Global Art

ArtGrades 3–6

About This Curriculum

A collection of over 130 arts and crafts projects from around the world, organized by continents and designed to help children explore global cultures through hands-on art activities.

What makes it unique: Combines art education with cultural geography using a 'process not product' approach with easily accessible household materials

Global Art: Cultural Crafts Collection with Process-Focused Approach

Global Art is a collection of over 130 arts and crafts projects organized by continents to help children explore world cultures through hands-on activities. The curriculum emphasizes process over product, using readily available materials for projects ranging from simple modeling to complex papier-mâché work.

Best for

Elementary educators and homeschool families seeking supplementary cultural craft activities to enhance geography or world cultures studies, particularly for grades K-3

Evaluation Criteria

1 strength · 3 concerns · 2 neutral

Structured Vs OpenStrength

The curriculum emphasizes open-ended, process-focused activities that encourage creativity and exploration. Projects allow for imagination rather than requiring exact replication.

Authors state the approach is 'process, not a product, approach' that 'leaves room for the artist to use imagination and exploration, keys to creativity,' and reviewers note projects 'encourage creativity rather than exact replication'

Vocabulary BuildingConcern

The curriculum does not appear to include explicit art vocabulary instruction. The focus is on craft-making rather than developing art terminology.

Reviews mention materials lists and instructions but no discussion of art vocabulary teaching, and the 'approach is more crafts than art' according to the detailed review

Art History KnowledgeConcern

The curriculum includes minimal cultural connections through brief 'Did you know?' paragraphs but lacks substantial art history content. Cultural connections are often superficial or stretched.

Each project includes a 'brief Did you know? paragraph' and examples like 'Fancy Eyeglasses activity' connecting to Roman emperor Nero show 'some of the connections really stretch from the original idea'

Technique InstructionConcern

The curriculum provides basic craft instructions but lacks structured art technique instruction. Projects focus on following step-by-step craft directions rather than developing foundational artistic skills.

Reviews describe 'step-by-step instructions' and 'easy-to-follow directions' for crafts, but Cathy Duffy notes 'the approach is more crafts than art' and that it's 'not really an art curriculum'

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes helpful organizational features and clear materials lists but provides no formal teacher training. Six different indexes help locate appropriate projects.

The book includes 'six different indexes' including Art Medium Index, Experience Level Index, and materials index, plus difficulty ratings with 'one, two, or three stars to indicate level of difficulty'

Direct InstructionNeutral

The curriculum provides clear procedural instructions for craft projects but lacks demonstration or modeling components typical of art instruction. Projects are designed for independent following of directions.

Reviews consistently mention 'easy-to-follow directions' and 'step-by-step instructions,' but there's no mention of teacher demonstration or modeling components

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, walkingfruitfully.com