A long time ago
we did more art projects in our classrooms. Why? According
to Eric Erikson, elementary age children are in the age of
“industriousness.” They like to
MAKE things and use their IMAGINATIONS.
Here are a few art projects that are simple and fun for all ages and
abilities. Use them as a "bonus" for children who finish their work early, put them in a center. or tie them in with your lesson plans.
Negative Space
Materials: paper,
scissors, markers or crayons
Directions: Cut
a hole out of the middle of each sheet of paper. Challenge children to look at the hole and then create an
object out of it.
*Extend the
activity by having children write about their pictures.
Complete the
Picture
Materials: paper,
magazines, glue, markers or crayons
Directions: Ask
children to cut a large object out of the magazine. Next, cut the picture in half. Glue one half to their paper and then draw the other half
with crayons or markers.
Alphabet Art
Materials: paper,
marker, crayons
Directions: Draw
an alphabet letter in the middle of each page with the marker. Each child chooses a letter and then
tries to incorporate the letter into a picture. Challenge them to draw something that begins with the
letter.
*Put their
pictures together to make an alphabet book.
Little to
Large
Materials: paper, crayons
Directions: Draw
a small shape or seasonal object in the middle of the paper. Children trace around the object with
different colors of crayons.
*Reinforce
geometric shapes with this project.
Younger children can do triangles and older students can trace
trapezoids or pentagons.
