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Register for live online arts classes for kids with TinkerLab
November - December 2021
Are you looking for fun and engaging creative arts classes for kids? Would you like to see your child’s confidence in their artistic ability soar as they approach design challenges, from the comfort of your home?
We’re excited to welcome you to the upcoming live arts classes for kids where your child can explore new materials, learn about art while engaging with other children, find new ways to look at the world, receive encouragement from a dedicated art teacher, and explore open ended lessons that celebrate process over product.
Welcome to the beta launch of TinkerLab Studio!
I'm glad you're interested in art classes for kids, and joining an online TinkerLab art class.
The Beta classes will be held on four Sundays in November and December for children ages 4-9+.
Speed round details?
Goals of TinkerLab Art Classes for Kids
- We encourage a love for art while developing self-confidence in artistic ability.
- We offer each young artist the opportunity to explore new materials and a variety of media and techniques.
- We spark each child’s creativity with open ended, playful, and imagination-boosting art projects that help children think like artists and inventors.
What you can expect from TinkerLab Art Classes for Kids
- Live kids art classes will run for 35 minutes.
- We will meet in small groups of no more than 15 kids.
- Expert instruction from TinkerLab instructors are creative, energetic, and encouraging, with years of experience in their domain.
- Instructions are open-ended, providing little artists with room to experiment and play.
- These are online classes and will be held in a private Zoom room.
Beta Class Details
- Beta discounted prices with classes starting at $12.
- We’re offering four art classes for kids in this beta series. Sign up for one or get a discount when you enroll in all four classes.
- DRAWING prompts is the theme for this beta launch. These are NOT how-to-draw classes, but experimental and playful drawing classes. In the future we hope to host a variety of classes that may include painting, STEAM, collage, sculpture, and printmaking.
- Look at the list of art supplies before joining to make sure you’re covered (we aim to keep supplies simple!).
- The materials for the drawing classes explore different mediums such as pencil, marker, oil pastels, tempera paint sticks, and watercolors.
- This is a learning process for us. If you sign up for a beta class, we ask that you please share feedback with us to co-create learning experiences that shine.
Get All Four Art Classes for Kids And Save
That's $12/class
Get all four art classes for kids for $48
Children will think like artists as they create, invent, play, iterate, and work through mistakes. This 4-pack is a discounted class series (normally $60).
How to claim your discount: Sign up for all four classes at the regular price and we will refund the difference to your account. Offer expires November 27.
PATTERN DOODLE DRAWING - Explore line, pattern, & color
Children will explore line, pattern, shape, and color. We will fill a page with a variety of lines and patterns, experiment, play, ask questions, and make art. Artists are always encouraged to follow their own ideas.
SUPPLIES
- Heavy white paper
- Ruler
- Black marker (permanent is optional)
- Colorful markers or tempera paint sticks
Two class times listed below. Note the ages. Sign up early as space is limited.
Live online studio session
7-9+ year olds
35 minute class
Meets November 21, 3 pm PST
$15 USD
PAINT SPLAT DRAWING - Improvisation & growth mindset
Children will develop lateral thinking skills while turning abstract coffee or paint stains into characters, monsters, designs, or objects. Artists are always encouraged to follow their own ideas.
SUPPLIES
- Liquid watercolors, food coloring, or strong coffee
- Paint brush
- Watercolor Paper
- Marker or other drawing tool
- Access to a printer
Two class times listed below. Note the ages. Sign up early as space is limited.
Live online studio session
7-9+ year olds
35 minute class
Meets November 28, 3 pm PST
$15 USD
SECRET GROWING DRAWING - Creativity, imagination, & surprise
Children will take an imagination adventure while learning a clever paper folding technique that will wow their friends. With the addition of a few paper folds, turn a simple drawing into an expanded surprise. Artists are always encouraged to follow their own ideas.
SUPPLIES
- Copy paper
- Favorite drawing tools: markers, colored pencils, etc.
Two class times listed below. Sign up early as space is limited.
DRAWING IDEA GENERATOR - Improvisation & language development
Children will connect literacy and art in this whimsical word game that encourages imaginative drawing. Explore the world of adjectives, nouns in this improvisational art game. Artists are always encouraged to follow their own ideas.
Note: Children will be writing in this activity and may need adult help if they are an early stage writer.
SUPPLIES
- Copy paper
- Favorite drawing tools: markers, colored pencils, etc.
- Scissors
- Flash cards or paper cut into pieces (roughly 3" x 4" / 7 cm x 10 cm)
- Access to a printer (optional)
Two class times listed below. Note the ages. Sign up early as space is limited.
Time Commitment
Each class is 35 minutes. We may offer up to 10 additional minutes for sharing and finishing work.
What does enrollment include?
When you enroll you'll get access to the online Studio Session via a Zoom link and a downloadable PDF of the activity to refer to any time.
Can my children share a registration?
If you have more than one child and prefer that they share a registration, that's fine. Please just register ONE child as the main registrant. Note: the teacher plans for 15 students or less, and if additional children raise this ratio they may not be able to involve all the children who share registrations.
Preparation and adult assistance?
Check the class description for the supply list. Some projects can be messy and we suggest covering the art table and wearing art clothes. While younger children may need help with things like cutting, we aim to empower children to create independently.
How much are classes?
The beta art classes for kids are $15 each or $48 for four classes (that's just $12/class). We're offering this low price in exchange for feedback from you after the class/es.
Is this internet-safe?
While safety is a top priority, in our complex online world nothing is 100% safe. We aim to promote online safety in the following ways: Classes are held in a private Zoom room with the teacher and registered children (and their families on occasion). We ask that all children keep their cameras on to ensure the room is kid-friendly. Classes will be recorded for quality control purposes only, and videos will not be shared.
What is your teaching philosophy?
We believe all children are creative, and will reach their highest potential when learning is rooted in joy, curiosity, and encouragement. We value process over product, iteration, experiments, and mistakes as ways to help children develop a flexible and nimble mindset that will serve them as future leaders, community members, and change makers. Our teaching approach is based in constructivism, founded by psychologist and education pioneer Jean Piaget, where teachers act as facilitators and children are active learners who construct their own knowledge through experience. We aim to foster critical and creative thinking skills, active discussion, question asking, intrinsic motivation, and active participation. We are also heavily influenced by John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, Maria Montessori, and Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia).
Who are your teachers?
TinkerLab was founded by Rachelle Doorley, EdM Harvard Graduate School of Education, Arts in Education. Rachelle is the author of three best selling creativity books for kids, and has 20+ years art teaching experience in schools and museums. She's also a resident fellow at Stanford, where she supervises student staff and oversees a sophomore dorm. TinkerLab teachers come with a range of creative, intellectual, and educational backgrounds. They are experts in their domains, skilled at engaging children, and have a deep love for teaching and learning. TinkerLab educators are vetted for their commitment to developing TinkerLab's three C's: creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. You can find bios for educators below.
TinkerLab Teachers
Libby Beavitz is a lifelong learner, with a passion for exploration, curiosity, and helping kids grow to their fullest potential. She grew up surrounded by art in her mother's painting store and has been a K-5 educator for almost a decade. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in California, as well as an Oregon State Teaching License. When she is not teaching or creating, you can find Libby exploring the forests and mountains. Libby continually expands her knowledge by taking classes covering a range of topics from social-emotional learning to growth mindset to engaging students in an increasingly technological world. It is Libby's goal as an educator to help students discover the beauty in trying new things and making mistakes along the way.
Rachelle Doorley is the founder of TinkerLab.com, Stanford d.school lecturer, artist-in-residence in Palo Alto’s Cubberley Artist Studio Program, and best-selling author (TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors, TinkerLab Art Starts: 52 Projects for Open-Ended Exploration, Creative Adventures in Cursive). She has a BA in theater from UCLA and an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from Harvard University. Rachelle believes in finding fun and meaningful ways to make every day creative, and can often be found playing in her art studio, taking her kids on adventures, and doodling in her sketchbook.
If you're looking for a subscription to art classes for kids, we offer access to a vast library of hundreds of art and STEAM prompts that spark creativity and encourage creative and critical thinking skills. All on your own time.