One type of demonstration presents the activity to a group of children while they watch and listen, another type leads a group of children through an activity with individual guidance. The location and type of activity will determine which demonstration method is best. For example, demonstrations for kids in a classroom will have different needs than a demonstration in a museum or after-school program. The demonstrator also has the option of demonstrating the entire activity before asking a child to begin himself, or simply introducing the activity and allowing the child to work with the demonstrator's supervision.
An educator can keep an art activity demonstration active by focusing on the task and demonstrating each step clearly and without extraneous explanation. He can also ask the child to try the steps herself after watching the demonstration for each step; this will give the child a hands-on example of how the activity works. It is important for the demonstrator to keep a child interested, so communicative, energetic and short demonstrations are ideal. For example, if a demonstrator is illustrating how to glue construction paper in a collage, she can make sound effects for the action of gluing and placing, this will add an element of humor and energy that will hold a child's attention.
Classroom demonstrations give a teacher access to tools for an art project and space for students. But art activity demonstrations outside the classroom require some preparation, such as setting up the space. The children can help set up a demonstration space or a teacher can arrive at a location early to prepare the demonstration. If the location is indoors, then set up may require tables, chairs and a space for the art activity tools. An outdoor demonstration will need a place to store supplies when they aren't being used. A teacher may also need something to weigh down any paper pieces that are part of the activity, so they don't blow away.
Some websites offer online demonstrations of activities. For example, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. offers a list of online activities that demonstrate traditional art techniques. A teacher can also use interactive demonstrations to illustrate in-class art activities before a child begins the activity himself. A child can also access these online demonstrations at home to support lessons learned in class.