Evan Moor

How to teach art to children (Evan Moor)

Recommended Ages

1st-6th Grades

How to Teach Art to Children from Evan-Moor is a teacher resource book that walks adults step-by-step through lessons on line, shape, color, texture, and other art elements for roughly grades 1–6. Created by curriculum specialists who understand classroom and homeschool realities, it includes reproducible pages, sample artworks, and clear instructions that build skills in a logical sequence. Parents appreciate that they don’t need an art degree—or fancy supplies—to get started, and that projects can be adapted for multiple ages. It’s more skills-focused than free-form, so pairing it with open-ended art time works well, but as a backbone for foundational art instruction, it’s an excellent value.

Elementary-age kids (roughly grades 1–6) who enjoy following clear steps and making recognizable projects, and families who want a structured, once- or twice-a-week art spine that doesn’t demand an art-trained parent.

Pros

Step-by-step lessons that systematically teach the elements of art, with built-in projects and artist studies; secular, affordable, and often praised by homeschoolers as an easy way to add consistent art without needing an art background. 

Cons

Requires gathering supplies and some prep; projects can feel a bit “schooly” or craft-like for families who prefer open-ended, process-focused art, and the layout is more functional than glossy coffee-table art books.

Eligibility for ESA or charter funding depends on your state and specific program. Many families are able to purchase Evan‑Moor books through approved vendors or curriculum catalogs when funds can be used for secular print resources, but you’ll need to confirm directly with your charter, umbrella school, or ESA portal.

$21.99

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How to teach art to children (Evan Moor)
$22.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Art
Art
Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts
Creativity
Creativity

How to teach art to children (Evan Moor) Mission

The mission of How to teach art to children is to make quality art instruction accessible to any parent or teacher, even if they do not feel like artists themselves. By walking children step-by-step through the elements of art and simple projects inspired by great artists, it helps kids build real skills, visual vocabulary, and confidence rather than just doing random crafts. As part of Evan-Moor’s broader mission, it gives families a screen-free, open-and-go way to nurture creativity and a lifelong appreciation for art.

How to teach art to children (Evan Moor) Story

How to teach art to children grew out of the classroom experience of co-founders Joy Evans and Jo Ellen Moore, who discovered that integrating drawing and art into their lessons helped even struggling students light up. After the success of their first handmade book, Art Moves the Basics Along, they founded Evan-Moor in 1979 with Joy’s brother Bill and began creating practical, reproducible resources for other teachers. Over time, their art lessons were expanded, refined, and beautifully illustrated into the full-color resource now known as How to teach art to children, a staple in both classrooms and homeschools for teaching the elements of art in a friendly, systematic way.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about How to teach art to children (Evan Moor)

A typical session starts with you showing a sample picture from the book and naming the focus concept, like “warm and cool colors.” You pull out construction paper, paints, and brushes; the table smells a little like tempera and there’s a quiet rustle of paper as everyone sets up. You model each step briefly, then kids dive in—choosing colors, cutting, gluing, and chatting as artwork starts to cover the drying rack. At the end, you do a quick “gallery walk,” holding up finished pieces and noticing what each child tried.

This is a print-based art curriculum from Evan-Moor that gives you step‑by‑step projects organized by concept (line, color, shape, pattern, etc.). Families typically choose the appropriate grade range and then do 1–3 lessons per week, using the reproducible pages as directions and templates. You’ll read the short teaching notes, gather simple supplies (paper, crayons, paint, scissors), and guide your child through the activity while they experiment with the technique.

Adults typically introduce the concept, demonstrate key steps, and manage materials and clean‑up. During the project, they circulate, ask questions about choices (“Why did you pick that color?”), and help troubleshoot. Older kids can eventually use the book as a self-guided prompt, but art time still works best as a shared, guided experience.

No formal art background is required for adults or kids. Children should be able to follow simple directions and handle basic tools like scissors, glue, and crayons. Younger learners may need more hands-on help; older kids can work more independently.

This Evan‑Moor resource gives step‑by‑step lessons and reproducible pages, making it easy to adapt for autistic and ADHD kids who benefit from clear directions and repetition. Families can lighten written components and focus on process with sensory‑friendly materials for kids with fine‑motor or tactile sensitivities.

Because this is usually purchased through third‑party retailers or the publisher rather than directly from us, refunds and returns follow the seller’s policy. Most major booksellers accept returns on new, unused books within a set window; digital PDFs are often non‑refundable. Please check the refund terms of the vendor you choose at checkout.

Not ideal for teens seeking in-depth technique or portfolio work, or for unschooling families who dislike directed projects and would rather let kids explore materials freely without step-by-step instructions.

For more open-ended fine-art instruction, consider Artistic Pursuits or Drawing with Children; for video-based lessons, try Art for Kids Hub, Deep Space Sparkle, or other secular online art classes.

Evan-Moor periodically refreshes covers and layouts, but the core content of this title has been stable for years. Newer printings may include updated teacher tips or alignment notes, but you can comfortably use any recent edition alongside other Evan-Moor art resources.

Photocopy or print the pages you’ll use and pre-pack supplies for several lessons at once so art feels grab-and-go; encourage kids to customize colors and composition rather than copying the sample exactly.

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Meet Joy and Jo Ellen

Joy Evans and Jo Ellen Moore were elementary school teachers who co-founded Evan-Moor Educational Publishers in 1979 in Monterey, California, later joined by Joy’s brother Bill Evans. Drawing on decades in real classrooms, they began by handwriting and illustrating their own teaching resources to better support diverse learners, especially in language arts and art. Their work grew into a full publishing house known for clear, teacher-friendly books like How to teach art to children. A fun fact: the company name Evan-Moor comes from combining their last names, Evans and Moore.