Celebrate International Beaver Day on April seventh with your first graders by creating a piece of art based on the world’s second largest rodent. In this lesson, students will begin... Learn More
I love happy art lessons that engage children right from the get-go. These painted paper butterflies are a perennial favorite in my art room. My first graders made painted paper and then... Learn More
This one-class period lesson, based on the book The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates, is about inclusiveness and being open to including and helping everyone. Along with the SEL... Learn More
Cutting and pasting is a big deal in the primary grades. Learning how to manipulate paper into shapes and then into a picture is an even bigger deal. It doesn’t... Learn More
In this quick printmaking lesson, students will be learning about the seven main types of bridge construction before choosing one to print with liquid tempera and Legos on a simple... Learn More
Get ready to get a little bit messy in this fun, first-grade painting project inspired by the book Cells: An Owner’s Handbook by Carolyn Fisher. This project is all about... Learn More
Was there ever a time when you wished you had a different name? Your first-grade students will love making this project that is based on the book Chrysanthemum and focuses... Learn More
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin is such a popular and fun book. Pete the Cat is a care-free character who loves... Learn More
I knew I wanted to do a watercolor lesson with my first graders and typically I do a fish or a flower. Tired of those particular lessons, I wanted something new.... Learn More
Have you ever felt so angry you thought you might just roar? In this kinesthetic lesson, students will get to explore the emotion of anger in a productive way by... Learn More
This lesson is jam-packed with opportunities for students to reflect on things that bring them joy, as well as create a meditative piece of artwork to represent themselves. There are... Learn More
Making art can help children process feelings that they may not have the words for. Providing opportunities for self-expression, like this lesson inspired by Oliver Jeffers’ book The Heart and... Learn More
Invite your students to meditate on bravery as they make these round painted and woven paper creations that resemble mandalas. Each growing, concentric circle in the artwork, acts as a... Learn More
Worry can take us by surprise, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm us. If we learn to talk about our worries with someone, just as Ruby learns in the book... Learn More
What makes you uniquely super? Maybe it’s speed or kindness – or maybe you’re a super artist. This lesson is all about uncovering and celebrating each student’s very own superpower.... Learn More
Based on the book The Spider by Canadian illustrator Elise Gravel, this spider lesson is sure to become a first-grade favorite. In this lesson, students explore some simple printmaking with... Learn More
Students will be constructing their own Surrealist-inspired building in this lesson based on Argentinian artist Xul Solar. A mixed-up background featuring both night and day adds a sense of space... Learn More
The Happy Fish lesson involves minimal art materials and a step-by-step drawing guide for your substitute teacher.... Learn More