By Spramani Elaun – Art Teacher & Curriculum Developer
Your search for an elementary art curriculum is over.
The Nature of Art® Curriculum is a modern, science-based visual arts program designed specifically for elementary-aged children. Built with cognitive development and fine-motor growth in mind, this curriculum is sequential, stand-alone, and aligned with visual arts standards. It covers the foundational art domains children should experience during their most important learning years.
This is not a collection of random projects. It is a complete system that helps children build real art skills with confidence.
A Curriculum Focused on How Children Actually Learn Art
The Nature of Art® Curriculum teaches the elements and principles of design across all areas of visual arts. It is not project-based, craft-driven, or focused on copying famous artists. Instead, it teaches children how artists think and work by developing foundational skill sets in:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Color theory
- Clay modeling
- Crafting and building
Children learn how to work independently and creatively, using skills they truly understand. Each lesson supports individual ability levels and allows children to grow at their own pace.
Easy to Use, Even Without Art Experience
You do not need to be an artist to teach art.
After more than 25 years of teaching children of all ages, I discovered something important. My professional fine art skills were actually too advanced for elementary learners. When I taught the way I was trained, it unintentionally lowered children’s confidence.
Over time, and after teaching tens of thousands of children, I learned what really works. Children need to start at ground zero. They need basics. They need simple, isolated skills taught clearly and practiced often. That means beginning with lines, shapes, and fundamental movements before anything else.
This curriculum is designed so any adult can teach art successfully, even if you are learning right alongside your students. Every program includes clear instructions, material lists, and step-by-step guidance for presenting lessons.
Sequential Lessons That Build One Skill at a Time
This elementary art curriculum is fully sequential. Each lesson builds directly on the one before it. Once a child masters a skill, they are ready to move forward and work more independently.
Most art curriculums focus on a finished product. The Nature of Art® Curriculum focuses on fine-motor development and foundational skill building. This approach is known as the Science Art Method®.
Children gain confidence because they understand what they are doing. Creativity grows naturally from skill, not pressure.
Flexible and Easy to Schedule
Because the lessons adapt to children’s abilities, you can move quickly or slow down as needed. Lessons can be scheduled weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Most lessons fit comfortably into a one-hour session.
Each curriculum includes guidance and optional video support, making it easy to integrate into your existing schedule or combine with other subjects.
Affordable and Designed for Long-Term Use
The Nature of Art® Curriculum is affordable and available in both digital and printed formats. Digital downloads allow you to print what you need, while printed versions offer ready-to-use convenience.
Each curriculum contains enough lessons to last an entire school year. Lessons can be revisited, reused, and repeated as children grow. This means the curriculum is not a one-time purchase. It can be used year after year and shared with multiple age groups (with proper licensing).
Art Lessons Children Stay Engaged With
Teachers and parents consistently report that children remain engaged and excited to move on to the next lesson. Because skills are introduced gradually and reinforced often, children do not feel bored or overwhelmed.
The curriculum supports:
- Fine-motor skill development
- Understanding art elements
- Independent idea creation
- Confidence in drawing and painting personal ideas
For example, in clay modeling, children learn foundational forms first. Later, they transform those same forms into new creations. In color theory, children learn to mix primary colors, then apply those skills to sunsets, backgrounds, or imaginative scenes.
Scope and Sequence You Can Trust
Scope
The curriculum covers:
- Foundational fine-motor and visual skills
- Progressive skill development
- Multiple art mediums
- Creative application and independent work
Sequence
Lessons follow a clear progression:
- Start with isolated movements and simple concepts
- Build skills step by step
- Reinforce previously learned skills
- Support creative independence
This structure prevents frustration and builds confidence while allowing flexibility for different learning speeds.
Your One-Stop Solution for Elementary Art
If you have ever felt overwhelmed searching for art lessons online, you are not alone. Most online ideas are one-off projects without any sequence or skill progression.
The Nature of Art® Curriculum removes that burden. Once you complete one curriculum, you can move on to another or rotate lessons to create a balanced year-long art or STEAM program. Pinterest-style projects can still be used as extensions, but now they rest on a solid foundation.
Trusted by Teachers Worldwide
Thousands of early childhood and elementary teachers use Nature of Art® curriculums in public and private schools around the world. Teachers are also certified through The Art Teaching Blueprint®, bringing structured art literacy into classrooms year after year.
Art Based on Science
The Science Art Method® is a proprietary teaching philosophy developed by Spramani Elaun. It aligns art instruction with children’s fine-motor development, cognitive growth, and visual perception.
By teaching skills sequentially and scaffolded, children gain confidence, independence, and a deep understanding of how art works.
All rights reserved © 2025 Nature of Art®.
How to Choose and Purchase
There is no required order to begin. Each curriculum starts with Lesson One and focuses on foundational skills. Choose the curriculum that most interests you and your students.
Available curriculums:
- Drawing Curriculum For Elementary Grades
- Drawing Curriculum For 3-6 years
- Clay Modeling Curriculum For Children
- Painting Curriculum For Children
- Color Mixing Curriculum For Children
- Crafting & Building Curriculum
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Nature of Art® craft paint draw
elementary art art lessons weekly
The Art Teaching Blueprint
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Nature of Art® provides art pedagogy
This website and its blogs supports individual educators in teaching children visual arts. It does not authorize professional development, staff training, or adaptation of the Science Art Method™ for institutional use.
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Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.