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.

A vibrant watercolor background showcases the whimsical and decorative message, "Be Glad for every day.

Thank You!

Thank you for following my blog. I checked today and saw that I now have 500 followers.. holy cow! I hope you are having a fantastic summer. School starts in 2 weeks, so I will have lots of…

August 8, 2012

A star-shaped paper craft made from layers of different shades of blue on a light background, showcasing intricate paper artistry.

Paper Pulp Pictures

At the end of the school year, we made more PAPER PULP PICTURES. This is such a fun project. I wrote all the step-by-step details on my blog last year. You can see the tutorial HERE. this girl…

August 6, 2012
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Two tissue paper stained glass artworks hang in a window, one with blue-green shapes and the other with red-orange hearts.

Tissue Paper Fun

Our last summer art workshop was a fun one! We decoupaged tissue paper on to glass vases. The cylindrical ones could be candle holders. We tore and cut tissue paper and adhered them to the glasses with Matte…

July 30, 2012
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Colorful abstract drawing on brown paper featuring a kangaroo-like shape with various symbols and patterns around it, inspired by Australian Art.

Australian Art: 2nd Grade

July 24, 2012

A colorful crayon drawing featuring flowers, shapes, and a smiling cat on white paper. "Rosie" is written at the bottom, showcasing various art techniques.

Monoprinting with Markers

Today was another one of my summer art workshops with kids at school. We did monoprinting with markers. 1. Draw on a piece of plexi-glass with washable markers. In progress design. 2. Spray your paper with water, two…

July 18, 2012
5

A gridded drawing of a person with short hair, intense eyes, and a neutral expression.

Gridded Drawings– 5th/6th grade

This was another fun project at the end of the year. The 5th/6th grade students marked off a one inch grid on their white paper. Then, they chose a photo to enlarge and draw. It could be a…

July 17, 2012
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A large paper with a child’s drawing of a person, decorated with various items and colors, is displayed in a classroom.

Body Pictures– Summer Camp

I am teaching 3 summer art sessions. Each session is two hours long with one or two art projects. For this session, I had 2 students going into 4/5th grade, 2 students who just finished kindergarten, and one…

July 12, 2012
2

A child’s drawing with swirls, stars, a crescent moon, and a house with yellow windows against a white background, evocative of Starry Nights.

Starry Nights– kindergarten

This was one of my FAVORITE lessons this year. I just loved how each and every one of them turned out. They are so expressive and colorful. This is a new spin on a Starry Night lesson. I…

July 9, 2012
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A child looking at a scrapbook page featuring photos and decorations from a visit to Magic Kingdom.

Art Teacher Blog Directory

Did you know I have an art teacher blog directory on my blog? There are over 240 art teacher blogs added. If you have not added yours, you should do so! This is probably my most viewed page…

July 7, 2012
2

Colorful Clay Sun with a smiling expression, painted in yellow with red cheeks and blue accents, perfect for a third grade art project.

Clay Suns– third grade

I told you I had a bunch of lesson plans that I have not shared with you yet. I have enough to take me through the whole summer! Here are some simple clay suns. We looked at some…

July 5, 2012
1

Handmade ceramic bowl with a blue, textured glaze and irregular edges.

Clay Leaf Dishes– Kindergarten

Near the end of the school year we had the lovely opportunity to have the grandfather of one of our students come into the classroom to teach us more about clay. He is a ceramicist in the area.…

July 1, 2012
2

An open book displaying various colorful bird illustrations and patterns, ideal for enthusiasts of new releases or anyone who loves reading.

New Books

While on vacation, I read the book Columbine, which is about the school shooting in Colorado. I’m interested in psychology, schools and kids. A depressing and heart wrenching read, but a thoroughly comprehensive look at the psychology of…

June 28, 2012
1

A collection of art supplies and papers, including colored pens, various drawings, and a Winnie the Pooh card.

Re-Art Swap

Once a year, a local art store hosts a Re-Art Swap where anyone can drop off old art materials and then pick up things they want. All for free! Today, I volunteered for a few hours at the…

June 25, 2012
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