About Art in Action
Art in Action at Brier Elementary
Art in Action is an hour-long art lesson that happens once a month in your student’s classroom. The lessons are designed by the volunteer Art in Action lead and taught by classroom volunteers. You don’t need to be “good” at art or artistic to teach the lesson. Each lesson has supplies and an instructional video provided to help you in the classroom.
Becoming a volunteer
You must be district-approved to volunteer in the classroom. As a first step, please follow this link ASAP to submit an application for approval: SafeVolunteer
Once you’re approved, contact your student’s teacher and let them know you’re interested in volunteering for AIA. Coordinate with the teacher to find a day and time to go into the classroom to help the students with the AIA lesson.
How to be an Art in Action Volunteer
Reserving an art cart and lesson preparation
Reserve either cart A or Cart B using the art cart scheduling Google Sheet. Watch the month’s project demo video. Optionally, visit the school to practice making the project using supplies from the art carts.
On the day of the lesson
Arrive at the school 10-15 minutes early. Ask the front office to unlock the AIA closet. Take the reserved cart to the classroom and assist students with the project.
During the lesson
You can either teach/demo the lesson yourself or play the project demo video for the class. Step-by-step slides are available to show students, as well as real life examples of the completed project. Students will use supplies from the cart to create the project.
After the lesson
Once finished, reorganize the supplies back on to the art cart and return it to the Art in Action closet. After that, sign out at the front office and enjoy your day!
Art in Action art cart schedule
Art in Action has two "art carts"—carts that are set up with supplies for the month's lesson. Teachers and volunteers can schedule days and times using the link to the calendar below.
art in action May 2025
Brier Elementary PTA - Supporting Education
**Please note that until all teachers have had a chance to create pinch pots, one cart will continue to have clay supplies, and one cart will have glazing supplies. Select and reserve the cart you need for your classroom. You can do this by writing either “Glaze Cart” or “Clay Cart” on the reservation doc.
May Art in Action: Glazing Pinch Pots
This month, students will glaze their bisque-fired pinch pots. Glazing can only happen after bisque firing—if your class hasn’t reached that point yet, please wait. Each pot needs to dry for a week before firing, and I’m carefully working through classrooms in order (to avoid early firing and potential explosions!). If you're still waiting, you're on the list—I haven’t forgotten you! :)
Glazing Setup Options
Teachers and volunteers can set this up however works best:
- Glaze stations around the room with specific colors and brushes, or
- Let students choose 2–4 colors in paper cups to glaze at their desks. Any method that fits your class is the right one!
Glazing Reminders
- No glaze on the bottom—it’ll stick to the kiln and break.
- Use 3 coats for solid coverage.
- No glaze down the sink—leftovers in paper cups can be tossed.
- Glaze is pricey—encourage careful pouring.
- Wipe rims before sealing containers.
After Glazing Leave finished pots in the classroom. I’ll collect them for glaze firing, and once fired, they’re ready to go home with students!
Art in Action April 2025
Our next project is all about pinch pots—a fun, hands-on way to shape and sculpt clay into unique bowls, cups, or decorative pieces. After creating your pot, it will dry in the classroom for a week before its first kiln firing. Then comes glazing. Once your piece is glazed, it’ll go in for one final fire, transforming it into a finished masterpiece.
Volunteers may want to arrive early to the classroom to distribute clay to each student, and potentially allow for a little extra time for cleanup.
Art in Action March 2025
March's Art in Action focuses on textile art.
Students will learn about the history of textile art, get to know a few notable textile artists, and then create their own pieces of art using fabric and paint.
Art in Action February 2025
February's Art in Action is focusing on cityscape drawings, inspired by Stephen Wiltshire.
Stephen Wiltshire creates highly detailed drawings of cities—recreating everything from memory. Students will use scratchboard to create cityscapes of their own.
Art in Action December 2024/January 2025
December and January's Art in Action is focusing on finding inspiration anywhere and learning that there's no wrong way to make art.
This lesson highlights artist TenHundred, who makes whimsical characters and draws inspiration from many different places. Students will take on a "design challenge" to create a fun character as skateboard art.
Art in Action November 2024
For November’s Art in Action, we’ll be learning about the importance of symbolism in Indigenous American art. Artists use symbols to convey significant beliefs and experiences, tell stories, represent aspects of life, and more.
After learning about symbolism in Indigenous art, students will create watercolor paintings of symbols that are meaningful to them.
Art in Action October 2024
In October, we'll be making paper marigolds to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. According to the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, TX, "The cempasúchil (marigold flower) is the official flower of the dead since its pungent scent and bright gold color draw souls to the altar. Its shape and color are symbolic of the sun that gives energy and light to all life."
More about why the marigold, or cempasúchil, is the traditional flower of the dead
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