Creative Connections: Classical Conversations Cycle 2 Drawing + Art Makes Me Smart

In Classical Conversations Cycle 2, the Fine Arts focus kicks off with six weeks of drawing, a gentle, skill-building progression that encourages students to see the world like artists.

Using Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes as a guide, this unit introduces the Five Basic Elements of Shape, symmetry, perspective, abstract art, and more. But it’s not just about technique. It’s about building confidence, slowing down, and giving kids permission to express themselves creatively.

The goal? To help your child realize that drawing isn’t about getting it “right”, it’s about learning to see, to notice, and to respond with curiosity and creativity.

By the end of the unit, your child will have:

• Explored foundational shape elements
• Practiced right-brain drawing strategies
• Dabbled in abstract and emotional expression
• Gained confidence in perspective
• Completed a final project that reflects their growth

To support and extend this learning, we’ve curated a collection of Art Makes Me Smart projects that align beautifully with each week of the drawing unit, so you can layer in creativity without adding stress.

Week-by-Week Creative Matchups

Week 1 – The Five Elements of Shape

(Dots, Circles, Straight, Curved, and Angled Lines)
Start the unit by exploring shape through playful, hands-on projects:

• Ship Shape Composition – a paper-cut collage that plays with shape, space, and composition
• Dancing Dots Watercolor – explore rhythm and repetition with playful mark-making
• Line Illusions – great for curved and straight line exploration
• Watercolor Web, Simple Leaves, Saltwater Shibori – use lines and shapes to explore layering and flow

This week is all about experimentation, no pressure, just play!

Week 2 – Mirror Images (Symmetry)

Symmetry is a beautiful intersection of math and art. Use this week to explore it in both representational and abstract ways:

• Snowflake, Butterfly, or Beetle Unit Studies – all include symmetrical drawing or painting
• Symmetry Challenge – a simple drawing warm-up you can pair with any project
• Pythagorean Butterfly – an abstract paper craft that introduces symmetry in a whole new way

Week 3 – Upside-Down Drawing (Right-brain Exercise)

Help your child truly see what’s in front of them by flipping their perspective:

• Choose any beginner-friendly project (like the Acorn Drawing or Modern Watercolor Rainbow)
• Flip the reference image—or the whole video!—and challenge your child to draw upside down
• This activity builds focus, observation skills, and confidence in proportion

Week 4 – Abstract Art

This week invites kids to explore emotion, color, movement, and design. Let go of “realism” and dive into creativity:

• Ship Shape Composition (if you didn’t use it in Week 1)
• Pythagorean Butterfly (also works here!)
• Try any project from the Modern Watercolor Basics series:
  • Alcohol Shibori
  • Dancing Dots
  • Popsicle Sunset
  • Saltwater Shibori

These are all ideal for freeform expression and mixing media.

Week 5 – Perspective

Depth, distance, vanishing points—this is where drawing really clicks for many students. Try:

• Word Play – a playful but powerful intro to perspective and dimension
• Country Roads – a guided project that includes vanishing point, horizon line, and scene building
• Use the included video tutorials and printables for an open-and-go experience

Week 6 – Final Project & Review

This is your child’s chance to reflect on their growth. Invite them to:

• Revisit a favorite project from the past 5 weeks
• Complete one they didn’t get to finish
• Combine elements from multiple projects into a brand-new creation

Encourage your child to notice how their confidence and skills have grown.

Why It Works

The Art Makes Me Smart Membership is designed to work alongside the curriculum you’re already using, like Classical Conversations. These projects offer open-and-go support that helps children internalize concepts like shape, line, symmetry, and perspective through hands-on exploration.

Whether you’re a confident artist or just learning alongside your kids, these lessons will help you start with art, and build connection, creativity, and joy in the process.

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