Concentrate lesson plans on specific subjects such as technique, style, medium or even color. Breaking down the concept of "art class" into smaller units of concentration will help aid in the child's comprehension. For example, one unit could focus on pointillism. During this study, students should have the opportunity to use small-tipped paintbrushes to create their own pieces of work.
Teach children the significance of collecting visual information. Truly visualizing and studying a subject will help the artist interpret and convey the subject. For example, children could be given a bowl of fruit to study for a unit on still life. Prompt them with questions about the fruit, such as the shape of a banana, the curve of an apple. They should be thinking critically about the subject so that they can best present their viewpoint.
Visit a museum or art gallery to teach art history and art appreciation. Field trips are often helpful for putting classroom discussion into perspective. If the children are very young they might not understand the meaning behind the piece, but they can at least become familiar with what it looks like and how it is made.
Offer support and encouragement as opposed to a demonstration. That is, instead of drawing a picture of a horse and asking the child to recreate it, ask them to draw a horse from memory or by looking at a picture of a real horse. This will allow them to practice recalling and interpreting a subject.
Explore different medium appropriate for age level and abilities. This will help the child develop a familiarity with the various tools at an artist's disposal. For example, preschool-aged children might feel comfortable finger painting. Under adult supervision, an elementary school aged child is likely ready for paper projects such as collages and mosaics that involve scissors and paste.