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.

Child's drawing of a person with an eyepatch in an orange dress, standing next to a colorful bird, looking like they are ready for a pirate adventure.

Everything I Know about Pirates– 3rd grade

Tom Lichtenheld, an author and illustrator, will be visiting our school at the end of October. To prepare for his visit, many of the classes will be seeing his art and listening to his books. The Intermediates are…

October 16, 2011

A vibrant, circular abstract drawing showcasing patterns of lines, dots, and various shapes—ideal for 3rd Grade or 4th Grade art projects.

Radial Design– 3rd/4th Grade

What is balance? What is radial symmetry? How is a compass used in art making? How can we use lines and patterns effectively in a design? The 3rd/4th grade class made RADIAL DESIGNS. They drew concentric circles using…

October 14, 2011

A child's drawing from 2nd Grade shows a pink, drooling monster labeled "SLIMY HEADED THING," holding a melting ice cream cone.

Everything I Know About Monsters Art Project – Tom Lichtenheld

October 11, 2011
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Abstract drawing of a house and mice in black against a yellow, orange, and red background, reminiscent of Halloween silhouettes.

Halloween Silhouettes– Kindergarten

This project is fun for any grade, but especially the kindergartners because it is so cute to see what they come up with. We painted broad strokes of WARM COLORS in the background with watercolor paints. Then, using…

October 10, 2011
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Bold, colorful artwork featuring abstract typography with letters B, R, D, and A in separate rectangular frames, ideal for introducing graphic design concepts to 5th and 6th grade students.

Graphic Design Font Art Project for 5th and 6th Grade

How is design used in daily life? What do graphic designers create? How can we investigate a variety of symbols and fonts? How can we use appropriate symbols, colors and fonts to represent ourselves visually? The 5/6s read…

October 7, 2011

Children creating art in a classroom adorned with colorful drawings on the wall, part of the Love and Hope Project.

Interview with the Peace, Love and Hope Project

I decided to interview Avy, who has started a really wonderful project called the Peace, Love and Hope Project. 1. Could you tell us a little about your program, Peace Love and Hope? Peace Love and Hope…

October 5, 2011
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A colorful abstract drawing with zigzag lines, dots, and squiggles in blue, red, black, and orange on white paper. It serves as an excellent Easy LINE LESSON for Kindergarten students.

Easy LINE LESSON– Kindergarten

This is an easy line lesson you can do tomorrow or with a substitute teacher.Step one: Draw lines in pencil across the page. Make as many types of lines as you can… wavy, zigzag, straight, loopy, dotted, dashed,…

October 4, 2011
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A 3rd grade child's drawing of a smiling person wearing a blue cap with a hand symbol, blue shirt, and holding up both hands.

Mixed Media Self Portrait Art Projects for 3rd Grade

The 3rd graders read the book Luke’s Way of Looking by Natalie Wheatley to discover how artists see things differently. Next, the class read a book about self-portraits. They painted squares of color on a background. Through this…

October 3, 2011

A child's colorful drawing of a whimsical landscape with Dr. Seuss-inspired trees, a rocket, clouds, the sun, and a Ferris wheel captures the playful essence of 2nd grade creativity.

Dr. Suess style Architecture– 2nd grade

Dr. Suess Inspired Architecture, 2nd grade Did you know Dr. Seuss was also an artist? See some of his artwork here. We are going to explore the world of Dr. Seuss and draw our own whimsical architecture.

October 1, 2011
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Child's drawing of a green character with black spiky hair, wearing a dark shirt and brown pants, on a white background.

Halloween Art Project Ideas

So, you all know by now that I love Pinterest. While I was browsing this wonderful site which had to have been created by an art teacher, I found these adorable monsters: Squeeeee! Aren’t they so cute??? Here…

October 1, 2011

This colorful abstract painting showcases text elements like "NEW" and "CAT" alongside various shapes in green, black, and red, embodying a playful Alphabet Art style.

Alphabet Art Project – 1st Grade

The 1st graders experimented with balance and design. They learned how letters and words could be used in art. The art of Stuart Davis was shown and discussed. To create this artwork, the students drew letters stacked, turned…

September 30, 2011
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Think.

I realized I hadn’t shown some of my personal artwork in awhile. Also, I want to say this to you, for reading my blog: Sunflowers are my favorite flower of them all. How about you? I really really…

September 29, 2011
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A foam base with colorful pipe cleaners twisted and bent into an abstract, three-dimensional line sculpture makes for an engaging kindergarten craft.

Line Sculpture– Kindergarten

The kindergartners have been learning about LINES and discovering the many types of lines in the world. This week, they used wire and chenille stems to create a line sculpture. The base is styrofoam. Aren’t these fantastic?

September 28, 2011
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