One of THOSE Art Teachers

Today, I took both 5th grade classes outside on the porch because it was raining. They silently drew pictures of whatever they saw in the landscape ahead of them. Then I had them take their shoes off and we played in the rain :) 

Every once in a while, it's important to be one of those art teachers that fuels creativity 

and playfulness through adventure and discovery. 

Most of the time my lessons are very structured and 

logical and traditional, but I don't want the kids 

to lose their love for art in the process 

of becoming excellent at it! 

There's something so thrilling about playing in the rain. They're also at the age where they're not worried about messing up their makeup or hair or trying to be too cool.

I had 3 or 4 of them come up to me and say, "Thank you!" One of the moms of my students that teaches at our school actually saw and thanked me for letting her daughter run in the rain haha.

(I didn't think it entirely through and if I do this again I'll probably have them bring a dry change of clothes ;)