Eagle Mural with Summer Camp
This is a very large canvas we painted during our summer camp! A family donated some big canvases that they decided not to use at home. This canvas is about 5 feet tall! This was available for the kids to…
Marcia
Marcia is an elementary art teacher and loves painting, drawing, sculpture, art journaling and clay. Her blog, Art is Basic, features many exciting art projects for kids.
Abstract Art Project: Mixed Media Explorations
This is a fun art project I like to use to get students exploring different types of materials at the beginning of the year. It’s also a low-pressure way to introduce mixed media and abstract art. Set up the room…
Vincent: Starry Starry Night book
Hello! I wanted to share with you this sweet new book I received as a review copy. This book is so tender and lovely and has a fantastic social-emotional connection. This book was inspired by the song by Don McLean.…
Art Sub Plan for Elementary Students- Animals in Cars!
Hello! I have been working on a series of “print and go” substitute teaching plans for elementary art class. These will be set up with goals and steps clearly written for a sub. You can print off these handouts for…
Yearly Elementary Art Curriculum Plan – Scope and Sequence
Here is a yearlong elementary art lesson guide with lots of my favorite projects sorted by grade level. Each one links to a picture, blog post or lesson plan to help you get an idea of what the lesson is…
Early Finishers in Art | Art Centers and Stations
Are you wondering what kinds of activities to have available for your students when they are finished with their art projects? Here are a bunch of early finisher ideas for the art classroom.
Making Zines with Kids
New to zines? Check out my complete beginner’s guide to making zines with kids. In a previous post, I showed many examples of zines that I had purchased from a Zinefest. I tried it out with a group of 4th/5th…
What To Do On the First Day of Art Class
Newly updated in 2026, I have a blog post with even MORE Back to School Art ideas. Visit my First Day of Art Class: Getting to Know You Art Activities with FREE PRINTABLES, including a creative drawing exercise and “Student…
Best Hacks for Art Teachers and Back to School Bundle
Are you looking for the best ways to save time, save money and spruce up your room? Of course you are! I teamed up with Glitter Meets Glue and some of my blogger friends to compile a list of 23…
Character Creation Workshop with Tracy Subisak: A Fun and Creative Experience
Our school had an amazing visit from Tracy Subisak, a Taiwanese-American author and illustrator known for her children’s books. She shared her creative process, read "Sorry, Snail," and demonstrated character creation techniques. Students then created their own characters. I got a signed copy for my collection. Have you hosted an author visit before?
Creative Sub Plans: Cut Paper Art Idea
I found this post in my draft folder. I had written the post and then it was right before Covid hit, so somehow I missed posting it! This is one of my go-to sub plans. Use up the paper in…
Summer Art Challenge 2024
It’s back! I used to host a Summer Art Challenge with my classes before Covid, but it kind of fell off the radar. I’ve decided to give it another go this year and see what cool stuff the kids come…
Drawing Activities with Lynda Barry
In April, I had the pleasure of attending the National Art Education Association conference in Minneapolis. I was really excited because Lynda Barry was going to be one of the keynote speakers. I have been a fan of her work…
Making Zines Art Project for Kids
New to zines? Check out my complete beginner’s guide to making zines with kids. Yesterday I went to a really fun event called the Madison Print and Resist Zinefest. I have been to this before and it has always had…
Foam Printmaking
Recently, I did styrofoam printmaking with my 4th/5th grade classes. Styrofoam printing is a relatively easy way to introduce printmaking to a group of kids. It is messy and can be challenging, so I’m providing a video demonstration in this…