will learn the process of
ive.html?m=0 additive sculpture, negative space, and
depth by using more than one shade of the
same color to give the flowers a spatial
resemblance of color. Students can learn
about flowers, what their favortie flower is,
and the process of additive sculpture
making. Students can also learn about
textures.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Georgia O’Keeffe, Perspective, Natural
Objects, Flowers, Sculpture, Depth, Dana
Anderson, Texture, Ramon Villanova, Royo,

High School student in art class made a coil
pot using different coil methods and styles.
Students explored various types of hand-
building in which coil pottery was discussed
on how important this process was
throughout human existence. Students
learned about score-and-slip technique and
glazing.
Two high school students with special needs
work on vase that are bring completed
working on a hand turned wheel. Students
used the form of punch pot and coiling to
make their work on the wheel as the wheel
head is hand-turned by the student or
teacher.
Modernism, Precisionism, American
Modernism
https://wheeland Despite this piece being so tall, students in
clay.com/blog/coi the special need’s environment may need a
ling-pottery/ shorter vase requirement but encouraged
to go big if wanted. Students will learn fine-
moto skills and hand eye coordination.
Students would also benefit from this
lesson by learning how to attach clay body
together. Students could see examples of
historic vases and other coiled pots
throughout history. This project seems to
fit along with high school student’s even
possible middle school.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Coils, Attachments, Design, Sculpture,
Hand-building, Slip-and-score, Glazing,
Pottery history, Different cultures
https://www.kor This approach to wheel-throwing is great
eaherald.com/vie for those students who may not be able to
w.php?ud=20120 work on a electric wheel and will be best
919000580 for the student to work at their own pace.
Student can learn about forming objects
and what tools do specific things such as a
paddle to flatten things. This could be used
for middle or high school students in the
special needs art rooms or those with more
severe disabilities.
Stitching and beading project completed by
elementary students from K-3 grades used
burlap and mixed media such as glitter,
variety of shapes, beads, and buttons to
attach to their yarn stitched work. Students
chose their favorite colors of materials to use
on their pieces as well as their favorite shapes.
If a texture was interesting to that student,
that is what they used.
This K-6 art classes brought their favorite
cereal box in. They then cut the box up into
many different shapes and sizes. They were
then gluing onto board or construction paper
but to leave space around each cut out and in
different order.
https://artfulpare This stitching textile sensory activity is
nt.com/embroide great for those students who made have
ry-for-kids- sensory concerns. Students will be able to
simple-stitching- select their personal favorite colors of
and-beading- yarns, shapes, buttons, and more of what
with-burlap/ they want to add to their artwork. Students
will gain independence by doing and this is
a fine motor skill with great hand-eye
practice for those who need practice.
Students can use their imagination to paint
the burlap if they chose as well and by
what mediums.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Folk Art, Arts & Crafts Movement, Sensory
Art, Embroidery, Self-Discovery
https://www.pinterest.c Students can cut different shapes as
om/pin/2906236008695 they please for this project. They can
9178/ work with problem solving strategies
on how to get the pieces back onto
the paper but in a slightly altered
way. I think this project is all around
a K-12 project for students in special
needs art rooms.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Pop Art, Cubism, Michael Albert,
Abstract Art, Recycle, Collage
Students in Marina Gallovitch’s elementary art
class completed a research, discovery, and
then created a project based on lines and
movement. The teacher introduced the many
different lines to the class (straight, humped,
loops, wavey, square, diamond, and more).
The class then drew lines they already knew
and then were asked to make up new line
shapes. One a new 12”x12” construction
paper, using markers, the students were
encouraged to fill the entire paper with
verities of lines. They then used tempera paint
to add additional lines in-between the lines
previously made by markers. Oil crayons were
then suggested to repeat the previous
process. The students then added yarn with
Elmer’s glue.
Middle school student completed this artwork
by using ‘found’ (given) objects from the
classroom. The student used construction
papers to make a basic silhouette of a
landscape they were interested in. The
student then used different pasta shells and
rice to add more detail to the work. Elmer’s
glue was used to paste all pieces together.
https://www.flashbugss Mixed media is an important way to
tudio.com/mixed- introduce kids/students to various
media-with-kids- materials and their specific uses. By
adorable-line-rugs/ working on this project students will
be able to learn about safety in the
art room by using scissors. They will
also develop stronger fine-motor
skills as well as learn about different
lines and how something this simple
can make a beautiful work on art.
This project can be adapted to fit all
K-12 special needs classes.
Assistance from teachers may be
necessary to some individuals.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Folk Art, Arts & Crafts Movement,
Line, Space, Negative Space, Pattern,
Texture
https://theartofeducati This project would be interested in
on.edu/flex/lesson- the special education classrooms
plans/found-object- because it allows the students to
landscapes/ discover that you do not need the
traditional mediums to make a piece
of artwork. Dry pasta shells will be
great to add along with glitter glue
and construction paper to make
landscapes. This could tie in with
other subjects like geography and
landforms.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Landscapes, Collage, Texture,
Foreground, Background, Middle
Ground, Perspective, Everyday
Objects, Foods
Early elementary special needs students
worked on a project using class-made finger
paints. This allowed the students to scribble
and draw shapes onto paper using either a
sponge or their own hands. Dry noodles and
other mixed media like sprinkles and glitter
was added by the student to give depth.
https://www.perkins.or This multi-sensory project would be
g/resource/sponge- ideal for the K-5 class or the lower
painting-textures/ functioning individuals in the
classroom. Students will be able to
use hand-eye coordination and other
fine-motor skills for this project. This
project gives the students to work
with many different textures and
consistencies of mediums.
Artists & Movements, Ideas:
Shape, Color, Texture, Abstract Art,
Willow Bascom, Lisa Fittipaldi