How to Draw a Fossil
22 May 2019

How to Draw a Fossil

by | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Animal Life, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Markers, STEAM Projects | 0

Learn how to draw a fossil, and use some of today’s newer art materials to make the process as fun as possible. Paint markers and brown paper do the trick. Granted, these fossils drawn with some special art room supplies (paint markers) but if you can save for them, they are just THE most fun to draw with on any … Read More
12 Apr 2019

Simple Color Wheel

by | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Markers, Recycle Projects, Sharpies, STEAM Projects | 0

Use your old CDs to make a simple color wheel. It involves a bit of “eyeball” measuring, which works fine for this purpose. • View and download Divide CD Tutorial MATERIALS Old CDs Ruler Sharpie marker, black, fine tip Sharpie markers, assorted, fine or brush tip   DIRECTIONS Print tutorial for each student. Students use a ruler to divide the … Read More

grow grass CD case
20 Feb 2019

Grass in a CD Case

by | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Earth Day, Recycle Projects, STEAM Projects | 1

Try growing grass in a CD case and turn them into gifts instead. Here’s an idea for a birthday or Mother’s Day. They make great little terrariums, especially with a message for special occasions. You can watch your plants grow and make a special gift at the same time. MATERIALS • CD case, the kind that is about 1/4″ thick … Read More

winter art for kids
20 Dec 2018

Easy Winter Snowflake Art

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Christmas, Kindergarten, Painting, STEAM Projects, Winter | 1

My favorite thing about this winter snowflake art is the plastic trading card sleeves that instantly make the art look laminated. Hides any imperfect gluing too. MATERIALS Watercolor paper Art Trading Cards Liquid watercolor paint Salt Card stock paper, white Snowflake punch, vintage Glue stick Scissors Plastic trading card sleeves DIRECTIONS Use liquid watercolor paints on watercolor paper cut to … Read More
27 Nov 2018

Zentangle Patterns for Beginners

by | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Christmas, Holiday, Markers, STEAM Projects, Winter | 0

These snowflakes make great zentangle patterns for beginners. They may look complex, but are made from just adding lots of arrows to my star template. I tried out some new Stabilo markers for this drawing, and totally love the pointMax set. The tips are nice and firm, so it makes them a pleasure to draw with. The company makes other … Read More

pretend passport printable
22 Jun 2018

Pretend Passports

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Drawing, Kindergarten, Markers, STEAM Projects | 0

Traveling soon? Make the trip more fun and educational with my pretend passport template. I started making them for students at my school, years ago, and have polished them up ever since. I saw too many bad ones online and knew they could look better. My version includes a box to draw your own self-portrait, maps to note where you … Read More

quilt art for kids
13 Jun 2018

Quilt Circle Art for Kids

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, Markers, STEAM Projects | 4

Quilt art for kids connects to other studies in so many ways – history, math, patterning, even teamwork. I like how this project requires little prep work and can result in one very large and beautiful quilt in about 45 minutes. MATERIALS Finger paint paper, cut into 4″ squares Protractor Large piece of butcher paper Glue sticks Markers, I used … Read More

steam projects for kids
5 Jun 2018

The Best New STEAM Book

by | posted in: STEAM Projects | 0

There is a brand new STEAM book coming out full of fresh, new fun ideas that will keep your kids engaged (and learning!) all summer long. Most kids are familiar with slime, but have they tried making potions? Or volcanoes? Or circuits? This book, “Steam, Play & Learn” by my friend Ana Dziengel includes all that and more is now available for … Read More

cardboard craft
18 May 2018

Cardboard Craft Building

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Cardboard, Common Core Projects, Crafts, Kindergarten, STEAM Projects | 0

 I’ve found that if I just precut some house shapes for a corrugated cardboard craft class, students as young as kinder can easily “build” something and learn how to construct and decorate a house. This adorable house was made by a talented kinder named Audrey. I believe she is six years old but has the focus of someone twice her … Read More

tessellations for kids
14 Apr 2018

Fish Tessellation

by | posted in: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, artist M.C. Escher, Common Core Projects, Crayons, STEAM Projects, Tessellation | 0

Tessellations for kids have much to teach about art and math, but need clear guide lines to keep students from jumbling up their cut out shapes. My tessellation process shown in my diagram comes from many hours of figuring out how to work with a large group (35 or more) students and have as many as possible understand that they … Read More

STEAM art project
13 Apr 2018

CD Spinners

by | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Markers, Sharpies, STEAM Projects | 0

I was looking for STEAM art projects for our school event, and was happy to find some spinning CD inspiration. Just a little prep, little expense, and lots of recycling of old CDs made this a winner. MATERIALS Old CDs Sharpie markers Imitation pearls Bamboo skewers Paper cutter or other tool to cut skewers Hot glue gun DIRECTIONS  PREP: Cut bamboo … Read More

geometry art lesson
27 Mar 2018

Geometric to Organic Shapes

by | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Markers, STEAM Projects | 0

Start with a geometry art lesson, and then add some water to create organic shapes. The fun part is the tracing of all the little knubby shapes the water helps to create. MATERIALS Multimedia paper Cardboard templates of triangles, circles and squares Waterbase markers Cup of water and brush or eye dropper Thin permanent marker DIRECTIONS Students used cardboard templates … Read More

simple flower painting
7 Mar 2018

Paint a Terrarium

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, Painting, STEAM Projects | 0

  Here’s a simple flower painting project, one that is pretty AND educational for students studying plant life. I’ve used it for years with kinders, when they study root systems in the spring. The jar makes a nice frame for the artwork, and the root technique is a nice introduction to what I call, the “white crayon trick”. Terrarium Template … Read More

chinese new year crafts
16 Feb 2018

Chinese New Year Snake Tutorial

by | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, Multicultural, Paper crafts, STEAM Projects | 0

Did you know Chinese New Year crafts can come from office supplies? They helped me make this project with about 400 first through fourth graders for about $45. For the advanced origami lover, my sample snake above was made with two long strips that had nine 11″ lengths glued together as shown in the photo. If you like the gradated … Read More

skeleton craft
4 Oct 2017

Skeleton Craft

by | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Halloween, Recycle Projects, STEAM Projects | 0

My pack rat tendencies paid off when I figured out how use old watercolor trays to house this Model Magic skeleton. How many themes can this project touch on? Let’s see. Fun Halloween project? Check. STEAM approved (study of bones)? Check. Recycling old art supplies? Check. Backpack (portable) proof? Check. Not bad for one project! SUPPLIES Old watercolor tray Black … Read More

arts and crafts house
26 Sep 2017

Treehouse Crafts

by | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Cardboard, Recycle Projects, STEAM Projects | 0

I’ve been experimenting with more dimensional after school classes, and am happy to report that my kids seem to love it. When my students made these tree houses, they got so involved in decorating them they worked right through the last minute of class. MATERIALS Cardboard Paper cutter (heavy duty type) Corrugated cardboard Craft sticks (narrow and long type) Match … Read More

ladybug craft
28 May 2017

Lady Bug Collage

by | posted in: 1st Grade, Collage, Kindergarten, STEAM Projects | 0

With our school’s science room filled with new bugs and worms, it seemed timely to have lady bugs as the theme for some art projects. Older students drew and painted theirs, but I noticed that many first graders struggled with keeping the paint from all running together. So when it was time for the TK class, I switched to collage so … Read More

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Art Projects for Kids