Many folk art calendars offer great visual references for barns with either summer or winter landscapes. I have a collection that I have curated over the years. In addition to... Learn More
The complementary colors of orange and blue are everywhere during the fall season. And why not showcase these happy colors with a blue cat? Using the simple drawing handout, children can... Learn More
This lesson combines a higher level drawing technique with an easy-to-achieve watercolor resist technique. Drawing St. Basil’s Cathedral can be tedious but if you can teach the children how to... Learn More
Inspired by the works of Abstract/Folk Art artist, Karla Gerard (http://karlagerard.blogspot.com/), fourth graders delved into a world of color, pattern and whimsy. This project takes a bit more time than... Learn More
For this lesson, we looked at a few of Chagall’s paintings and identified the objects that seemed out of place, or depicted in an unusual way. Children quickly observe that Chagall... Learn More
Every kid, no matter what the age, can enjoy this watercolor project. If you live in an area where fall leaves are plentiful, take a walk outside to collect your... Learn More
Grandma Moses is America’s most beloved folk artist. She painted in primitive style-which means that the artist was self-taught and painted in a style to evoke memories of traditional American... Learn More
This lesson is by far the most math-centric lesson in my arsenal of art projects. I use tag board to make cardboard templates, so children can trace a perfect rectangle. From... Learn More
The principle of balance is the distribution of the visual weight of the elements in a piece of art. In this lesson, your students will focus specifically on radial balance... Learn More
Farm animals are generally a big hit with any aged child. There is something familiar yet strange about farm animals in terms of behavior, appearance and purpose! Speckled hens offer... Learn More
One of the easiest ways to teach small children portrait making is to eliminate difficult steps. By using a head & shoulders template, children can trace or cut a generous... Learn More
I used a few of my favorite techniques to help my kinders create these adorable (and quite impressive) self-portraits. We used a template to trace the face and used a... Learn More
Using a template or a starter when teaching little kids about the process of making portraits helps the child considerably. Don’t worry that you are stifling creativity. As long as... Learn More
This is a lesson that not only teaches portrait techniques but also engages the imagination. A perfect combination. Photocopy the “Imagination Portrait” handout and give one to each child. Discuss... Learn More
This project is pure magic. Children combine basic cutting and crafting skills with the fine art instruction of drawing and using watercolors. The project requires a little prep on your... Learn More
This lesson and the accompanying discussion page are intended to open a dialogue with students about diversity as well as exploring the significance of memories and external influences in shaping... Learn More
This type of project is great for the end of the school year. Because it uses mostly paper scraps, you can utilize your paper scrap boxes, finally use up the... Learn More
This lesson was inspired by the rich, vibrant, quilted portraits of contemporary artist Bisa Butler. This lesson features a unique art technique with stunning results! Rather than sewing, students will... Learn More