Designed in collaboration with local artist Andy Greenacre, Elements of Art is an educational resource pack offering hands on learning that sparks curiosity and creativity. The pack contains flash cards featuring creative activities based on the seven key elements of art – colour, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Aimed at a range of ages, from 11 all the way up to later life!

Each creativity pack includes:

• 42 different activity cards
• A yellow folder to house the cards
• A 'meet the artist' leaflet'

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How to use the Elements of Art pack as a Home Educator

Suffolk Libraries is a hub for home-schooling families, providing access to books, learning materials, workshops, and activity. Some of our libraries have dedicated home education groups, such as Gainsborough, Framlingham, and Lowestoft libraries. This guide will walk you through how to use the Elements of Art creative activity pack as part of your home curriculum.

• ‍Sign up for a home educators’ library card: A home educator library card that allows you to borrow up to 20 books for 12 weeks at a time if you teach your children at home. For more information and to apply, visit your local library.

• ‍Obtain a pack via the Suffolk Libraries catalogue: Visit our catalogue and reserve a pack with your library card. Pick it up from your local library when it’s ready to collect. Your local library may already have some copies available on the shelves.

• ‍Source simple tools and materials: Each activity can be completed with basic art tools and objects which are easily found in your home. If you need help sourcing tools and materials to take part, Suffolk Libraries can help – just get in touch and we can advise on how to source free or low-cost materials.

• ‍Integrate the pack into your home curriculum: Plan when you’ll use the creative activity pack each week. You might want to dedicate a specific day to work through the activities across half a term or spread it over a full term. Or you might like to run an art week intensive, using the pack daily or every other day over a shorter period. You don’t need to follow every step of the instructions exactly as written. Feel free to adapt the activities to meet the specific needs or interests of your students. Encourage open-ended exploration, allowing students to experiment and create their own variations of the activity.

• ‍Return the pack and borrow new materials: Once you’ve completed the Elements of Art activities, return it to your local library and continue the cycle of borrowing! If an activity sparks a student’s interest in a specific subject, visit the library to find related books and workshops to deepen that knowledge. Take advantage of library groups such as book clubs, craft sessions, or STEM workshops, which can offer additional opportunities for socialising and learning in a group setting.

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Some of our libraries run dedicated home education groups and you can use these connections to share ideas, experiences and insights gained from using the packs. Some of our home education groups may run Elements of Art taster sessions for you to try out an activity in the library before taking home the full pack, or creative showcases where students can display and demonstrate their finished work.

As well as your local library, explore other local organisations and engage in their activity. To find out more about what’s on, visit Suffolk Libraries online directory Let’s Get Creative, showcasing free and low-cost activity in the local area.