The Storytelling Issue, October 2026

Published on 28 September 2026

Description:

Art teachers use storytelling to build connections and deepen learning. Young students practice foundational art skills while drawing and painting a scene inspired by an Eric Carle classic; elementary students pull from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and contemporary art to create visual languages; middle school students navigate personal challenges through cartooning; and high school students celebrate their San Fernando community through personalized 3D lowrider cars.

33 articles from this collection:

The Storytelling Issue | October 2026

Editor's Letter | Storytelling

SchoolArts editor-in-chief Frank Juárez reflects on storytelling as a way to encourage student agency and strengthen classroom connections.

Amaco Brent

AMACO (American Art Clay Company, Inc.) continues to be a leader and innovator for ceramics in the areas of art, technology, and education.

Table of Contents

Bailey Pottery

For 50 years, Bailey Pottery has been a trusted supplier and leading manufacturer of high-quality ceramic equipment, offering top glazes, wheels, kilns, and tools at the lowest prices, backed by an expert sales team ready to assist teachers & potters of any skill level.

Co-Editor's Letter | Storytelling

Dr. Leigh Drake discusses the power of visual narrative to transform the art-making process and help students see themselves as artists.

Early Childhood ClipCard | Torn Paper Collage

Young students create torn-paper collages using at least three warm or cool colors.

Elementary ClipCard | Personification in Clay

Elementary students apply personification by designing and sculpting a character with clay inspired by an everyday object.

Blick Art Supplies

As a leading art supply company, we provide artists, educators, students, and our associates with the tools, assistance, and training needed to grow, innovate, and reach their creative potential. BLICK Art Materials is family-owned and serving artists since 1911.

Middle School ClipCard | Jungle Gems

Middle-school students draw an animal and incorporate it into the foreground or middle ground of a painted jungle.

Engaging with Public Art from Davis

Explore Murals and Street Art Through a Dynamic Digital Image Collection. Bring today’s most compelling public art into your classroom with Engaging with Public Art, a digital image collection designed to help students connect with contemporary artists, explore meaningful ideas, and engage in thoughtful discussions about art and the world around them.

High School ClipCard | The Journey of Line: Continuous Line and Watercolor Mark-Making

High-school students experiment with line, mark making, and watercolor to create a textured composition.

General Pencil

The General Pencil Company is a historic, family-owned American manufacturer based in Jersey City, New Jersey, that has been handcrafting traditional wood pencils and fine art supplies since 1889.

Point of View | More Than Art: Helping Students Rewrite Their Personal Stories

An art teacher draws from her own experiences and classroom practices to help students explore their identities and personal stories through art.

Managing the Art Room | Creating Confidence in the Classroom

A literary publication advisor shares how storytelling and authentic opportunities help students build confidence and discover their unique voices.

NAEA National Convention 2027

Registration is open! Secure your spot now for the 2027 NAEA National Convention, taking place March 4–6 in New York City. Engage in premier professional learning and make meaningful connections at NAEA27. Join us and be inspired!

Contemporary Art in Context | Aurora Robson

Environmental artist Aurora Robson creates sculptures and installations that encourage viewers to reconsider plastic as an artistic material while raising awareness about plastic waste.

Chicano Lowrider Art: Cultural Identity and Artistic Expression

High-school students explore their cultural identities and celebrate the San Fernando community through personalized 3D lowrider cars.

Mayco Colors

Mayco Colors has been helping art educators inspire creativity in the classroom since 1954. We provide high-quality ceramic products, along with ready-to-use lesson plans and educational resources designed specifically for the classroom.

Rosetta Remix: Creating Your Own Hieroglyphic Language

Elementary students draw on ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and the icon-based artwork of Ryan McGinness to create their own system of symbols representing their identity.

Stars, Moon, and Ladders: Inspiration from a Classic Children’s Book

Young students practice foundational art skills, such as creating shapes, while drawing and painting a scene inspired by an Eric Carle picture book.

Skutt

The #1 kiln used in schools. Kids Need Clay helps schools start and sustain ceramics programs with full support.

Four Ways Cartooning Sparks Storytelling

Middle-school students use cartooning to turn personal experiences and imaginative ideas into playful stories.

What Scares You? Phobia-Inspired Visual Storytelling

High-school students use reverse shading, composition, and mark-making to create visual narratives inspired by phobias.

Square 1 Art

Simple. Creative. Art Fundraiser. Celebrate your child‘s art on keepsakes and raise funds for your school!

When Students Realize Art Can Speak: Painting Endangered Species

Elementary students create grayscale paintings that go beyond a lesson in value as they become invested in the endangered species they portray.

The Gift of Giving: From Perspective Drawings to Personal Gifts

Middle-school students take inspiration from Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree and transform a painted cube into a meaningful gift through reflective writing.

Amaco Brent

AMACO (American Art Clay Company, Inc.) continues to be a leader and innovator for ceramics in the areas of art, technology, and education.

Magical Miniatures with a Big Impact

Upper-school students investigate interior design before choosing a real or imagined space to construct as a miniature room.

Restorative Practices in Education through the Arts from Davis

Restorative Practices in Education through the Arts presents essays from experts in the field that explore the restorative qualities of the arts. NEW Book Study, Reframing the Art Room: Join the authors/editors for a complimentary six-part online book study exploring practical ways to bring restorative practices into your everyday teaching.

Focus In: A New Era of Leadership for NAEA: Q&A with NAEA Executive Director Laura L. Lott

NAEAʼs new executive director shares her vision for supporting art educators through advocacy, professional learning, and stronger connections across the field.

THE SHOP: October 2026

Products, educational opportunities, and more!

Professional Development from Davis

Davis provides learning that is relevant to contemporary approaches and issues. Presented on-demand, virtually, or in-person by master teachers who are experts in the most current classroom pedagogy and the practical, discipline-specific, targeted application of research-backed content. Learn from educators who are recognized leaders with a plethora of applicable classroom successes.