Art Project for Dot Day
Another Dot Day has come and gone. I’ve seen lots of dot projects all over the internet already. Here is what my kindergartners made this year. You can read all of the lesson details on this previous blog…
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.
Read More...Art Project for Dot Day
Abstract Paintings Inspired by the Art of Shinique Smith
Have you heard of the artist Shinique Smith? I just love her artwork! It’s very gestural, colorful and it just draws me in to look at more closely. I love the use of fabric with graffiti-like painted marks. …
Summer Art Challenge Display
At the end of the year last school year, I passed out Summer Art Challenge sheets. Each of the students who participated received a certificate and a prize or two or three depending on how much of the…
Easy Collaborative Art Banners with Motivational Words
At the end of the year in June, I posted about a collaborative word banner project I did with all of my students. I also used this as an option for students who finished their other art…
Art Games and Puzzles for an Enrichment Center
I have a bookshelf in my classroom that students can go to when they are done with their class assignments. I also have free choice days where students can select from a wide range of activities. Since students…
First Day of Kindergarten & 1st Grade Art
We had our first week of school! Beth Carter posted wonderful pictures of her students drawings on the first day with the title “I had art today!” I borrowed the concept and made sheets for my kindergartners and…
Art Room Organization
I love organizing things, especially art materials. It makes it easier to find things you need when your room is organized! I am always revamping my organizational systems and I feel like my room now is arranged pretty…
Hybrid Machine-Animal Drawings
After looking at the art of contemporary artist Nicolas Lampert, my students combined two or more different objects or creatures to create hybrid drawings. Here are the steps to this lesson: 1. Start by discussing the machine…
Animal Shrinky Dinks in Summer Art Camp
This summer I taught a one week art workshop called Artsy Animals. The camp had kids going in to grades 1-4 and it took place for 3 hours every day. Now camp was much more laid back than…
Medieval Day at School
Near the end of the school year our 5th/6th grade students put on a Medieval Day for the entire school. They researched and planned activities including dancing, food sampling, jousting, catapulting, exhibits and displays and of course, ART!…
New Ideas and Resources to Teach about Contemporary Art
In previous blog posts, I talked about contemporary artists you may not have heard about before and I put together a round-up of blog posts about contemporary art projects. Today I have some more ideas to share. Don…
Manga Drawing with Kids
My students had a blast drawing Manga faces again this year. I tried this lesson previously with great enthusiasm and results. I printed off lots of handouts I found online of cartoon faces, eyes, noses, mouths, hairstyles and…
Tape and Paint Pictures
I came up with this lesson after browsing the internet looking for contemporary artists to study. I came across Fiona Curran’s’s beautiful paintings with straight lines and geometric shapes. Here are some of her artworks: At the end…