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Art Meets Literacy: Why Umbrellas Can Be Both

I’m not an “art author.” My resources are not art lessons for the sake of art.
Instead, I use art as a tool, to help children live the text, not just read it.

When my students painted umbrellas that later turned into parasols, they weren’t just cutting and coloring. They were experiencing a story. A single object changed its function, and suddenly the whole world looked different. That’s exactly what literacy should feel like –  words and images working together to create meaning.

This PreK-4 bundle brings that philosophy into your classroom:

     

      • PreK-K: matching and listening activities → turning vocabulary into first stories.

      • Grades 1-2: collaborative storytelling and simple descriptive writing.

      • Grades 3-4: creative writing, poetry, and mural projects that blend color, shape, and words.

    “Art meets literacy” is not just a phrase. It’s a way to teach children that their ideas can take shape on paper – through words, through pictures, or through both.

    Bring “Art Meets Literacy” into your classroom
    If you’d like to try these ideas with your own students, take a look at my Umbrellas PreK–4 Bundle, a complete set of art & literacy projects that grow with your grade level.

    Want a sneak peek? Download a free Umbrella writing page and get creative literacy ideas straight to your inbox.

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