Winter Collages
My posting is going to be limited for a little while. I burnt four of my fingers on a hot glue gun yesterday and had to go to the urgent care. Basically the glue dripped on four fingers…
Art Projects for Kids + Tips for the Teacher!
Art Projects for Kids + Tips for the Teacher!
Elementary Art Projects & Creative Lessons for Kids
Welcome to Art is Basic, a blog full of elementary art lessons, easy art projects, and teaching ideas for K-5 classrooms. Browse hundreds of engaging activities designed to inspire young artists.
Read More...Winter Collages
Frogs in a Pond (with Monet) 1st Grade
I love lessons where I can tie in different areas of study, art history and art techniques! This is a project I developed that incorporates study of frogs, Monet and watercolor painting. To start this project, we learn…
African Cloth Painting– 3rd Grade
The Intermediates (grade 3) are studying Africa in their Social Studies class. We learned about the African Korhogo Clothes. See this link for more details. This project focused on how symbols are used in African art. The students…
Name Pattern Designs
This is a great project that ties together math, art, and social studies. We looked at the repeating patterns and shapes in Islamic tile designs (they are studying Islam in social studies) for inspiration. The tutorial for this…
Artsy Christmas Presents for Kids
Are you wondering what to get a child in your family for the holidays? As an art teacher, I see what the kids really like and what they gravitate towards to when they are given free time in…
Egyptian Sarcophagus Drawings– 4th/5th grade
As much as possible, I like to tie in art projects to what the students are learning in their other classrooms. The 4th/5th grade class studies ancient civilizations and has a big unit on Egypt. In art class,…
Jasper Johns Collograph Prints | Printmaking for 2nd Grade
These collograph prints by 2nd graders were made by gluing cut out foam letters and shapes to a piece of cardboard. The kids drew and cut out their own foam letters and shapes, but I also had a…
Dr. Suess Architecture– 2nd grade
The 2nd graders studied Dr. Suess books in their classroom. In art class, I showed them the art of Dr. Suess. Did you know he made paintings and sculptures? The Secret Art of Dr. Suess.. a must-have for…
Coloring Book
I just wanted to share with you this cool Doodlers Anonymous coloring book link. I have a drawing that is going to be in the coloring book! I can’t wait to see it. (I haven’t been paid to…
Patterned Still Life: 5th and 6th grade
The 5th and 6th grade students set up still life arrangements and drew them from observation. We discussed composition and creating interest within a picture. The students tried to draw some objects with a variety of heights and…
Insect Habitat– Lesson Plan– 3rd Grade
Third graders worked together to make an insect habitat on large butcher paper. They had been studying habitats in their Science class. We used Model Magic, beads, pipe cleaners and corrugated paper to make the insects and oil…
Presenting Your Lessons
Katie said… Can I ask how you present your art projects? Do you have a finished picture to show the kids so they have an idea of what you want from them, or do you just explain it…
Abstract Oil Pastel Trees– 4th/5th grade
This is a lesson I teach every year because the results are so beautiful! Each of the kid’s drawings just turns out wonderful. The 4/5s drew trees to complement their studies in Science class. How can line be…
Spooky Silhouettes | Warm Color Halloween Art Project for Kindergarten
We just finished these lovely Halloween pictures today. I don’t really like doing “holiday” art during art class unless I can tie in some solid art concepts. (That’s why I sometimes do the fun crafty afterschool classes.) For…