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.

Hand-drawn image of ghosts in a living room with furniture, windows, a door, bookshelf, table, and couch, adding a touch of the paranormal to the scene.

Ghosts in a Bedroom

This was another good lesson I found on someone’s blog. Claim it if it was yours.. sorry can’t remember who. It was an old Halloween lesson.

November 16, 2010

Colorful turkey craft made of paper, featuring vibrant feathers and a layered circle background, ideal for Thanksgiving.

Turkeys!I found this lesson on Mrs. Art Teacher’s blog: Thanks for the fun idea!! I don’t normally do crafty-type projects with my art classes, but these were so cute. At the beginning of the year, the kindergartners…

November 15, 2010

A close-up of a pink rose photograph with textured fabric and lace borders, featuring zigzag stitching details captures the essence of unique art.

My art is imperfect.

I am not a sewer, let’s just put that right out there. I think it is so fun though to use the sewing machine as a tool for collages. I just started doing it and wow, is it…

November 13, 2010
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Scrap Faces

To connect with the Science, the Primaries are learning about how artists can use recycled and cast off materials to make art. We are watching a video about an artist who goes to the scrap and junkyard to…

November 11, 2010
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A colorful handmade craft creation with feathers, beads, and pipe cleaners lies on a table, hands working in the background.

Dreamcatcher ornament from the other class

This is a dreamcatcher ornament that will be sent to the Governor’s Mansion in our city for the Christmas tree. A group of kids in a 3rd/4th grade class made this.

November 10, 2010
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A clay sculpture with an open mouth and two protruding shapes resembling ears or antlers.

How to Make Clay Pocket Pots

Today I held an after school clay class for grades K-5. I had 11 kids sign up and we made pocket pots. These are so fun! After painting them, we will attach a wire to the top and…

November 5, 2010

Wooden alphabet blocks stacked to spell "CREATE" on a vibrant surface with a yellow background, evoking nostalgia.

The other post were pictures I took night. My brother and sister-in-law came over tonight and we played a game called Konexi and then had fun playing around with the letters. They were given this game as a…

October 29, 2010

Artistic sculpture of the word "LOVE" in interlocking letters on a table with a blurred background, reminiscent of pop art.

October 29, 2010

Collage

Collage with beeswax, raffia, paint, burlap, random flowers, paint markers, copper foil

October 28, 2010
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A colorful fabric collage depicts various animals, trees, and plants in a whimsical forest habitat.

Third Grade Habitat Collages

October 27, 2010

A chaotic abstract pencil drawing featuring swirls, shapes, and various irregular forms on a white background, embodying the spontaneity of non-objective drawings.

3rd/4th grade Non-objective drawings

The students learned how to identify realistic, abstract and non-objective art. The 3/4s worked on a non-objective graphite drawing. Using only shapes, lines, texture and value the students drew an interesting non-objective design. Non-objective art is art that…

October 26, 2010
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A vibrant abstract collage showcasing fall leaves, intricate lace patterns, and a variety of color stripes within a green-framed square.

Fall collage

Acrylic paint, watercolor paint, stencils, foam stamps, muslin fabric, fake leaf, spray paint The best part about being an art teacher? Being able to play around with art materials all day to test out new things! Does…

October 25, 2010
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Scrapbook page capturing a baby’s 1st birthday, with photos of celebrations and the text “You’re 1” and “your 1st birthday party.”

Mixed Media Sewing Fall Leaf Collage

I have been busy making art. Most of it ends up being scrapbook type pages or random collages. I’m SO excited.. my sister-in-law gave me her old sewing machine that she never uses. It is a huge improvement…

October 25, 2010
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A colorful, handcrafted felt microorganism with various circular patterns, decorations, and ribbons, set against a plain background.

Fabric and felt Microorganisms

The 5th/6th graders made fabric and fiber representations of microorganisms. This is a great tie-in to Science class. These are actually going to be displayed in a real art exhibition! To make a fiber microorganism, the 5/6s are…

October 21, 2010
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Black and white circular geometric pattern with intricate triangular and diamond shapes forming concentric circles, creating a stunning radial pattern design.

Radial Pattern Design

These were made by 3rd graders. We learned about radial balance and patterns. To make a radial design, use a compass to draw 5-6 circles around a center point. Draw shapes and patterns around the rings. Color…

October 20, 2010