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.

Cover of the "Stencil Craft Book" by Margaret Peot, showcasing stenciled art on a flower, leaf, mask, whale, and a grid-patterned box.

An Interview with Margaret Peot, author of Stencil Craft

Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with Margaret Peot, author of the new book Stencil Craft.Earlier this week I wrote a book review, with the chance to win copies of this book (there…

July 19, 2015
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Colorful background with blurred hues of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue; text reads, "Tips for the first days of school in Art Class.

First Day of School for Art Class

Are you nervous about starting the school year? Or are you excited to get things going? Even though this is my lucky 13th year teaching, I still get anxious to go back. It’s a combo of nerves, excitement…

July 18, 2015
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A LEGO Mosaics artwork depicting a cartoon-style woman with blonde hair, red lips, and blue eyes. This piece showcases the creativity often seen at the Brickworld Convention.

Lego Mosaics Art at the Brickworld Convention

I have more pictures to show you from the Lego Brickworld Convention that was held in Schaumburg, IL this summer. If you love Legos, be sure to check out my first post about this convention. I know some…

July 12, 2015

Lego figure with a yellow head, smiling face, and wearing a red outfit, standing against a yellow-bordered background.

Lego Brickworld Convention 2015

Are you a fan of Legos? Did you know there is a new documentary film coming out July 31 called Beyond the Brick: A Lego Brickumentary? You can see the official trailer here. Have you heard of the…

July 8, 2015
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Three colorful leaf-themed watercolor paintings overlapping each other on a white background, showcasing creative art projects with vibrant leaves.

3 Art Projects Using Leaves

Summer is the perfect time to create art with your child. Nature provides endless inspiration for art. Here are three fun art activities using leaves that you can do with kids or just on your own! This post…

July 6, 2015
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A rubber ducky dressed as a cowboy with a hat, red bandana, green checkered shirt, and blue overalls.

Rubber Ducky Public Sculptures in St. Joseph, Michigan

A couple of weeks ago we took a summer trip to my brother’s cabin in Michigan. We spent some time in the lovely city of St. Joseph, Michigan. It is right on Lake Michigan and we enjoyed playing…

June 28, 2015
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Dream-themed watercolor painting featuring stars, hearts, and whimsical swirls against a vibrant blue and purple background inspired by cosmic visions.

Masking with Watercolor

Hi friends! First of all, have you entered my BIG FUN ART TEACHER giveaway? If not, go to this blog post or the Facebook page to enter. Today’s blogpost is a cross-post. This week I was a…

June 24, 2015
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Big Fun Art Teacher Giveaway

Hello! I love giveaways and thought it would be fun to have a summer art teacher giveaway in honor of reaching 400 likes on Facebook. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog or on the…

June 22, 2015
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Painting the Sun- Metepec Suns

My third graders ended the school year learning a little about the symbolism of the sun in Mexican pottery. The sun has been used as a symbol of the life-giving energy and of good luck. Cassie Stephens has…

June 15, 2015

Colorful "Good News Note!" cards with stripes and polka dots, praising students for their achievements and positive behavior in art class.

Positive Behavior Notes for Art Class

I now have “Good News Notes” in my shop. Save time with parent communication by filling out these easy positive notes. It’s always better to start with positive communication so that when you have something less positive to…

June 9, 2015

Easy End of Year Art Project: Collaborative Banners

Are you looking for an easy end-of-year art project? On the last days of school, I had some students that needed to finish up art projects and others that really just wanted to be done with the school…

June 6, 2015
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Create a Memory Book of Your Child's Artwork-- Preserve your art!

Create an Art Memory Book

My daughter who is in 4k comes home with at least 3 drawings every day. She can draw during free choice or nap time (she won’t nap). Plus with the drawing she does at home, we have collected…

May 30, 2015
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Summer Art Challenge

I am going to introduce this summer art challenge to my students next week. I did this summer art challenge a couple of years ago and we had a lovely display in the fall. The parents of the…

May 25, 2015
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