Elementary Art Lessons, Projects & Teaching Ideas for K–5

Because art is fundamental to who we are. Art has always been a basic form of human communication. From cave walls to classroom walls, art helps us express ideas, tell stories, and better understand the world around us. I believe art is an essential part of every child's education, which is why I chose the name Art is Basic. Here you'll find K–5 creative art lessons, teaching ideas, and printable resources to help K–5 art teachers inspire young artists.

Colorful still life with fruits, flowers, a golden goblet, and a decorative spray on a vibrant gradient background, evoking the essence of fall.

Fall Still Life Paintings with Kids

My third, fourth and fifth grade students just finished up these gorgeous fall still life paintings. Over the years I have built up a collection of fall decorations, artificial leaves, pumpkins and gourds. I also brought in some…

October 25, 2018

A stylized yellow pumpkin with dots and lines on a colorful, patterned background, inspired by Yayoi Kusama.

Yayoi Kusama Dotted Pumpkins for Kids

I love the results of this dotted pumpkin project inspired by the dotted pumpkins of Yayoi Kusama. I did this art lesson with 3rd/4th grade. (Amazon Affiliate links have been used, at no extra cost to you.) I…

October 24, 2018
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A choice board titled "Ancient Egyptian Art" with nine engaging activity options related to Ancient Egyptian art and culture.

Ancient Egyptian Art Choice Menu

We recently had an inservice at our school and they talked about making choice menus to give the students different ways to show understanding. I decided to make a few that could go along with different units I…

October 24, 2018

A colorful peace sign with three kindness art project ideas: a choice menu, comic strip, and hand tracing.

Kindness Themed Choice Menu

Here are a couple of Kindness Themed Choice Menus that you can use with your students to pick an art activity that demonstrates kindness. I have this as a free download in my TPT shop. Download here.

October 23, 2018

Halloween-themed menu featuring a variety of creative activities arranged in a 3x3 grid layout, topped with a pumpkin illustration.

Halloween Themed Choice Menu

At a recent inservice, we were introduced to ways to give differentiation to learners of different paces and allow them to pursue activities or topics they may be interested in. One of these ways is a tic-tac-toe choice…

October 22, 2018
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Two colorful star-shaped shape monsters with playful facial features, made from paper for an art project.

Shape Monsters Art Project

I found this cute book called My Very Silly Monster Book of Shapes. I read this book to my Kindergartners and then we did a shape monster art project. The kindergarteners were given the choice of several different…

October 16, 2018

Best Art Materials for the Elementary Art Classroom

We all have our favorite art supplies. What are your MUST-HAVE art supplies for an elementary art classroom? Here are some of my favorites! (Amazon Affiliate links have been used in this post at no extra cost to…

October 9, 2018
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Cover of the book "I Am Human: A Book of Empathy" by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, featuring a boy with arms open.

I am Human, a book by Susan Verde & Peter Reynolds

I wanted to share with you a new book that just came out that I discovered! It is called I am Human and it is written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. I LOVE the illustrations…

October 5, 2018
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Collaborative abstract art with four quadrants: a pink sailboat, jagged lines, green-blue shapes, and red swirls on a green background.

Collaborative Dot Day Art Project

I’m going back in my archives! I’ve got lots of folders of photos I’ve been meaning to share but haven’t yet. One of these is the Dot Day collaborative circles. Four students complete one section each of the…

September 9, 2018

A colorful abstract drawing featuring a mix of landscapes, cityscapes, and whimsical elements like waves and a rocket, inspired by Justin Vining's artist study.

Whimsical Landscapes (Justin Vining artist study)

I love this lesson! I teach about contemporary artist Justin Vining and the kids explore the qualities of watercolor pencils to create their own whimsical landscapes. You can see artwork from another year at this blog post. You…

September 8, 2018

Colorful, hand-drawn cacti in various decorative pots, each framed in a unique border with hearts and geometric patterns.

New Products in Shop: Little Doodle Sketchbook & More!

I have a few new products in my shop you may be interested in. First is the Little Doodle Sketchbook. Learn all about Inchies, Twinchies, Thrinchies, Artist Trading Cards and Artist Trading Coins in the Miniature Artwork Package!…

September 3, 2018

An inspiring display with colorful words like "Curious," "Amazing," "Creative," "Awesome," and "Imagine" drawn on a whiteboard, adorned with various decorations.

Positive Words Banner: Inspiring for Back to School

At the end of the year last year, my students created this colorful and inspiring banner that we are displaying in the hallway now. We loosely marked out the ABCs on a large banner and kids thought of…

September 3, 2018
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"Model Magic Insects" showcasing a colorful clay insect with googly eyes, pipe cleaner antennae, and decorated wings, highlighting creative insect sculptures.

Model Magic Insect Sculptures

I often like to connect what we are doing in art to what they have learned about in science class. Insects can provide a lot of inspiration for artists. The colors and designs in insects can be intricate,…

August 22, 2018
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