middle school art projects with paint

Make a Mark Studios

My Favorite Middle School Art Projects

After a decade of teaching high school art, I’ve recently moved to teaching middle school art. It’s a blast and there is truly NEVER a dull moment. Through some trial and error, I’ve learned that some projects are more engaging than others. Below are some of my favorite middle school art projects that have yielded engagement and great visual end products! The ideas below use a variety of art media and include a range of 2d and 3d art projects. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment below if you’d like to share some of your personal idea for successful middle school art projects.

#1- 3D Shadowbox Collages

Student goal: Use found collage images to create layers of depth inside a 3D foam core shadowbox. Click here for the full lesson of this 3d shadowbox collage project.

#2- Colored Light Self Portraits

Student goal: Use colored pencils on toned paper to draw a self portrait of yourself photographed with a colored light source (we used 3 light sources- red, blue and green bulbs). Click here for more information about this lesson using colored light sources.

A variation with a cropped composition on expressive eyes.

#3- Vortex Drawings

Student goal: Use a media of your choice to draw a vortex that shows depth, rhythm and movement. Click here for a full lesson on how to draw a variety of vortexes.

#4- Alien Point of View Perspective Drawings

Student goal: Use paint stix, oil pastels, or colored pencils to render an exaggerated “alien’s point of view” space drawing. Click here for free lesson a guided worksheet of this fun, alien perspective drawing.

#5- 1/2 Cartoon Face Digital Portraits

Student goal: With a photographed portrait, creatively divide the face in half and use digital drawing methods to stylize one side as a cartoon. Click here for free guided steps on how to do the 1/2 cartoon face portrait.

*This project was inspired by a viral challenge called #cartoonme. Lots of cool inspiration photos online!

#6- Plaster Masks

Student goal: Using plaster strips upon a cardboard armature, create a wearable 3d mask. **In my class, we connected this to Hispanic heritage month and created Sugar Skull and Alebrije masks. We used this free template to create the armature for the mask.

#7- Elements of Art Project

Student goal: Divide one subject into seven sections. In each section, illustrate each of the elements of art using a variety of materials. For more information on this lesson including step by step directions, click here.

#8- Monochromatic Posterized Portrait Paintings

Student goal: Using a portrait of your choice, create a monochromatic, posterized portrait. **We used this method (with the free webpased program Pixlr) to digitally posterize our photo references prior to drawing and painting them on canvas.

#9 Limited Color Scheme Landscapes

Student goal: Using a random color scheme of only 5 colors, create a composition of a landscape that shows a sense of space with foreground, mid ground and background. ** Click here to check out how I randomly assign students their 5 colors and their landscape setting. There is also a free guided video to show students how to begin this project.

#10 Surreal Collage Perspective Rooms

Student goal: Draw a room with accurate 1 point perspective techniques and add color to all sides of the room. Then, creatively incorporate surreal collage images into the room. Click here to check out my FREE guided step by step instructions on how to draw a 1 point perspective room interior.

#11- Open ended art challenges

Student goal: Using a random art challenge prompt (such as the #blendartchallenge) , artists will use a style and medium of their choice to compose a solution.

#12-Monster Dolls (inspired by kid drawings)

Student goal: Using a drawing of a monster from a young child for inspiration, create a hand sewn stuffed animal. Use a variety of materials including felt, cloth, yarn, buttons, and more!

#13- Wire Stocking Sculptures

Student goal: Using a block of wood as your base and a nylon stocking stretched over a manipulated wire hanger, create an interesting 3d form. Use acrylic paint to create a gradient of at least 3 colors.

This is a really popular project, if you are looking for step by step directions a quick google search of ‘wire stocking sculptures’ should get ya there!

#14- Dictionary Page Drawings

Student goal: Given a random dictionary page, find at last one word on the page to illustrate visually. Use a variety of art media to contrast your drawn image with the busy background. ** For more info on this lesson, check out this link here.

#15- Geometric Creatures

Student goal : On a watercolor wash background, draw a silhouette of a creature. Break your creature into polygonal shapes and add color with marker.

#16- Collaborative School Logo “Quilt” Drawings

Student goal: Create a quilted tile section of the school logo. Use a material of your choice and a style of your choice to show your individual personality. **Note, the entire logo is visually connected by the black lines.

#17- Faux Lined Paper Illusion Drawings

Student goal: On a white piece of paper, create a “faux” lined piece of paper with bending blue lines over a shaded pencil drawing. **My students used this awesome website by Julianna Kunstler to aid in our drawings. It was very helpful.

#19 Linoleum block printing

Student goal: Create high contrast prints using a hand carved linoleum block.

#20-Oil Pastel Dragon Eyes

Student goal: Use oil pastels to create a colorful drawing of dragon eye. Imply the texture of the scales through use of blending gradients. **Note- I am definitely not the teacher who created this idea, it’s pretty popular and oh-so-fun! I would love to credit whoever originally got this going, so let me know! My students used t his resource by Art by Ro to help us draw the dragon eyes.

#21- Line Drawing Landscapes-in-a-shape

Student goal: Create a landscape in a shape that shows a sense of depth. Explore a variety of line drawing techniques such as hatching and stippling to add texture and value. **Note, this lesson comes from this post from Cassie Stephens who was inspired by an artist named Jen Aranyi.

#22- ANYTHING op art!

Student goal: Choose from a choice board (I gave them lots of choices!), create an original op art drawing! **If you are interested in a fun op art drawing from Make a Mark Studios, check it out here! 🙂

#23 Art History Reproductions

Student goal: Analyzing the brushstrokes, colors, and composition, recreate a famous artwork. **We created ours on our ceiling tiles as our 8th grade legacy works. C lick here for tips we learned along the way for painting on ceiling tiles.

#24 Non Objective Abstract Art

Student goal: Use sharpie to draw a non objective abstract artwork with a variety of lines and shapes. Using oil pastels, color in the composition fully.

#25 3D Creature Heads

Student goal: Use recyclables to build an armature of a 3d fictional creature head of your own imagination. Use paper mache or plaster strips to finalize your head . For full lesson on how to do this, check out my blog post here—

#26 Glowing Light Bulb Drawing

Student goal: Use colored pencils on black paper to create the illusion of a glowing light bulb. For step by step guided tutorial and video, check out my full post here.

#27 Watercolor Mosaic

Student goal: Create a mosaic using cut tiles from a painted watercolor background. Explore either random polygonal tile shapes or a geometric repeated shape. For full lesson, check out my blog post here.

#28 2 point perspective graffiti wall

Student goal: Create a personalized graffiti tag on an illustrated 2 point perspective brick wall. For a FREE full guided drawing lesson of how to do this, check out my blog post here.

#27 Bauhaus Geometric Shape Paper Collages

Student goal: Create an asymmetrically balanced, geometric Bauhaus-inspired paper collage. For more info on this creative shape challenge, check out my blog post here.

#28 Mixed Media Abstract Art with EMPHASIS

Student goal: Create a mixed media abstract artwork that employs the principle of design EMPHASIS to create a defined focal point. For more info on this lesson, c heck out my blog post here.

#29 Hand Sewn Pop Tart Plushies!!

Student goal: Hand sew a pop art plushie inspired by contemporary felt artist, Lucy Sparrow! Step by step tutorial for how to sew a pop tart can be found here!

#30- Primary color, Pop Art Inspired Onomatopoeia Compositions!

Student goal: Create a composition of an onomatopoeia inspired by the pop artists using techniques such as ben day dots, primary color schemes, bold outlines, and more! Click here for the lesson on how to complete this Pop art project..

#31- Color wheel in an Eye

Student goal: Using only 3 primary colors of paint, create a color of 12 analogous colors in an iris of an eye. Click here for a step by step tutorial of how to create a color wheel in an eye.

Thanks for checking out this blog post! Please follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!

-Stephanie Villiotis , creator of Make a Mark Studios

*Grades 6-8

We’ve listed all of our Middle School art lesson plans here. These activities are best suited for Grades 6-8 – or – ages 11-14 years. Grade levels are given as a guideline only.

Oil Pastel Hearts

K-2, Grades 3-5, Middle School

Black Capped Chickadees

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

Snacking Cardinals

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Mandalas help to bring balance, peace and calm. This makes creating them a perfect activity for children (and adults) of all ages. This lesson uses readily available …

Getting to Know You

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The first days and weeks of school can be exciting and terrifying, all at once. Arming yourself with a few “getting to know” you exercises can help …

Design Your Own Nutcracker

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Nutcracker dolls symbolize good luck in German tradition, but where did they come from? This drawing lesson will teach children the answer to this question, and more. …

Drawing with Glue

by Andrea Mulder-Slater If you are looking for a sure fire way to get a great response from your students, walk into the art room and tell them they will …

Gingerbread Village

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Every year my daughter and I decorate a gingerbread house (or two, or three). We don’t bake from scratch, but instead work with pre-baked, pre-cut slabs of …

A Cup of Cocoa

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The only thing better than chocolate, is chocolate in a cup! Big mugs of hot chocolate (or hot cocoa) are the theme of this cozy art lesson. …

Paper Pumpkins

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Here’s a super quick way to make paper pumpkins that look real enough to pick! [This is a small snippet of a lesson we have inside The …

6 Ways to Make Sketchbooks

by Andrea Mulder-Slater When I was a student at art school, my drawing professor had one rule and that was to draw, every single day. From her I learned there …

Pop Art Owls Drawing Art Lesson with Video Tutorial

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Glue Flowers

Negative Space Plant Drawings

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, High School

Criss Cross Doodles

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Using materials found in every art room, students will draw criss cross lines to create shapes for doodles to live! Then, by following a few basic prompts, …

Design a Miniature Garden

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

Architecture Mood Board

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Draw and Paint a Sea Turtle

Education Resources
Art + Merch

Middle School Art Project Ideas

As we round the corner to back to school check out middle school art project ideas and how to handle the first days of school. Middle school art is all about building off the basics taught in elementary school and allowing students the space to explore subject matter and styles that interest them. They still need a lot of scaffolding and structure, but you can begin to give them some freedom to express themselves.

I love focusing on projects that teach important techniques while providing enough wiggle room for students to make unique works of art. This can be hard to do, they still need the structure to feel successful but you want to avoid cookie-cutter projects. I often use the elements of art and principles of design as a way to guide my curriculum while still including a wide range of materials and subjects.

Recent Middle School Art Projects

Clay Bell Project
90 Sketchbook Prompts (Shop my TPT , shop my website )
Tar Paper Painting (Shop my TPT , shop my website )
Packaging Tape Transfer (Shop my TPT, shop my website )

Middle School Art Project Ideas-First Day of School

Middle school art project ideas-marker image

The first day of school can be chaotic. There are several administrative tasks that need to be completed, and it can be hard for wiggly middle schoolers to sit still and listen. I like to give them an activity, such as a get-to-know-you handout, to start on while I get everyone settled in their assigned seats. Once everyone is settled I go over the syllabus and we start a quick first-day activity.

The first day is all about keeping things moving and kids engaged. I don’t start longer projects until the second or third day of school. My go-to first-day projects are decorating portfolios (staple two pieces of posterboard together, and decorate with markers) or working on elements of art handouts.

First-Day Checklist

Assign seats before students arrive.
Pass out get-to-know-you handouts for students to fill out.
Pass out and review the course syllabus and class rules.
Decorate portfolios to use for the duration of the course.

Middle School Art Project Ideas-Popular Resources

Last summer I completed my first full year middle school curriculum. Over the course of the year, students are taught drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques. Each project focuses on an element of art or principles of design. This has become one of my most popular middle school items. Check out that pack as well as my other popular items below.

Full Year Middle School Art Curriculum (Shop my TP T , shop my w ebsite )
Zendoodle Activity Pack (Shop my TP T , shop my w ebsite )
Graphic Design Movie Poster Project (Shop my TPT, shop my website )

Thanks for stopping by, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for weekly visual journal demos. Until next time!

47 Art Activities For Middle School Students: 3D Crafting, Painting, Drawing, Sculpting, And More

April 3, 2024 // by Eisha Mohsin

There’s nothing quite like creative art projects to break the monotonous routine of middle school students. Contrary to popular opinion, artistic ability is not an innate skill, but rather something that can be honed and developed with practice but finding art projects that are engaging and immersive can be tricky. Look no further- we’ve gathered a list of 47 art projects for middle school that your kiddos will love. Which one will you get them started on first?

1. 3D Snowflakes

This craft project is bound to be a big hit with your kiddos, especially around wintertime. All you’ll need is a few sheets of paper, ideally in varying shades of blue. Print out the snowflake template from the link above, and have them cut and stack the snowflakes onto each other for a 3D effect. Optional: decorate with glitter!

Learn More: Kids’ Craft Room

2. Line Practice

No art lesson is complete without line practice . Have your kiddies dedicate an entire lesson to just lines since this will come in handy when they’re sketching. If they need inspiration, you can us print out this handy and ask them to copy the patterns to the best of their ability.

Learn More: Kitchen Table Classroom

3. Thumbprint Art

This is a fun and versatile idea that can be tailored to suit any age group. All you’ll need is a piece of paper and some basic supplies like paints and markers. Your kiddos will love how hands-on this activity is! They get to paint with their own thumbs and be as creative as they want to with the art that they create- what’s not to love?

Learn More: Hello, Wonderful

4. Collaborative Mural

This art project idea involves giving your students large pieces of paper and acrylic paints in a vast array of colors. Divide the class into groups and let them work on this project over the course of a few lessons. Give each group full creative freedom regarding their section of the wall and watch them create a unique mural.

Learn More: What Have I Learned

5. Self-Portrait

This is an amazing activity to try with older middle schoolers. If there’s one thing most famous artists have in common, it’s that they all painted self-portraits! Examine a few famous self-portraits with your kiddos and discuss what they give away about the artist. Now, ask them to create their own self-portrait and reflect on what it reveals about them.

Learn More: Hi Mama

6. Faux Stained Glass Painting

This activity requires a slightly higher skill level than the rest but is still kid-friendly. Get a dollar store picture frame and put a printed outline of choice inside the frame to use as a template. Have your little artists paint the glass with a mix of paint and glue, then once dry, finish the piece by outlining shapes with a black permanent marker for a gorgeous stained glass effect!

Learn More: Fabulessly Frugal

7. Chalk Art Projects

summer-sidewalk-chalk-art-collage-1-this-tiny-blue-house.png?w=800&ssl=1

Create a fun game out of this idea which only requires colored chalk. Take your kiddies out to a paved surface where they can easily draw with chalk. Give them prompts to draw, for example, their favorite food, flower, or article of clothing within a set time. Let their creativity flow!

Learn More: Tiny Blue House

8. Grid Drawing

Get your kiddos on the grid! Teach them how to perfect more complicated art projects by drawing onto a grid. Encourage them to take the piece one square at a time, and this will help them to balance proportions in their artwork. You can make the grids bigger or smaller depending on what level of detail you’d like them to achieve.

Learn More: Pinterest

9. Geometric Shape Drawing

This colorful project challenges your kids to draw and paint an animal, only using geometric shapes. Although this may initially seem challenging, there are several animal forms that can be artistically replicated using shapes only! What animals will they come up with?

Learn More: Tree Valley Academy

10. Halloween Pebble Paperweights

This is a super fun art project to do around Halloween time. Have your kiddos collect a pebble from outside, then paint their favorite Halloween character onto it. The best few pieces can be displayed around the class during Halloween week for an extra spooky feel.

11. Fibonacci Circles

This is an art and math lesson all rolled together in one! Have your learners draw and cut out circles with diameters that correspond to the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence, then let them each arrange them into a colorful piece of art! Marvel at the different layouts and combinations that they come up with!

Learn More: W h at Do We Do All Day

12. Sculpture Art

This cool project involves taking a rather complex art form and making it simple and accessible to middle schoolers. Instead of using cement, have your kiddies use packaging tape to create a 3D sculpture of a person. You’ll be surprised to see how realistic the final result is!

Learn More: Look Between the Lines

13. Bubble Wrap Art

Repurpose any bubble wrap you have lying around for your kiddos to create a beautiful painting. Take some black paper and a few neon-colored paints. Start by cutting the bubble wrap in circles, then paint the bubble wrap with neon-colored paints. Before the paint dries have them imprint it on a sheet of paper and add details to create these interesting pieces of artwork.

14. Thumbprint Biography

A project that’s truly as unique as your kids are! Use the photocopier to blow up each of your kiddies’ fingerprints then use the printed result as a template for them to write their biography on. Encourage them to make it as colorful as possible. It’ll be a little labor-intensive, but the results are well worth the effort!

Learn More: Julie Ballew

15. Create a Comic Strip

Does your class love comic books ? Get them to practice their storytelling skills and display their artistic prowess at the same time by downloading a comic strip stencil like this one. Challenge them to come up with a short but effective comic strip that links to your class topic, or give them free rein to create a story of their own. The possibilities are endless!

Learn More: Really Good Designs

Use up your scrap paper for this next project. Start by cutting up any spare pieces of craft paper you have into different-sized and shaped pieces. Then, let your kiddos use these pieces to create their own masterpieces! These pieces will look great displayed on the walls of your classroom.

Learn More: Art with Mr. Hall

17. Metal Foil Art

Explore texture with this next idea. Have your students create this stunning effect by drawing their design onto some metal foil with an embossing pen. Flip the foil over then use paints or markers to add color. The raised, metallic effect is the perfect way to create a spooky atmosphere in this winter-themed craft!

Learn More: Sebenta Marta

18. Easter Egg Painting

Get egg-cited for this Easter craft! Grab a bunch of eggs and go through the process of dyeing them in pastel colors with your class. Once they’re dry, have each kiddie decorate one each! Add even more fun by awarding a prize for the best decorated egg or you could even consider hosting a classroom-wide easter egg hunt once everybody is done!

Learn More: Active Littles

19. Origami Art Installation

Origami is like magic – just when you think a piece of paper is all folded up, it unfolds into something incredible! Let your kiddos relax with the calming art of origami and together your class can create an amazing art installation. Show them how to create the pieces you need then let them have a go. The end result will be an impressive display!

Learn More: YouTube

20. Resin Art

Resin art is all the rage at the moment! From creating bookmarks to art pieces to coasters- the options are endless. Have your kiddies forage for some leaves and flowers to use in their art then help them mix and pour the resin. The best part is that if done right, the final product looks absolutely mesmerizing and makes for a great handmade gift for them to take home as well!

Learn More: Art in Context

21. Dream Catcher Creation

Dive into the mystical by guiding your kids to create their own dream catchers . You can discuss the Native American origins and the cultural significance, then provide hoops, threads, beads, and feathers for a hands-on exploration of art and history.

Learn More: Crafts by Courtney

22. Nature Scavenger Hunt Art

This one’s for the nature lovers! Organize a nature scavenger hunt where your kiddos can gather leaves, twigs, flowers, and more natural materials. Post-hunt, they can use these materials to create unique nature-inspired art pieces. What a super creative way to foster an appreciation for nature and the outdoors!

Learn More: Green Child Magazine

23. Art from Recyclables

Reduce, reuse, create! Spark creativity and environmental awareness by encouraging your learners to create art from recycled materials. Give them a variety of recyclables like cardboard, plastic bottles, and old newspapers, then watch as they transform trash into treasure.

Learn More: Clean River

24. Puppetry Arts

Combine drama and art with this fun idea! Introduce your kiddos to puppet-making, and have them create their very own characters. Once they’re happy with their puppets, get them into groups and have them script and perform short puppet shows for the rest of the class. This is the perfect way to foster storytelling skills alongside crafting abilities.

25. Clay Sculpting

Clay sculpting is the art of making something out of almost nothing – all it takes is a bit of imagination and a lot of squishing! Give your little sculptors clay to create various objects, animals, or figures. This tactile activity encourages creativity and can be a calming sensory experience for them.

Learn More: Craft in America

26. Wearable Art

Inspire your kiddies to make some art that they can actually wear! Let them design and create their very own jewelry with this paper mache bracelet craft. This hands-on project is a fantastic avenue for self-expression and exploring the fusion of functionality and aesthetics in art. By the end of the day, you’ll have a bunch of totally unique designs for them to wear home!

27. Historical Art Re-creation

From Monet to Picasso, the history of art is varied and full of inspiration! Choose a period in art history to study with your kiddos and teach them about its characteristics. Next, let them get hands-on and recreate or reimagine artworks in that style. They’ll love this engaging way to combine art practice with historical learning!

Learn More: Teach Starter

28. Photography Challenge

Say cheese! Equip your kiddos with cameras or iPads, and set them on a photography challenge around school grounds! You can assign themes or subjects to capture, and encourage them to gain a new perspective and appreciation for their everyday surroundings.

Learn More: Capture 24

29. Mixed Media Collage

Let chaos and creativity collide in a beautiful, artsy explosion! Give your kids the chance to explore mixed media by creating fantastic collages. Provide an assortment of different materials – fabric, magazine clippings, paints, markers, and more, and let their imaginations run wild. You can make this activity more challenging for middle schoolers by giving them a specific theme!

Learn More: The Artful Parent

30. Artistic Story Stones

Challenge your kiddos with this creative storytelling craft! Let them paint or draw on stones to create story stones, where each stone represents a different item, character, or emotion in the story. You can follow this activity up nicely with a creative writing lesson where they can then use their story stones to craft and share their imaginative narrative!

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

31. Wind Chime Crafting

Get creative with a range of different materials with this idea. Guide your kiddies to craft their own wind chimes using materials like clay, metal, or wood to explore the different materials and discover varied sounds and musical notes they make! Once they’re finished, why not hang your wind chimes in an outdoor learning space so they can be enjoyed by the whole school?

32. Found Object Sculptures

Wacky meets wonderful in this found object sculpture craft! Challenge your little artists to create sculptures from some cardboard and random objects like bottle tops, cutlery, pieces of plastic – anything they find lying around! You’re not just teaching art, you’re teaching them to see the potential and beauty in everyday items.

Learn More: The Art Teacher

33. Shadow Art

This idea explores the playful side of light and shadow. Give your kiddos some cardboard and colored cellophane and see how creative they can be! Guide them to sketch, then cut out their design, before gluing the colored pieces of cellophane down. All that’s left is to wait for the sun to come out and head outside!

Learn More: The Best Ideas for Kids

34. Kinetic Sand Art

Who doesn’t love kinetic sand? Give your kids some kinetic sand and let them shape and mold to create magnificent structures or crazy landscapes. Your class will love this calming sensory activity that fosters creativity and encourages them to experiment!

35. Mind Maps Art

Blend visual art with brainstorming by creating colorful mind maps. This is a super way to introduce a new topic or subject to your learners, or it could map out a project. Logical thinking meets creative expression!

Learn More: Edrawmind

36. Poetry Illustration

Bring visualizations to life! Have your kiddos select their favorite poem and get them to create an illustration or artwork inspired by it. This activity fuses literary and visual arts, enriching your class’ understanding of both.

Learn More: The Art of Education

37. Mask Making

What’s behind the mask? Exploring cultural or theatrical masks can be both educational and creative! Let your kiddies design and craft masks of their own using paper, cardboard, feathers, and more, to reflect different cultural, historical, or imaginative themes. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with!

38. Watercolor Exploration

Watercolors teach the art of going with the flow, one delicate stroke at a time! Set your kids up with some watercolor paints and let them have fun exploring this unique medium. Through experimenting with different techniques, they learn about color blending and layering to create a range of different effects.

Learn More: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

39. Mindful Doodling

Why not practice some mindfulness with your kiddos? Encourage mindful doodling or Zentangle art to promote relaxation and creativity. Give them some markers and a blank page and let them doodle as their minds wander. This meditative activity is the perfect way to boost focus and artistic expression while keeping your classroom calm.

Learn More: Lightly Sketched

40. DIY Musical Instruments

This idea is a super way to repurpose and recycle items like old coffee cans or plastic bottles. Crafting simple musical instruments from these everyday materials not only teaches your kiddies about music and sound but also opens doors for a homemade orchestra and creative musical exploration. Let’s make some noise!

Learn More: Music In Our Homeschool

41. Urban Sketching Adventure

Take art outside! Lead your kiddos on an urban sketching adventure around the school or local area, encouraging them to sketch scenes or objects they find interesting, honing observation and drawing skills. They’ll gain a whole new appreciation for their local area and improve their artistic skills in the process!

42. Silk Painting

Explore the unique medium of silk painting. Using specialized silk paint, your little artists can create beautiful, vibrant artwork on silk fabric. This project gives them a chance to try out this amazing traditional art form and requires them to have patience, attention to detail, and a steady hand! The end results will be beautiful!

Learn More: Gathered

43. Community Art Project

Make art a community endeavor! Engage your kids in a community art project, like painting a mural in the school or crafting art for a local nursing home. It’s a wonderful way to instill a sense of community and the positive impact of art. What a super way to bring everyone together!

Learn More: Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

44. Yarn Bombing School

Weave some fun around your school with this craft project! Introduce your kiddos to the wacky world of yarn bombing by decorating a part of the school with colorful knitted, or crocheted yarn! It’s a cozy way to explore public art and crafting.

Learn More: Twinkl

45. Zen Garden Creation

In the chaos of school, a zen garden could be a welcome moment of calm! Guide your students to create miniature Zen gardens, discussing the principles of Zen and the calming nature of raking sand and arranging the stones. It’s a peaceful activity that also introduces cultural appreciation to your class.

Learn More: Guidepost Montessori

46. Performance Art Exploration

Drama meets art in this next idea! Challenge your kiddos to create and perform short performance art pieces. Encourage them to use their bodies as part of their art as they learn about how this modern art form pushes boundaries. With no limit on creativity, the results are sure to be out of this world!

47. Animation Basics

Action! Introduce your learners to basic animation techniques through a stop-motion animation project. Have them create their own short animations, using modeling clay, paper pieces, or even LEGOS to learn about and have a go at this exciting and modern art form. They’ll love creating their animations and playing them back to the rest of the class!

The 30 Best Art Activities For Middle School Students

Categories Activities & Ideas

Art is one of those subjects that many middle schoolers look forward to.

It provides a welcome creative outlet and gives them a break from math and languages.

Art Activities For Middle School Students

Coming up with compelling new art project ideas isn’t always easy, though.

Sometimes, as teachers, our creative juices just run dry.

Fear not, you bring the paints; we’ve got the ideas covered.

Below, we’ve pulled together a list of the 30 best art activities for middle school students – you’re welcome!

1. Self-Portraits With Mixed Media

Have students create self-portraits using various materials like magazine clippings, fabric, paint, and colored pencils.

This activity encourages self-expression and lets students experiment with different mediums.

2. Art History Timeline

Guide your middle school students to research different art movements, from ancient to modern times, and then have them create a timeline using drawings, paintings, or collages that represent each period.

3. Cultural Art Study

Assign different cultures or countries to students and have them research traditional art forms from that culture. They can then create their own artwork inspired by their research.

4. Nature Impressions

Take students outside and have them choose a natural object.

They can then create artwork using this object, either by drawing or painting it or using it to make impressions in clay.

5. Comic Strips

Encourage students to create their own short comic strips.

This activity can be integrated with literature, allowing students to adapt scenes from books or plays they’re studying.

6. Mural Project

As a group, students can brainstorm a theme and then create a large mural that represents that theme. This promotes teamwork and allows students to contribute to a bigger project.

7. Recycled Art

Have students bring in old or discarded items from home and challenge them to turn these materials into a new piece of art.

This teaches resourcefulness and environmental consciousness.

8. 3D Sculpture

Using materials like clay, wire, or papier-mâché, students can create three-dimensional sculptures.

This can be based on a theme, or they can have free rein to create what they wish.

9. Stop Motion Animation

With the use of simple apps or software, students can create their own stop-motion videos.

They can sculpt characters, design sets, and develop short narratives.

10. Printmaking

Introduce students to the basics of printmaking using materials like rubber, foam, or linoleum. They can carve their own designs and then make prints using various colors of ink.

11. Photography Exploration

If the right equipment is available at your school, students can delve into photography, learning about composition, lighting, and subjects.

They can then hold a small exhibition of their best shots.

12. Abstract Watercolor Backgrounds

Equip students with watercolor paints and let them create abstract backgrounds by mixing and blending different colors.

Once dry, they can use black ink or thin markers to overlay patterns or doodles on top.

13. Thematic Sketchbook

Provide each student with a sketchbook and introduce a theme every week.

This will not only improve their drawing skills but also encourage them to think creatively within set parameters.

14. Monochromatic Painting

Challenge students to choose one color and create a painting using only shades, tints, and tones of that color. This is a great way to teach them about color depth and variation.

15. Landscapes In Perspective

Teach students the basics of one-point, two-point, and three-point perspectives, and have them create a landscape or cityscape based on these principles.

16. Ceramic Tile Painting

Get your hands on some blank ceramic tiles and let students paint on them with specialized ceramic paints.

Once dried, these can be glazed and fired for a lasting piece of art.

17. Pop Art Portraits

Introduce students to the world of Pop Art, highlighting artists like Andy Warhol.

Have them create their own pop art-style portraits using bold colors and patterns.

18. Collaborative Story Illustration

Start a narrative and ask every student to draw a continuation of the story based on the previous student’s artwork. This can result in a fascinating visual story at the end.

19. Interactive Art

Allow students to create art pieces that viewers can interact with.

This could be tactile art, pieces with movable parts, or even art that involves light and shadow.

20. Origami And Paper Sculpture

Go beyond the traditional paper folding methods and challenge students to create intricate paper sculptures or large-scale origami installations.

21. Mosaic Madness

Provide students with broken tiles, glass pieces, or colored paper and have them create mosaics. This could be on boards, pots, or even furniture.

22. Clay Busts

Give each student clay and tools, and ask them to create a miniature clay bust of themselves.

23. Art Inspired by Literature

After reading a story, poem, or play in class, students can be asked to interpret and depict a scene, character, or emotion through their artwork.

24. Kinetic Sculptures

Introduce the concept of art in motion. Using wire, beads, and other materials, students can craft sculptures that move, rotate, or balance.

25. Resin Art

Introduce your students to resin as a medium and have them create coasters or hangers made with resin and filled with materials like buttons, glitter, or even flower petals.

26. Digital Art Exploration

If resources allow, students can explore digital mediums like graphic design, digital painting, or even 3D modeling.

There are many free software options available that are user-friendly for beginners.

27. Fashion Design

Engage your students in the task of designing clothes for the future. They can use bold pens or different materials to create shapes and textures.

28. Geometric Shapes

Share the concept of geometric shapes in art with your students and ask them to draw an animal using only geometric shapes.

29. Jewelry Making

Introduce students to the world of jewelry design. Using beads, wire, thread, and other adornments, they can create earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

As they advance, techniques like bead weaving, macramé, and even simple metalwork can be explored.

This activity can be particularly rewarding as students can wear and showcase their creations.

30. Handmade Greeting Cards

Incorporate printmaking, collage, and drawing techniques to create unique greeting cards.

Students can design cards for specific holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions.

This activity can teach students about design composition and the importance of conveying a message through their artwork.

Further reading: Drawing games for your students .

Art is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild while learning about the concepts and techniques that have influenced the world of art.

It’s an important part of the curriculum that allows children to express their creativity.

Above, we’ve given you 28 art activities for middle school students that they’re sure to enjoy.

Hopefully, this will help to keep your lessons fresh and exciting.

Ready for more inspiration? Take a look at these STEM ideas .

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Art Projects for Middle School Students

We have covered both art projects for preschoolers and art projects for elementary school students . Our goal was to show you how art can be integrated into everyday lessons taught at schools.

As children get older, they can tackle more complicated types of art projects. So today we’re going to continue this approach to discuss art for middle school children. And among the many reasons why kids need art during the ages of 11–14 is the ability to reinforce problem-solving, communication and focus, plus other skills required for academic achievement.

5 Art Projects for Middle School Students

There are countless engaging art projects suitable for grades 6–8, with many of them integrating math, science, history and more. Here are five of our favorite projects.

1. Paint a Self-Portrait

Self-portraits are fun, thought-provoking projects that can be adapted to any age group. Looking in the mirror or studying a photograph encourages a child to think about their identity and replicate it creatively on paper. A child must study the shapes and locations of their features, then consider how they will look using various art styles – such as a detail-oriented or abstract technique.

2. Art History Project

Art history projects offer an engaging path into the various movements including modernism, impressionism and expressionism. Learning about art history, the lives of great painters and the development of artistic styles can help contextualize art for children as they grow up. For example, discuss the history and techniques of the pop art movement and have kids create their own art based on the style.

3. Optical Art

Optical art is an abstract style that uses shapes, colors and patterns to mislead our brains. Not only is it fun to look at optical illusions, they provide accessible art projects for middle school kids. Integrating art into STEM is a growing trend, and optical illusions are an example of art combining science and math principles.

4. Design a Comic Strip

A comic strip uses art and storytelling within a clear, structured format. Projects require kids to develop a concept, consider how to convey the information visually – and maintain a cohesive pattern. This would be a great assignment to do in place of a traditional book report in English.

5. Word Art

Art projects designed around a single word are fun and creative, and also expand the vocabulary. For art projects in the classroom , you could compile a list of words based on historical, scientific or literary concepts. Children then look up the meaning of the word and create an artwork with the available resources at their disposal. This approach could also be used to study how to spell words.

Middle School Art Projects to Inspire Classroom Creativity

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Gorgeous Middle School Art Project: Silhouette Paintings on Plastic

silhouette-painting-on-plastic-african-landscape-1

Using Alcohol Inks and Acrylic Paint to create a “Wow” Middle School Art Project

As art teachers, we are always looking for those “wow” projects that make everyone say “How did they do that?!” This middle school art project is definitely one of those! I hang them in the lobby windows at school and the light streams through them like stained glass. The best part is, they are painted on a fairly common and easy-to-find material— overhead transparencies !

When I first started teaching art, I had a closet full of random objects and obscure materials left by the previous art teacher (some of which I am still working through years later). One of the best finds left behind in a cabinet was a stack of overhead transparencies. Remember the days of the overhead projector? This was cutting edge technology when I was in middle school and high school in the nineties! Over the years, my students have created some of their most beautiful artwork on these sheets of plastic!

Silhouettes and Sunset Skies

I teach sixth grade art elective where the students come to art twice a week, and one of the projects that I “inherited” from the previous teacher’s lesson plans was a silhouette painting project. For that project, students would paint a colorful sky with watercolor or tempera, then use black paint to add silhouettes (shapes of objects that appear black because the light is behind them). These turned out fine, but since I had them doing other painting projects during the year, I wanted to find something a bit more exciting.

As I thought about how to tweak that silhouette project and make it a bit more interesting and challenging for the students, I considered how we could possibly use the overhead transparencies. I researched what media, other than Sharpies, would color on the plastic and still appear transparent for the sky.

On youtube I found a video of someone dripping alcohol inks onto plastic and blowing the inks with a straw to make rather abstract “flowers.” This technique appealed to me because of the randomness and unpredictability of the patterns created by blowing through the straw—my sixth graders had just finished a unit on observational drawing and I wanted to give them a chance to do something a bit more “free” (which is actually hard for some of them, especially the perfectionist students who love the more controlled media and processes).

First Things First: Plan It Out

First, I had students sketch out an idea for an image shown in silhouette. Ideas ranged from the Eiffel Tower, to animals on the African savannah, to birds in trees, hands forming interesting shapes, Mary Poppins floating through the clouds, desert landscapes, and even Harry Potter characters playing quidditch on their brooms (all shown in silhouette as shapes against the sky). Some even created sea creatures shown in silhouette under the sea rather than sky.

silhouette-painting-on-plastic-manta-ray

Painting Silhouettes with Acrylic on Plastic

Students then taped down their plastic sheet on top of their pencil drawing and retraced over their pencil lines with black Sharpies on the plastic. They used black acrylic paint to paint within the silhouetted shapes. We found that it usually took two or three coats of black paint to get it to look solid and eliminate streaks.

This year, students asked if they could use white paint as well to add elements like a moon or whitecaps on waves. Some students chose to use black acrylic paint only, while others added white or mixed gray to add layers and depth to the silhouettes.

silhouette-painting-on-plastic-desert-landscape

Let’s Get Messy! Dripping and Blowing Alcohol Inks

We let the acrylic paint dry, and then during the next class I had students turn the plastic over and create the colorful sky on the back of the plastic. We read Sky Color by Peter Reynolds (one of my favorite authors of books for art class!). Although this book is probably geared toward younger grades, even the sixth graders enjoyed it, and it’s a great reminder that the sky does not always need to be painted blue. We watched the youtube video in class demonstrating how to drip the alcohol inks and blow them around with a straw to spread out the ink.

Then sixth graders went to town dripping the colors on plastic and blowing with straws. We discussed how to create a gradation from one color to the next, as you would see during sunset, rather than just random blobs of color everywhere. Some loved the process, while others said they wished they could use a brush to make the colors go precisely where they wanted them. But in the end they turned out to be stunning!

I even had two students add an extra sheet of plastic on top of their silhouette painting (they just glued it on with a glue stick) onto which they added additional Sharpie details! These black lines showed up against their gray paint and added an extra layer of interest. Check out the details on the jeep and cacti!

silhouette-painting-on-plastic-jeep-cacti

A Word to the Wise…

If you want to try this, I would definitely only allow older students–middle school or above–to try it. (You don’t want anyone accidentally sucking in through the straw while using alcohol inks!) I also recommend trying this only in a very well-ventilated area, as the fumes are pretty strong from the alcohol inks. I opened my window and turned on the vent hood in my classroom and still told students they could go into the hallway for short breaks if the smell bothered them.

Also, you will want to have your students wear plastic gloves while dripping the alcohol inks (or, in a pinch, they can wear Ziploc sandwich baggies on their hand like we did!). The alcohol inks tend to get all over the hand that is being used for squeezing the bottles, and it’s very hard to get it off. We found that nail polish remover (acetone) helped a bit with getting the ink off skin, but the first year we did this I had quite a few sixth graders with stained hands for a couple of days. But, I think they would say the finished product was worth it!

The End Result

When the ink dries, I hang these in the lobby windows and they are beautiful with the sun streaming in! The bright colors look a lot like stained glass. When entering in art shows, I back them with white paper and mat them as usual.

Last year, when our school redesigned the lobby, the principal asked for me to choose some student artwork to frame and hang, and I chose three of these silhouette paintings. I get so many compliments on this particular middle school art project, and the best part is that it’s one of those projects where almost every student is happy with the end result!

silhouette-painting-on-plastic-birds-in-branches

For another art project using overhead transparencies, check out my fourth grade “stained glass” snow globe paintings.

If you try this project, please let me know how it goes and share some photos of your students’ results in the comments below!

Written by Merrily Boyd

THAT ART TEACHER

Sharing my classroom with the world.

Tag: middle school art lessons

Back to School Resources for Art Teachers

August is my least favorite month. It never gets any easier when the high temperatures of July roll right into August and the back to school ads start running. Although I dread it all summer, I really do love the first couple weeks of school. I get anxious and overwhelmed with all the details, but once the students start walking through my door I feel … Continue reading Back to School Resources for Art Teachers

Zentangle Art Lessons

This post shares my favorite Zentangle art lessons that are perfect for back to school or anytime throughout the year. I have taught the Zentangle method from 5th-12th grade and I love the individualized results. “Back to school” are my three least favorite words in combination. I love school and I truly love teaching, but as soon as I see the school supplies hitting the … Continue reading Zentangle Art Lessons

Cactus Acrylic Painting Lesson

Try out this simple cactus acrylic painting lesson! It focuses on blending colors directly on the surface and painting a simple object from direct observation. I do this with my sixth graders, but it could totally be adapted for a range of age groups. This lesson has three simple steps to grow confident and creative painters in your classroom. Cactus Acrylic Painting Tutorial This cactus … Continue reading Cactus Acrylic Painting Lesson

Oil Pastel Candle Art Lesson

Try out this oil pastel candle art lesson for illuminating and expressive results! My intermediate students have loved creating this artwork because there is something so mesmerizing about the glow of candlelight. Throughout art history, candlelight creates drama, mystery and contrast. Check out the full length tutorial: My husband is a painting professor at a small university, and he is obsessed with Caravaggio and De … Continue reading Oil Pastel Candle Art Lesson

Op Art Tutorials for Beginners

These four Op Art Tutorials for beginners will show you how to make Op Art, an abstract style of art based on creating optical illusions. My students really love creating Op Art because it’s a puzzle for your brain and an artwork rolled into one. I love to use these tutorials as extension activities (or “what do I do when I’m finished” choices…”), sub plans … Continue reading Op Art Tutorials for Beginners

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35 Art Lessons and Projects for Middle School – HS

Here are 35 wonderfully written art lessons and projects for student in middle school and high school. These handouts were created by S. Wagner-Marx, and teach and cover a range of areas that will stretch artistic abilities and skills. You can also check out all of our Art related pages here .

Abstract Watercolor Paintings Animal Collage Ceramic Lanterns Ceramic Ocarinas (Whistles) Cezanne Still Life Clay Looms and Weaving Common Threads Emotional Portraits Environmental Art Etched Mirror Figure Sculptures Futuristic Cityscape Gargoyles and Grotesques George Segal Inspired Figure Sculpture Illuminated Letter Japanese Batik Lanterns Multi-Stage Print Nested Glass Sculpture Notan Pop-Art ala Roy Lichtenstein Recycled Assemblage Sculptures Repousse Mask Design Repousse Masks Sacred Circles Scranimals Self-Portrait in Style of Modigliiani Silly Faces Book Social Issues Print Soda Can Stages Spirit Vessels Surreal Hand Drawing Surrealist Collage Drawing Surrealistic Imagery Tile Boxes Zoomorphic Tripod Vessel

35 Art Lessons and Projects for Middle School - HS

– love learning -your best ed lessons guide, Scott

67 Art Lessons and Projects for all Grades

Great art lessons and ideas, thank you.

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28 Collaborative Projects to Build Community in Your Art Room

I first got the collaborative bug when I saw Sarah’s post about monochromatic self-portraits . They’re created on the FIRST day of art! Then came my love of Dot Day and creating collaborative circle art. But, I was really consumed when I saw Don Masse’s collaborative quilts!

Collaborative art projects are a great way to promote community in your art room and throughout the school.

Students learn to appreciate each other’s contributions and unique skills. When using collaborative skills, our students become effective communicators and contributors in our society. These projects are a great way to build relationships among students, staff, and community members.

Below, I’ve featured some of my favorite collaborative projects from AOE and around the web!

Large group projects.

These can work as class-wide or school-wide projects.

Don Masse’s Paper Quilts Each student is in charge of a square in which they manipulate parts of a circle and create symmetrical designs.

Sarah Dougherty’s Monochromatic Self-Portrait Mural Have each grade level create small, monochromatic self-portraits to be placed together in rainbow order.

Dot Day Check out Cassie Stephens’ ideas galore!

The Friendly Loom Students from multiple grade levels can contribute to this ongoing project!

Collaborative Mosaics Make something for your school, about your school!

While doing collaborative projects is one great way to build community in your classroom, there are so many other things you can do. If you’re looking for more ideas, don’t miss the Insider Secrets for Successfully Managing the Classroom PRO Learning Pack! There is an entire section devoted to building a classroom community.

Organic Circles with Analogous Colors Each student creates a circular piece.

Chihuly Inspired Sculptures Who doesn’t love a Chihuly piece?

Collaborative Abstract Painting Students can work on this project from all angles!

Abstract Chalk Blending This could easily be an ongoing project.

Beautiful Hearts To show you care.

Post-It Note Murals Students will need to work together to plan out these complex images!

Wacky Watercolor Circles Have students paint small scraps of paper, then punch out circles and arrange.

Tape Murals Break students into small groups to create these temporary murals.

Legacy Installation Created by the oldest grade level in your building, this beautifies your school for years to come.

Circle Painting We can’t forget this abstract painting collaboration!

Line Designs Small groups can work on each sheet. Then connect them all to make the collaborative piece!

Small Group Projects

Each year I have my students create a piece of art as a class. Some of these are auctioned off to fundraise for our building. Here are some of my successful projects as well as those I can’t wait to try!

Monthly Calendar Have each student in a class create a background for one day of a wall calendar.

Painted Furniture Classes can vote on a design, and each member contributes to some part of the item. Geometric designs are easy to execute!

Exquisite Corpse, Back-To-School Collaboration / Remixed Masterpieces Each student makes a portion of the whole image!

Louise Nevelson Assemblages Each student can create their own assemblage. Unify with one color and display them all together.

Contemporary Quilt Blocks This site has a complete tutorial!

Circle Weaving Painting, weaving, and collaboration all in one place.

Architecture Prints Each student prints a unique building which are then displayed as a whole “city.”

Collaborative Cities Each student takes charge of some aspect of the cityscape!

Bubbles! Students can practice their chalk blending skills with this lesson!

Popsicle Stick Extravaganza Each student decorates a stick!

Zentangle Inchies! Get your tangle on with this pop of color!

By no means is this list exhaustive. Add your favorite collaborative projects in the comments below! Bonus points for pictures! Don’t forget, you can’t have “community” without “unity.”

What time of year do you do collaborative projects?

What are some of your favorites?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Alecia Eggers Kaczmarek

Alecia Eggers Kaczmarek, an elementary school art educator, is a former AOEU Writer. She is passionate about teaching and reaching students through an innovative and meaningful arts education.

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37 of Our Favorite Easy Art Projects for Kids

Get their creative juices flowing.

East art projects for kids, including dictionary drawing of the word ignorant and a woven paper rainbow fish.

The stress of tests and social dynamics can prove challenging for students, and for this reason, they need an opportunity to express themselves freely. Art provides a powerful outlet for creative expression while also proving therapeutic. Plus, a good art project can be particularly effective at getting kids to unplug from their devices. A simple art project can even fill some of downtime during the day for early finishers. Regardless of whether you teach preschool or high school, there is an art project for everyone. So gather some art supplies and try one of these easy art projects for kids!

Easy Art Projects for Pre-K Students

1. paper bag jelly fish.

Text at the top says Paper Bag Jellyfish. Four paper bags have been painted with googly eyes glued on them. The bottom of the bags have been shredded with scissors.

As far as easy art projects for kids go, this one is perfect for preschoolers since it works on their hand-eye coordination and their cutting skills in particular. In addition to paper bags and scissors or pinking shears, you will need some paints, paintbrushes, googly eyes, and glue. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can grab some sparkles too!

Learn more: Paper Bag Jelly Fish at No Time for Flash Cards

2. Tissue Paper Apple

A piece of paper has two apples on it that are created from little squares of red and green tissue paper that have been glued onto the apple outlines.

Since everyone associates apples with fall and the start of school, this will be the perfect craft to start the school year off on the right foot. Simply draw an apple outline on a piece of paper and have small red and green tissue paper squares ready to be crumpled and glued by tiny hands.

Learn more: Tissue Paper Apple at Burlap + Blue

3. Fork Print Tulips

Several pieces of paper have tulips that are made from different colored paints dipped in the top part of forks to make the flower head. green stems and leaves are painted underneath.

This project is both cute and simple, requiring only a fork, some heavyweight paper, and some paints. This project would be especially perfect for a Mother’s Day gift.

Learn more: Fork Tulip at Toddler at Play

4. Paper Bag Monster

Three paper bags are transformed into brightly colored monsters.

First, paint the bag any color you want. Once dry, cut out shapes from card stock and assemble your monster!

Learn more: Paper Bag Monster Puppets at I Heart Crafty Things

5. Paper Plate Lion

This easy art project for kids shows a paper plate that is painted orange with simple eyes, mouth, and nose painted on in black. The edges of the plate have been cut with slits to look like a mane.

All you need to re-create this adorable lion is orange and black paint, paintbrushes, paper plates, and scissors. Grab some Popsicle sticks to glue to the back and you’ll have a ferocious puppet show on your hands in no time!

Learn more: Paper Plate Lion at My Bored Toddler

6. Popsicle Stick Rainbow

This easy art project for kids shows white circles glued to a piece of light blue construction paper as clouds. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple popsicle sticks are coming out of the clouds as a rainbow.

Grab some blue card stock, cotton circles, and Popsicle sticks and have your students work on their gluing skills. This craft will prove effective at teaching little ones their colors. Choose either colored Popsicle sticks or have kids color them themselves.

Learn more: Popsicle Stick Rainbow at My Bored Toddler

7. Paper Plate Octopus

An orange and a blue octopus are made from paper plates painted with faces on them and the octopus legs are made from strips of construction paper.

Kids love octopuses, especially adorable ones like these! This craft would be perfect for little ones still learning to count since they have a whopping eight legs to make.

Learn more: Paper Plate Octopus at Simple Every Day Mom

8. Macaroni Necklace

This image of an easy art project for kids shows 5 multi-colored macaroni necklaces made from painted macaroni, string, and some beads.

A staple of many of our childhoods, macaroni necklaces work on the dexterity of little fingers while also making perfect gifts. Add in some large beads as well for variety.

Learn more: DIY Macaroni Necklaces at Made To Be a Mama

Easy Art Projects for Elementary School Students

9. paper plate snake.

A paper plate is cut into a spiral and painted with watercolor paints. Googly eyes havebeen glued on.

Have your students paint a paper plate with watercolors and then once dry, help them cut it in a swirl shape. Finally, add some googly eyes.

Learn more: Colorful Paper Plate Snakes at Pink Stripey Socks

10. Paper Roll Koala

This easy art project for kids shows a cute koala made from a paper roll, construction paper, and pom-poms.

This super-cute koala would make an adorable desk buddy since it stands up on its own. Kids will enjoy personalizing their koala’s face!

Learn more: Paper Roll Koala at Arty Crafty Kids

11. Leaf Pattern Drawing

The outline of a leaf is divided into different sections in this easy art project for kids. Each section is brightly colored with a different pattern in it.

We just love art projects that fill the entire page, and this one certainly fits the bill. The combination of crayon and watercolor paint create this multi-dimensional leaf print.

Learn more: Leaf Pattern at Art Projects for Kids

12. Woven Rainbow Fish

An image on the top shows a white cutout of a fish with a stack of strips of brightly colored paper. The bottom image shows the final product with the strips woven inside the fish.

This project is perfect for working on students’ hand-eye coordination while being a cursory introduction to sewing. It’s challenging enough for even upper elementary school students while still being relatively simple.

Learn more: Rainbow Fish at Crafty Morning

13. Thumbprint Bugs

This easy art project for kids shows three steps to making green thumbprints turn into a caterpillar.

These thumbprint doodles are just so sweet and would perfectly complement a science lesson all about bugs. After having students try their hand at some of the thumbprint examples, let them use their imagination to see what other ideas they can cook up. You can even have them create bug jars out of card stock to put their new friends in!

Learn more: Thumbprint Bugs via Toot’s Mom Is Tired

14. Umbrella With Rain

A rainbow umbrella is constructed from a half of a paper plate.

Another fun art project that is really affordable to create since you only need paper plates, some paints, a roll of string, and some blue beads. We just love this clever approach to creating raindrops!

Learn more: Umbrella With Rain at Easy Peasy and Fun

15. Popsicle Stick Pencil

A pencil is made from construction paper and yellow popsicle sticks.

Nothing says back to school more than a cute pencil-themed craft. Have students add their names to them and then use them to decorate a September bulletin board in your classroom.

Learn more: Popsicle Stick Pencil at Crafty Morning

16. Craft Stick Airplane

Two small airplanes are shown made from a clothespin, different size popsicle sticks, and a wooden bead. They are painted.

Kids will unquestionably go crazy over these clothespin-and-Popsicle-stick airplanes. Regardless of whether they choose paint or permanent markers, students will enjoy personalizing their tiny flying machines.

Learn more: Craft Stick Airplane at Making Life Blissful

17. Pom-Pom Caterpillars

Two caterpillars are made from pom poms and sit on construction paper leaves.

Since kids love pom-poms and caterpillars, this will be the perfect craft to grab their attention. Make sure to supply them with a fun variety of pom-poms and googly eyes.

Learn more: Pom-Pom Caterpillar at Easy Peasy and Fun

Easy Art Projects for Middle School Students

18. chalk christmas lights.

A string of Christmas lights is shown on a black backdrop. The lights are created from chalk smudges in blue, yellow, pink, green, and purple.

This is the perfect easy art project to do around the holiday season. You’ll need to create a stencil from card stock so you can create your light shapes. Once that is done, you can begin creating “light” with some chalk pastels. A silver Sharpie can be used to create your light string since it will show up nicely against the black paper.

Learn more: Christmas Light Chalk Stencil Art at Buggy and Buddy

19. Gratitude Journal

The front of a journal is shown with an abstract painting on the cover of this easy art project for kids.

This project doubles as an art and writing activity since students can use their finished journals for writing prompts. These personalized journals beat store-bought ones any day!

Learn more: Handmade Gratitude Journal at Kids Activities Blog

20. Textured Hot-Air Balloon

Two hot air balloons are constructed from a variety of different materials.

This project is the perfect excuse to use up all your crafty odds and ends like feathers, glitter, and sequins. We love how unique each creation will be once they’re done.

Learn more: Textured Hot-Air Balloon at Artsy Momma

21. Layer Cakes

Four multi layer cakes are shown cut into. They are drawn using oil pastels.

Regardless of students’ experience with oil pastels, this project will be a good introduction to the medium. Have students follow a step-by-step tutorial for drawing the outline of the layer cake, then let them use the pastels to bring their drawings to life.

Learn more: Cakes at Little Yeti

22. Chalk Planets

Four different planets are shown drawn on black backgrounds in this easy art project for kids.

This is an inexpensive way to enhance a science unit on space while still getting creative. It’s inexpensive too since all you will need is some black paper and chalk.

Learn more: 18 Awesome Art Projects for Your Classroom at Teach Junkie

23. Back-to-School Rocks

Eight rocks are painted as various back-to-school items including a purple crayon, a pink eraser, and a pencil.

Kids love painting rocks so why not make it school-themed? Show students some of these examples to copy or let them come up with some of their own, then spread them around the school’s grounds.

Learn more: Painted Rock Ideas at Color Made Happy

24. Dictionary Page Drawing

A dictionary page is the backdrop to a drawing of the word Ignorant. A strange looking cartoon man is shown.

Easy art projects for kids that also double as vocabulary lessons? Yes, please! This project will prove especially educational as students are tasked with illustrating a word on an old dictionary page.

25. Paper Collage Painting

A green coffee mug with steam coming out of it is sitting on a pink surface with a yellow background. This easy art project for kids is made from pieces of different colored paper.

Students will enjoy creating their collages from a variety of materials. Even better—this project is a great way to encourage recycling since old cereal boxes and other food labels can be ripped into strips and repurposed.

Learn more: Painting With Paper at Megan Coyle Artist & Illustrator

26. Crayon Resist Art

This easy art project for kids shows multiple pieces of paper with different doodles and words in white crayon with paint surrounding it. An actual white crayon and watercolor paints are on top of the paintings.

This simple project can be done without a lot of instruction and will work for students of any age. This project runs on the same idea as some Easter egg–decorating kits in that the paint or dye sticks to the areas not covered in wax, or in this case, crayon.

Learn more: Fun Watercolor Resist Art at Kids Activities Blog

27. Number Art

An image shows several number stencils layered upon one another and the sections are colored in many different colors in this easy art project for kids.

If you have some math whizzes in your class, they will likely enjoy this number-themed art project. Grab some large number stencils and paints and you’ll be ready for this low-setup project.

Learn more: 5th Grade Number Project at Art Room Blog

28. Woven Baby Turtle

Several turtles are made from popsicle sticks with brightly colored yarn wrapped around them. Faces are drawn on them with sharpie.

Select three mini Popsicle sticks, paint them, and then glue them together to form your turtle’s body. Finally, select your yarn and weave it around your turtle. Be sure to have a lot of fun colors to choose from!

Learn more: Weaving Cute Baby Turtles at Pink Stripey Socks

Easy Art Projects for High School Students

29. yarn-wrapped letter.

A letter M made of cardboard is wrapped with different colored yarn. Several rows of yarn are in the background.

All you will need to create this craft is some leftover cardboard, a bunch of different yarns, and some scissors. Teens especially will enjoy this project as the end result can be used as decoration in their bedrooms and eventually their dorm rooms!

Learn more: 14 Crafts for Teens and Tweens at Art Bar Blog

30. Elevated Macaroni Necklace

Two macaroni necklaces are shown. One is teal and the other is pink and both are on actual chains.

Some easy art projects for kids and teens can even double as fashion! Despite their association with preschool, these are definitely not your little brother’s or sister’s macaroni necklaces. Swapping out twine with an actual chain makes these necklaces look surprisingly high-end.

Learn more: 12 Pasta Necklaces We Need Right Now at Mum’s Grapevine

31. Neuro Doodle Design

Black squiggles on a white paper form different size shapes, some of which are colored in purple and green in this easy art project for kids.

This is a simple and mindful art project that can be enjoyed by students regardless of their art experience. This art process was invented by Russian psychologist and architect Pavel Piskarev in 2014.

Learn more: Simple Mindful Art Project at Inside Out Art Teacher

32. Crepe Paper Flowers

A glass plate has a variety of flowers on it which are made from crepe paper.

This is the perfect project for early finishers to do since each flower only takes 5 minutes to create. In addition to being a fun project, these flowers would also make for beautiful classroom decor.

Learn more: Easy Crepe Paper Flowers at DIY Candy

33. CD Fish

Two fish are made from CDs with eyes and tissue paper fins added.

Easy art projects for kids that utilize outdated technology? Why not? Although this project could work for any age group, older kids will be able to personalize their fish using a variety of add-on materials. Be prepared to explain to your students what CDs are since they were born long after their demise!

Learn more: Make Your Own Fish Aquarium at Super Simple

34. Pencil Sculpture

A sculpture is made from 72 pencils that have been arranged in a dome shape.

While this project can get complicated, simpler structures can be completed using fewer pencils. The preparation is minimal, requiring just a bunch of pencils and elastics, but the reward will be big when you see what your students create!

Learn more: Geometric Sculpture From 72 Pencils at Instructables

35. Ribbon Garland

A garland is made from pastel ribbon pieces tied together.

This project is another good time-filler since it can be worked on and then picked up again later and continued. It’s also a good lesson in recycling since you can ask students to bring in any fabric or ribbons that may be sitting around their houses unused.

Learn more: Easy DIY Fabric Garland at Project Nursery

36. Origami

Hands are shown holding an orange origami fish and a neon yellow origami fish in this easy art project for kids.

Origami paper is inexpensive and can be bought in bulk, making this an affordable and low-preparation art project. Additionally, it is perfect for high school students who are better equipped to follow along with an instructional video.

Learn more: 12 Origami Projects for Kids at Mom Loves Best

37. Layered Landscape

A landscape is created by layering different scraps of brightly colored paper.

Keep those cereal boxes and old magazines since they’re perfect for ripping up to create layered art! We especially love how much room there is in this project for individual creativity.

Learn more: Layered Landscape at Art Camp Studio

What are your favorite easy art projects to do in the classroom? Come and share your ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, get ideas for great auction art projects .

Art provides a creative outlet for kids while also reducing stress. Try incorporating one of these easy art projects for kids into your day!

Examples of five different thank you cards for school staff members like nurses, custodians, paraprofessionals, and more.

13 Free Printable Thank-You Cards for Custodians, Librarians, and More

Because it takes a lot of special people to keep a school running. Continue Reading

40 of the Best Art Projects for Kids

Art is a true passion for me! And it’s something I KNOW your kids are going to love. Here are the very best art projects for kids. This list is sure to get those creative juices flowing! Use this set of 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids posts to excite the kids all year long. Whether you’re in the mood for process art, arts integration projects, or recycled art, there’s definitely something here for everyone.

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Art Projects for Kids

I’m the daughter of an engineer and a painter and Left Brain Craft Brain was my own creative outlet after growing up in an amazingly creative household. I know how essential art is for development and creativity in kids. I hope you use this awesome list of all types of art projects to help your kids grow their art abilities beyond their imaginations!

What is Process Art? Process Art Projects

What in the world is process art? Process art is something kids will LOVE! Process art focuses on the how of art, not the end product. There are no right or wrong ways to experience process art, just the enjoyment of creating. It’s a great way to integrate movement and creativity in your art lessons for kids.

Gelli Printing – An Easy Art Project You’ll Want to Do || Left Brain Craft Brain – This is one of the those craft activities that takes a little investment, but you can use over and over again!

Bubble Painting with Dry Ice || The Science Kiddo – Have you tried this? It’s a must for your next spring art activity!

String Art || Babble Dabble Do – Can you believe a little bit of string transformed this simple painting?

Collaborative Circle Painting to Build Community || Kids STEAM Lab – Add this amazing art lesson to your after school creative time.

Fizzy Drip Painting || Capri +3 – I love how easy it is to set this up! I know I have everything I need to make this happen today!

Tissue Paper Sensory Art || Left Brain Craft Brain – If you need a quick preschool art project, give this one a try.

Tube Painting Gross Motor Art Project || Left Brain Craft Brain – Sometimes kids painting can be pretty messy. This is an awesome way to contain the mess.

Slime Drawings || Left Brain Craft Brain – This is one of the coolest drawing ideas I have ever made! The kids are going to love it!

Melted Crayon Stained Glass || The Artful Parent – Do you remember doing this as a kid? Melted crayon is always a classic.

Painting With Nature || Left Brain Craft Brain – Next time you are planning an arts and crafts activity, plan to use a little pieces of nature!

Arts Integration Projects

Art integration projects are my favorite. Why should art be integrated into the curriculum? It’s why we focus on STEAM so much on Left Brain Craft Brain instead of just STEM. Adding in art triggers another level of creativity in young minds. Get the kids’ creative juices flowing with some amazing art projects that have some science, math, and engineering built right in.

Five Minute Crafts: Magnet Painting || Left Brain Craft Brain – We have done this activity MANY times and it’s always a huge hit with the kids. Check out this video to see it in action.

Art Equals Science Paint Solubility Projects for Kids || Left Brain Craft Brain – Grab your box of paints for this simple science experiment.

Mystery Grid Art Challenge || Pink Stripey Socks – Such a fun idea for your STEAM lesson time.

Frog Life Cycle Pom Pom Craft for Nature Studies || Adventure in a Box – Looking for fun spring art ideas? Add this one to the list.

Glow in the Dark Moon Phases Mobile || Left Brain Craft Brain – This is one of those craft activities that will stay on the wall for months!

Chromatography Art Project || Buggy and Buddy – Teach kids about the cool science of chromatography when you make this weaving project.

Color Mixing with Coding for Preschool Kids || iGame Mom – I love the idea of adding in technology to your next art projects for kids.

Prism Play and Chalk Art || Left Brain Craft Brain – We use this as one of your go to art lessons for kids!

Rainbow Geometry Painting || Left Brain Craft Brain – I can’t get over how beautiful the colors are in this project!

Five Minute Crafts: Play Dough Petroglyphs || Left Brain Craft Brain – Another great preschool art idea for your youngest STEAM kids.

More Arts Integration Projects!

Metal Art STEAM Project || STEAM Powered Family – Beautiful! This is one of those cool art projects the kids won’t soon forget.

Geometric Math Art with Circles || Teach Beside Me – I can’t believe what an easy math art activity this is! And totally relaxing, too.

Bird Art Sculptures || One Time Through – If you’re planning some nature lessons for kids, don’t forget to add in your own bird sculptures.

Five Minute Crafts: Kandinsky for Kids || Left Brain Craft Brain – Teach your kids art history with a simple art lesson. It makes another great lesson in geometry, too.

Math Coloring Book || Left Brain Craft Brain (coming soon!) – Learn about how math intertwines with nature with these beautiful coloring pages.

Recycled Art Projects

Do you have a recycle bin overflowing with materials? Before you put those items out for recycling, think about all the amazing recycled art projects you can do. This is an awesome budget-friendly way to add STEAM to your learning every week.

Recycled Plastic Flowers Are and Science Projects || Left Brain Craft Brain – This is pretty much the prettiest science experiment we’ve ever done.

Egg Carton Flowers || I Heart Arts n’ Crafts – Such a beautiful way to use your old egg cartons.

Upcylced Toy Car Marker Bots || Left Brain Craft Brain – Don’t throw away your old toy cars. There’s still some fun left in them!

Recycled Water Bottle Garden Art || Happy Hooligans – Dig into your recycle bin to make amazing art to decorate your spring garden!

Paper Weaving || Babble Dabble Do – What cool recycled paper can you find for this fun weaving project?

Got some carboard to use up? You’ll love these Cereal Box Crafts , too!

Five Minute Crafts (and Five Minute Art Too!)

I’m going to admit that I always have a couple five minute crafts ready to go anytime at home. It’s a great away to set up a creative space quickly AND give some extra stimulation to your creative kids. All with little time invested.

Blind Contour Drawings || Art Bar – Challenge the kids to this fun drawing challenge!!

Earth Melted Crayon Rocks Craft || Left Brain Craft Brain – Another amazing spring art idea to add to your art projects for kids.

Gorgeous Spin Art Hearts Painting Activity for Kids || Left Brain Craft Brain – This was a spur of the moment idea that the kids will love.

Painted Feathers || Figment Creative Labs – We did this activity in my daughter’s class and the kids loved it!

Easy Fish Origami || Red Ted Art – This project is a great introduction into the art of origami!

five minute crafts and five minute art projects for kids

Be sure to check out our whole Five Minutes Crafts category on Left Brain Craft Brain!

Holiday Art Projects

Here’s just a quick selection of some fun holiday art projects for kids.

Five Minute Crafts: Pumpkin Pie Painting || Left Brain Craft Brain – We do a lot of holiday art around our house and this one is one of my favorites.

Rainbow Shamrock Art Project for St. Patrick’s Day || Rhythms of Play – This project is perfect for your STEAM kids! Such a cool process.

Process Art Scrape Painting with Bunny Silhouettes || Projects with Kids – These are adorable and the perfect process art idea for your next spring art activity!

Valentine Process Art Projects || Left Brain Craft Brain – So many beautiful ideas to show others how much you care!

Easter Egg Roll & Paint || Busy Toddler – Such a great idea for using all those plastic eggs with the littles.

Five Minute Crafts: Tape Resist Glitter Forest || Left Brain Craft Brain – We have made several versions of this project over the year. It’s so easy to set up and they always come out beautiful!

And check out this HUGE list of Valentine Process Art for Kids .

Looking for some more STEAM inspiration that you can use right now? Instant gratification style? Check out STEAM Explorers!! The coolest creative experience for kids is here! It's a digital book of the month club filled with tons of fun stuff for the kids to do and learn. All engineer, teacher, and mom-approved. And most definitely KID APPROVED!⁣

What’s included?⁣

A monthly digital magazine with cool themes that are fun to read
Hands-on, exciting projects the kids will love.⁣
Science, tech, engineering, art, and math learning YOU’LL love.⁣
Delicious recipes the kids can make.⁣
Fun printables and games⁣

Join us as we explore the great outdoors in July with the STEAM Explorers Camping issue!! Kids will love weaving paracord bracelets, building a solar oven, making some fizzy camp punch, escaping the forest in an escape room activity, and so much more! You'll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!

We’ve split the STEAM Explorers Camping issue into four weekly themes:

WEEK 1: Trees & Trails
WEEK 2: Around the Campfire
WEEK 3: Campsite Fun
WEEK 4: Camp Crafts

28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids

These projects are part of an amazing, month-long series of hands on STEM and STEAM projects for kids. Click on over to 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids for 60+ FREE science, tech, engineering, art, and math projects from 30+ education writers. All ready to get your kids excited to learn.

28 days of STEAM and STEAM activities for kids

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40 Fun Ideas for Middle School Art Projects
middle school art lessons
My Favorite Middle School Art Projects » Make a Mark Studios
Jen Stark collaborative mural I made with my 5th grade students!
Gorgeous Middle School Art Project: Silhouette Paintings on Plastic
Learn to Paint Like a Child

VIDEO

Kaveh from Genshin Impact
2023-2024 school art projects recap 😁#shorts
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Sculpt a Skeleton, Part 1
Easy Drawing and Painting project: Beginner/Intermediate artist
Embossed Metal Repousse Art Lesson

COMMENTS

25 Unique Art Projects for Middle Schoolers
20. Skyline printmaking. Painted Paper Art/Printmaking via paintedpaperart.com. Printmaking is a fun lesson to teach at any age, but we think it is perfect for middle schoolers. This project begins with creating a stamp of a cityscape out of a foam plate and then transferring it to paper using a paint roller.
My Favorite Middle School Art Projects » Make a Mark Studios
Use a variety of materials including felt, cloth, yarn, buttons, and more! #13- Wire Stocking Sculptures. Student goal: Using a block of wood as your base and a nylon stocking stretched over a manipulated wire hanger, create an interesting 3d form. Use acrylic paint to create a gradient of at least 3 colors.
40 Fun Ideas for Middle School Art Projects
Here are a few of our favorites that might give inspiration or you can see them all -> How to Draw for Kids: How to draw a dragon. How to draw a unicorn. How to draw a frog. How to draw Sonic the Hedgehog. How to draw a snowflake. How to draw a spider web. 2. Picasso Inspired Tree Ornaments Kids Can Make.
5 Successful One-Day Art Lessons for the Middle School Classroom
The best one-day lessons have built-in potential for success. Highly successful lessons are enjoyable and engaging. A few other things they have in common include: Clear and limited steps. Completion in one class period. Student autonomy (in material choice, design, color, etc.). Scaffolding for future skills and techniques.
Middle school art lesson plans. Grades 6-8 (ages 11-14 years)
Draw and Paint a Sea Turtle. K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12. Middle school grades art lesson plans. Grade 6-8 (ages 11-14 years). Middle school.
Middle School Art Project Ideas
Middle School Art Project Ideas-Popular Resources. Last summer I completed my first full year middle school curriculum. Over the course of the year, students are taught drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques. Each project focuses on an element of art or principles of design. This has become one of my most popular middle school items.
47 Art Activities For Middle School Students: 3D Crafting, Painting
Get a dollar store picture frame and put a printed outline of choice inside the frame to use as a template. Have your little artists paint the glass with a mix of paint and glue, then once dry, finish the piece by outlining shapes with a black permanent marker for a gorgeous stained glass effect! Learn More: Fabulessly Frugal. 7. Chalk Art Projects
The 30 Best Art Activities For Middle School Students
This could be tactile art, pieces with movable parts, or even art that involves light and shadow. 20. Origami And Paper Sculpture. Go beyond the traditional paper folding methods and challenge students to create intricate paper sculptures or large-scale origami installations. 21. Mosaic Madness.
Middle School Art Lessons
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Art Projects for Middle School Students
5 Art Projects for Middle School Students. There are countless engaging art projects suitable for grades 6-8, with many of them integrating math, science, history and more. Here are five of our favorite projects. 1. Paint a Self-Portrait. Self-portraits are fun, thought-provoking projects that can be adapted to any age group.
Gorgeous Middle School Art Project: Silhouette Paintings on Plastic
Painting Silhouettes with Acrylic on Plastic. Students then taped down their plastic sheet on top of their pencil drawing and retraced over their pencil lines with black Sharpies on the plastic. They used black acrylic paint to paint within the silhouetted shapes. We found that it usually took two or three coats of black paint to get it to look ...
7 Easy Art Lessons For When You're in a Pinch
If using watercolor, this can be a wonderful exploration of how transparent and translucent colors mix and layer. The free-form nature of this painting style also fosters intuitive thinking. Suggested materials: Paper, acrylic or tempera paint, watercolor Suggested grade levels: Elementary, middle school. 4. Water Droplet Drawing
middle school art lessons Archives
Zentangle Art Lessons. This post shares my favorite Zentangle art lessons that are perfect for back to school or anytime throughout the year. I have taught the Zentangle method from 5th-12th grade and I love the individualized results. "Back to school" are my three least favorite words in combination. I love school and I truly love teaching ...
35 Art Lessons and Projects for Middle School
Here are 35 wonderfully written art lessons and projects for student in middle school and high school. These handouts were created by S. Wagner-Marx, and teach and cover a range of areas that will stretch artistic abilities and skills. You can also check out all of our Art related pages here. Abstract Watercolor Paintings.
50 Collaborative Art Projects That Bring Out Kids' Creative Side
3. Layer a drip mural. Kids will surely find Jen Stark's colorful art exciting and inspiring. For this collaborative art project, have them each make their own "drip" piece, then layer them together for one big finished mural. Learn more: Jen Stark-Inspired Mural. Mrs. Robert's Art Room via Instagram.
16 Art Projects That Only Require Basic Supplies
11. Add doodles to everyday objects. Whimsy is the rule of the day when kids add doodles to objects from around the house. This quick and easy idea really brings out the creativity! Learn more: Art Ed Guru. 12. Paint crayon resist art. Break out that seldom-used white crayon and use it to create resist art.
Creative and Inspiring Art Projects for Middle School Students
Discover exciting art projects that will ignite the creativity of middle school students. Explore a variety of mediums and techniques to inspire and engage young artists in their artistic journey.
28 Collaborative Projects to Build Community in Your Art Room
Wacky Watercolor Circles. Have students paint small scraps of paper, then punch out circles and arrange. Tape Murals. Break students into small groups to create these temporary murals. Legacy Installation. Created by the oldest grade level in your building, this beautifies your school for years to come. Circle Painting.
Art Projects for Middle School
Apr 9, 2024 - Explore Heather Hawkins's board "Art Projects for Middle School", followed by 1,860 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about art projects, art lessons, teaching art.
37 Easy Art Projects for Kids of All Ages
Easy Art Projects for Elementary School Students. 9. Paper Plate Snake. Pink Stripey Socks/Easy and Colorful Paper Plate Snakes via pinkstripeysocks.com. Have your students paint a paper plate with watercolors and then once dry, help them cut it in a swirl shape. Finally, add some googly eyes.
5 Things to Make Your Value and Shading Middle or High School Art
This art lesson is one of my favorite high school art projects because it is so simple and builds the foundation for everything we do for the rest of the year. People are often most impressed by drawings with good shading because adding value to an object makes them appear three-dimensional and can produce the effect of realism. Learning to see ...
40 of the Best Art Projects for Kids
Tissue Paper Sensory Art || Left Brain Craft Brain - If you need a quick preschool art project, give this one a try. Tube Painting Gross Motor Art Project || Left Brain Craft Brain - Sometimes kids painting can be pretty messy. This is an awesome way to contain the mess. Slime Drawings || Left Brain Craft Brain - This is one of the ...
130 Best Middle School art projects ideas
May 1, 2017 - Explore Marjorie Broce's board "Middle School art projects", followed by 233 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about school art projects, art projects, middle school art.