An Art Enrichment Project for Eight to Ten Year Olds in the Ordinary Classroom

The definition of enrichment, embedded in the literature on the subject, means taking children above and beyond their every day learning experience by providing for a short time an unusually challenging environment that will uncover and strengthen talent. The author is a practising teacher who recently did some classroom-based action research examining the effects of immersing mixed ability eight-to ten-year olds in a range of differentiated art experience over an intensive two day period. Three separate projects were undertaken, although only one – a design project – can be discussed here in detail. This involved the author working alongside a class teacher in order to provide ‘hands on’ InSET experience and help develop confidence in art teaching. Some enrichment art activities were specifically planned requiring children to think and analyse in depth. These were available to all children who selected them but were also targeted to children who in the opinion of their teachers already showed some interest, talent and commitment to art. The other art activities on offer provided a stimulating general art experience but not a high level of cognitive challenge. This paper explores the purpose and design of the research, and offers some conclusions based on a variety of interview and photographic data.