Curated OER
Winter Crayon Resists
In need of a quick art project to chase away those winter blues? In just six steps you'll know how to instruct learners on creating winter scenes using crayon resist.
Curated OER
Fill a Jar
Sometimes short lesson outlines are enough to give you a great idea. Young writers draw any object inside an image of a jar, that doesn't belong in a jar. They can draw a tree, truck, or dinosaur. Tip: Have kids write a short story...
Curated OER
Draw What You Feel in the Bag: Art Game
Here is a great game to play on a rainy day or as a warm up. Kids feel an object in a paper bag, they do not attempt to identify it, they simply draw what they feel. This results in a contour drawing based on line, feeling, and texture....
National Endowment for the Humanities
“House by the Railroad”: A Painting and a Poem for the Common Core
Introduce your class to ekphrastic poetry with an exercise that asks them to examine Edward Hooper's painting House by the Railroad and Edward Hirsch's poem "Edward Hopper and the House By the Railroad." After a close reading...
Curated OER
Molded Clay Faces
Artists create clay masks using pre-formed molds, clay, glitter, feathers, gems, and paint. The expressive qualities of clay are perfect for creating many different types of face masks, from Mardi Gras glitter to Japanese Kabuki to...
Museum of Tolerance
Immigration Journeys
Through the journey of four stories of immigration, scholars complete graphic organizers and apply knowledge to create a visual representation of their findings on a large poster. Third and fourth readers write a letter to their...
Curated OER
Sarcophagus
Here is another in a series of fantastic art lessons from this source. This one has young artists create a sarcophagus-style clay box! This lesson would be ideal to utilzie during a study of the ancient Egyptians. One note of caution:...
Dick Blick Art Materials
Ball Point Engravings
Turn simple pencil sketches into colorful engravings. After first creating hand-drawn pictures, young artists then trace over them will ball point pens, etching the images into cold press illustration boards, before rubbing...
Poetry4kids
How to Write a Diamante Poem
A lesson begins with a description of a diamante poem and the rules to follow while writing one. Scholars examine the ins and outs of synonym and antonym diamantes, then compose an original poem using their newfound knowledge.
Curated OER
Turkey Centerpieces
Students create "turkey centerpieces" in this easy elementary art lesson using apples, toothpicks, construction paper, and gumdrops. The lesson includes a materials list and a step-by-step list of instructions to create the turkey...
Curated OER
Draw Like an Egyptian
Students craft their own Egyptian art. For this ancient Egyptian art lesson, students explore Egyptian art and create their own work following the 4 guidelines presented in the lesson.
Curated OER
Easy Printmaking in the Classroom
Learners use styrofoam and cardboard to create prints. Students choose a theme and create designs and pictures on styrofoam and cardboard. Learners also use construction paper, cardboard cylinder sections to make their art.
Curated OER
Artful Boomerangs
Students create and decorate a boomerang. In this boomerang lesson, students research the history of the boomerang and the three different types. They create their own boomerang and decorate it with a collage of pictures.
Sargent Art
Color Value Study
I love geometric art because it applies mathematical reasoning to an artistic endeavor. Creative kids use scale values to highlight their complex, repetitive, geometric designs. Symmetry, angles, and congruence are three concepts...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Brain Inspiration
"Neuroscientists consider Cajal as important to their discipline as Einstein is to physics." The first of four lessons has scholars view Santiago Ramon y Cajal's drawings of neurons. They reflect and respond to the art through writing...
K12 Reader
Using Prior Knowledge
Sometimes it's hard to relate to a new text. Teach kids to use their prior knowledge when reading something new with a comprehension exercise. A short passage tells them how to think of their brains like filing systems, and provides five...
Curated OER
Literary Lingo
Students make connections between reading and writing. In this language arts lesson, students explore literary elements as they examine a number of texts and practice implementing figurative language into their writing.
Curated OER
Shaving Cream Snow!
Students spray shaving cream on a table and then play with it. In this art lesson, students make lines with their fingers and can even use other objects as well. Students attempt to make a snowman, snowflake or anything related to...
Curated OER
Winter Ice Candles
Students make ice candles. In this art lesson, students fill a balloon with water, add a drop of food coloring, and blow into the balloon and tie a knot in the balloon. Students then put the balloon in the margarine tub and put...
Curated OER
Tie Dye Eggs
Students create "tie-dye" easter eggs in this easy elementary school lesson. Materials needed include paper towels, food coloring, eggs, and rubber gloves. This Easter lesson can be accomplished in 30 minutes with extra time needed for...
Curated OER
Easy Easter Crafts
Students make different crafts to represent spring and Easter. In this crafts lesson plan, students make cookies, nests, and bunnies out of their hands.
Curated OER
Heart Shaped Mice
Students create mice using heart shapes, construction paper, yarn, markers, scissors, and glue in this Art instructional activity for the early-elementary classroom. The activity is an excellent alternative for use during the...
Curated OER
Japanese Fan
Students discuss Japanese culture and the functional and artistic uses of fans and create paper fans using watercolors, popsicle sticks, and tape in this Art instructional activity for the elementary classroom. Can be used as an...
Curated OER
Stand Up Bunny
Students create "stand-up bunnies" for classroom display in this early-elementary Art lesson ideal for the spring months. A bunny template and design ideas are included to aid in the teaching process of this fun and quick lesson.