Free Resources from the Net for (Special) Education

Welcome to this Treasure Chest of Free Stuff.

Here’s an exciting opportunity for children of all ages to create digital artwork and to explore the world of art. The Art Zone is a website of exceptional quality.

The Art Zone (online resource) This amazing interactive site for kids is offered by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. The site’s developers have created an opportunity for young artists to create virtual art using a variety of techniques and interesting formats. In some instances it is possible to print the art, or to conveniently capture screenshots that can be shared.

The creative activities are well designed with straightforward and intuitive interfaces. Most, if not all, require a Shockwave Player. The titles of the Art Zone’s activities give at least a hint of the kinds of opportunities avaiable: Collage Machine; Mobile; PixelFace; 3-D Twirler; Cubits; Diamonds; Dollhouse; Paintbox; Wallovers; RiverRun; SwatchBox; Flow; Jungle. The screenshots below show the opening interface for three of these activities. (In most browsers, the image will enlarge if you click on it. To return to this page, click on your browser’s back arrow.)

The Art Zone also introduces young people to some of the world’s great art and provides a look back at art history. So, in addition to the opportunities for creative expression, the site suggests and facilitates a variety of activities and projects designed to encourage children to explore the world of art.

Naturally, the website encourages children to visit the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The Art Zone provides helpful childrens’ guides to the gallery and to the art housed there. These guides can be downloaded in pdf format. Apart from promoting its own art gallery, the site is completely ad-free.