Whole Year Lesson Resource

Art explorations organized by Art Elements and Design Principles

When I write my books, I try to focus on a need I can identify or a way to share my classroom success. Back in 2010, I tried to approach traditional publishers and was rebuffed. They didn't see the need for art resources like workbooks or planners.  Since they wouldn't listen, I'd decided to do it myself. I opened an account on what is now Amazon KDP, and my first book, The Workbook For Art Teachers, did fairly well. I have since written over 100 more, not all under my name, and continue to find needs that teachers have and create content I think they will appreciate.

For example, I often see teachers posting in Facebook groups that they want a year-long planner, curriculum, guide, or scaffold. So I asked teachers, "What theme (if any) do YOU use to organize your lesson planning for the year?" The overwhelming response, as you can see below, was by Elements and Principles with 42%. Second was by scaffolded media, meaning we start with simple media and build skills over time to more complex materials. 

I think we do this already when scaffolding with the art elements. The first element, line, is easily explored with a drawing. Shape can be done with any media, even collage, then form becomes more complex as we may need to work with sculptural materials.

I have already compiled 2 well-regarded collections of lessons. 50 in the first volume and 51 in the second. They are NOT, however, organized by scaffolded media, nor by elements. I assumed that a certified professional would use them as resources for new lessons to consider adding to their own annual "playlist."

​You can click on either title below and see the books on Amazon.

Feedback I received showed a desire for a resource that included lessons organized by a scaffold and the survey revealed to me that the preferred framework was the art elements & principles. I did another poll to understand how many lessons I would need to include. Elementary teachers seemed to need about one per week, while high school teachers generally did one or two lessons per month. Assuming the school year is 10 months, that would mean I needed a minimum of 40 lessons to meet the necessities of elementary teachers and exceed the expectations of middle and high school teachers. 

I combed through the books I had already published, my blog as well, looking for lessons that clearly touched upon each element and principle, deciding that I would compile three for each. One lesson seemed to fit for every art principle, so I added that in as an introduction to that component.  I also noted that some teachers include the art element of LIGHT, particularly if they taught photography, so I added that in as well, ending the book with over 50 lessons in total. Here's the table of contents. 

My main concern is that if educators have already purchased my 50 and 51 Lesson books they will be getting duplicate lessons. So I made sure to clearly state this in my descriptions. Printing books in color is expensive. Essentially it's about $1 per page, while black and white books are pennies per page. I am keenly aware that art teachers operate on tight budgets, and do not want anyone to waste their money. I even posted this alert on my publisher's page. 

It was a lot of work to put this all into a format I think teachers can use in their classroom. Their purchase comes with the rights to make copies for all their students. Below is the full description. If you think you'd like to add this book to your collection of teaching resources, CLICK HERE for Amazon, or CLICK HERE for a link to a TPT Digital Download. You can also get it directly from Firehouse Publications with a discount.

Art Elements & Principles Curriculum Companion:
A Differentiated Yearlong Guide For Art Educators

A full year of ready-to-teach art lessons—organized, differentiated, and rooted in the elements and principles of design. (Plus video links and rubrics!)

Created in response to teachers seeking structured planning tools, Art Elements & Principles Curriculum Companion offers more than 50 classroom-tested 2D and 3D art projects, each clearly aligned with the elements and principles of art. Whether you're teaching elementary, middle, or high school, this guide provides tiered lesson variations for different age levels and abilities—perfect for mixed-grade classrooms, special needs inclusion, or differentiating by skill.

Compiled by Eric Gibbons, Nationally Board-Certified educator, international teacher, and creator of ArtEdGuru.com, this book draws from his most popular resources, including "50 K-12 Art Lessons," "51 K-12 Art Lessons," and his widely shared blog. With a focus on practicality and flexibility, it’s designed for the real-world art classroom.

Inside you’ll find:

• 🎨 More than 50 art projects aligned with the elements and principles of art & rubrics
• 📚 Differentiated versions for lower elementary through high school
• 🎬 Short video links to support and enrich instruction
• 🧩 Projects adaptable for a full year—or 2–3 years of high school
• 📝 Permission to reproduce for your students

This is an ideal resource for art educators looking to simplify planning, meet curriculum standards, and inspire creativity in every student with choice-based lessons—regardless of skill level.

Note: Not intended for advanced AP-level students.

UK Edition HERE

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If you'd like an additional 52 lessons, sub plans, and sketchbook prompts, then Book 2 might just be what you're looking for!  HERE on Amazon.