Toolkit: Art Teacher and Conservationist Michael Auger
Opening the doors to art and nature in his elementary classroom
“Every artist has a muse and mine is nature. From my own artwork to my art lessons, the main theme is environmental education through the arts. I love seeing the creativity of my students’ artwork echoing back this greater understanding and respect for nature.” — Michael Auger, art educator, North and West Salisbury elementary schools, Wicomico County
All drawings by Michael Auger
1 NATURE
Every artist has a muse and mine is nature. From my own artwork to my art lessons, the main theme is environmental education through the arts. I love seeing the creativity of my students’ artwork echoing back this greater understanding and respect for nature.
2 CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Children’s books are a staple in any classroom. They guide the student on a path of adventure and lead them to a better understanding of themselves and others. The two books that I could not do without are Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
3 ERASERS
The eraser gives us a chance to start over. It helps ease the fear of mistakes.
4 PENCILS
What would any good art class be without pencils? They are the perfect tool for creating the road map to your next masterpiece. They have the power to make a line as quiet as a whisper or as loud as a roar, with the simple act of controlling pressure.
5 PAINT BRUSHES
Ok, yes, I love having nice paint brushes. With the right brush and technique, you can do just about anything from thick to thin lines and even texture for trees. Bob Ross was right when he taught us the power of a paint brush to paint that “Happy Tree.”
6 WATER COLORS
There is power in black and white, but through color one can bring an artwork to life. My students get so excited when we take out the water colors. Their favorite part is mixing the colors together to create a new one.