A long time agowe did more art projects in our classrooms. Why? Accordingto Eric Erikson, elementary age children are in the age of“industriousness.” They like toMAKE things and use their IMAGINATIONS. Here are a few art projects that are simple and fun for all ages andabilities. Use them as a "bonus" for children who finish their work early, put them in a center. or tie them in with your lesson plans.
Negative Space
Materials: paper,scissors, markers or crayons
Directions: Cuta hole out of the middle of each sheet of paper. Challenge children to look at the hole and then create anobject out of it.
*Extend theactivity by having children write about their pictures.
Complete thePicture
Materials: paper,magazines, glue, markers or crayons
Directions: Askchildren to cut a large object out of the magazine. Next, cut the picture in half. Glue one half to their paper and then draw the other halfwith crayons or markers.
Alphabet Art
Materials: paper,marker, crayons
Directions: Drawan alphabet letter in the middle of each page with the marker. Each child chooses a letter and thentries to incorporate the letter into a picture. Challenge them to draw something that begins with theletter.
*Put theirpictures together to make an alphabet book.
Little toLarge
Materials: paper, crayons
Directions: Drawa small shape or seasonal object in the middle of the paper. Children trace around the object withdifferent colors of crayons.
*Reinforcegeometric shapes with this project. Younger children can do triangles and older students can tracetrapezoids or pentagons.
