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.

Featuring Magazine.. new issue is almost here!

Hi! Happy Summer! When I am not teaching art to little kiddos, I spend some of my free time writing articles and submitting them to various magazines. I am a contributing editor for Featuring magazine, which is a…

June 8, 2013

A child's drawing featuring a river, mountains, palm trees, a small house, and a pond under a blue sky. This delightful landscape appears to be made using oil pastels by a 2nd grader.

2nd Grade Oil Pastel Landscapes

This oil pastel drawing project is inspired by the artwork of Paul Gauguin, in particular his painting Tahitian Landscape. To build up a little enthusiasm, when the kids arrived to class there was an envelope at their seat. …

June 6, 2013

Silhouette paper cuttings depict a bird flying near a castle with two towers and a central, tall structure against a white background.

Silhouette Paper Cuttings for 3rd and 4th Graders

Did you know Hans Christian Andersen was an accomplished paper cutter? He created some very intricate and amazing silhouettes. I used a chapter from the book The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen to teach about his…

May 29, 2013
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A child's drawing of a large boot features tiny buildings and people around it, including a castle, cafe, and shops. The scene bursts with the creativity you might find in 4th Graders' artwork.

Contour Line Shoe Drawings by 3rd and 4th Graders

Take off your shoes and make yourself comfortable. This fun lesson is perfect to teach observational drawing with minimal supplies and easy set up. 1. Take off a shoe. 2. Observe the lines, shapes and contours of the…

May 28, 2013
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A cardboard model of a building with yellow windows and a photo of a person’s face on the wall.

Cardboard Creations and a Blog Layout Review

Hello all! Wow, summer is almost here! It’s hard to believe, right? Building with cardboard and free expression These second graders had a blast creating sculptures and designs with a box of cardboard scraps. They used regular Elmer’s…

May 21, 2013

A colorful paper weaving with an assortment of patterned squares interwoven throughout, perfect for a kindergarten craft.

Paper Weaving with Kindergarten

I introduce paper weaving with my kindergarten class. We use colored strips, scrapbook paper and wrapping paper. Check out my Weaving Ideas Pinterest board if you want to see more fun weaving techniques.

May 19, 2013
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This still life painting features a clear glass vase set against a vibrant background with red, purple, and turquoise sections.

Still Life Paintings in the Middle School Art Class

From time to time, I will show you some artwork from the middle school classes. I teach K-6 and Rebecca teaches the older students. These paintings on canvas were particularly beautiful. Painting water and glass is definitely challenging,…

May 16, 2013
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A vibrant mosaic artwork on a flat surface, featuring small, colorful glass tiles arranged in spiral patterns.

Mosaics in the Classroom

Have you made mosaics with elementary students? We first learned about the mosaics in ancient Greece and Rome. The student thoroughly enjoyed sifting through my box of mosaic tiles to find the perfect pieces. We used glass bits…

May 9, 2013
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Three hand-drawn bookmarks for kids: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “The Secret Garden,” and a comic strip with “Read and Write” text.

Making Bookmarks with Kids

Our local public library partnered with us to have a bookmark contest. The kids in grades K-5 each designed a bookmark based on a favorite book. We provided a template for them to compose their drawing. The library…

May 6, 2013

Handmade doll with brown hair, a colorful dress, and blue fabric legs, suitable for 1st graders, laying on a light-colored surface.

Fabric Dolls by the 1st Graders

Here are some of our cute fabric dolls the 1st graders made. We used a lot of wrapping, tying and hot glue. I would recommend having an older student helper or a couple of parent volunteers. I’m trying…

May 1, 2013
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Colorful collage featuring a red parrot, flowers, text, and various shapes on a vibrant multicolored background. Part of the 21 Secrets Online Workshop.

21 Secrets Online Workshop and a Link Round-Up

As art teachers our hands are covered in glue and paint all day. We are on the go and juggling so many different tasks. We definitely need our own creative outlet. We need time for ourselves… to play,…

April 26, 2013
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Open spiral sketchbook with colorful collage art, including abstract designs, text, and a woman's drawing.

Art Journaling Exposed 2

I am very honored to share with you that I have an article in the Art Journaling Exposed 2 downloadable E-magazine from Cloth Paper Scissors. I browsed through the issue and it has a lot of interesting articles…

April 25, 2013

A butterfly-shaped ceramic piece with purple and pink glazing, decorated with various embossed patterns and designs.

Clay Butterflies for 1st Grade

The first graders had a blast rolling out clay slabs, tracing their butterfly, cutting the clay and stamping textures in the clay. Do you remember the game Perfection? When I coordinated a summer day camp, we had this…

April 22, 2013
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