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• Ks2 Art Ideas 5 Amazing Art Ideas For Kids

KS2 art ideas – Amazing projects, activities and lessons

Help pupils to create artwork that has the wow factor with these inspirational projects, art activities and crafts for kids…

Art – it’s a subject that many of us look back on fondly from our own schooldays. Thinking up KS2 art ideas can be another matter though, especially if you don’t feel particularly ‘arty’ yourself.

The lack of art and design training doesn’t help either, with  barely half a day per year given over  to arts subjects on primary PGCEs.

However, as primary teachers know, it’s all the singing, painting, story writing and drama that goes on in primary classrooms that makes them such rich learning environments. Read on for advice, activities and KS2 art ideas…

(PS – we’ve also got a page of KS1 art ideas to inspire you).

What do children learn about in art lessons in KS2?

Medium term ks2 art ideas, six amazing ks2 art ideas, georgia o’keeffe flowers ks2 art project, mixed media art projects to try, speedy art ideas to slot into your day, more ks2 art ideas.

Key Stage 2 art and design is about developing art techniques and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art.

Children should work in sketchbooks and try techniques including drawing, painting and sculpture. They should also learn about great artists from history.

For all primary pupils, the main purpose of the art and design national curriculum is to help pupils create work that helps them to explore their ideas and experiences.

By the end of primary, children should be able to analyse and evaluate art using appropriate language.

Get pupils’ creative juices flowing with these expert medium-term art plans for KS2 . Each resource pack contains a full half-term of planning and there’s currently six different themes to choose from, including:

• Self-portraits
• William Morris and the Victorians
• Fashion design
• 3D relief sculpture

Use these tried and tested KS2 art ideas by specialist teacher Mandy Barrett in your classroom…

Printable crafts – fabulous fossils

Develop Y3 pupils’ printing skills while learning about rocks and fossils in your science topic. Use biros to carefully score ammonite images into a polystyrene sheet. This creates a block to print from. Encourage pupils to imagine what the print will look like once it’s printed.

Next, experiment with coloured inks to create repeated printed images . Test the prints in sketchbooks first and ask pupils to add annotations about their thoughts, feelings and learning journey.

How can we make the print darker or lighter? How much ink is needed? Which colour do children prefer? If children want to improve their print block at this stage, give them a new piece of polystyrene.

Alternatively, move straight on to experimental work and explore printing onto paper and fabric, discussing any similarities and differences you encounter. Make sure to document all your discoveries and thoughts in sketchbooks.

Finally, create backgrounds by tearing coloured sugar paper and sticking the small pieces onto a larger sheet of paper. Use your blocks to repeat a fossil print over the top.

Inspirational posters simple activity

This art idea lets KS2 children work together to produce inspirational portraits of significant people. This fits in nicely with events such as Black History Month .

Before beginning, discuss each person and their achievements and share some famous quotes from them. Next, gather images and transfer them onto a piece of strong A3 cartridge paper by rubbing the back of the photocopy with a layer of graphite or oil pastel.

Fix the picture onto the paper using a small piece of masking tape then trace over the image with a biro. This will transfer the graphite or pastel onto the paper. Enhance the transferred images with black felt pens and add inspirational quotes.

Using PVA glue and a range of materials, add a collaged background. This creates a textured look which makes the paintings more interesting. This is a good opportunity for children to increase their knowledge of preparing canvas backgrounds.

Use acrylic paint to add vibrant colours to the images, making sure that the portraits and quotes don’t get lost. Try watercolour paints to build up colour on the faces, then use marker pens such as POSCA to outline parts of the work.

These pictures make an inspiring display when placed together and will help children to be more aware of a range of inspirational people.

Mythical and fantastical creatures

This project ties in well to English units featuring mythical creatures. Begin by drawing a range of eyes in your sketchbooks, exploring different drawing media and textures. For example, children can experiment with using bubble wrap or textured wallpaper to print with.

At the same time, discuss previous art learning such as tonal values and painting and printing techniques, giving children time to record, review and revisit ideas.

Explore the shapes found in different eyes and discuss how these could be created using clay, recording your annotations in sketchbooks to support the learning journey. After this initial exploration, children will be ready to create their clay eye.

They should be confident of the shapes they would like to create and the textures they want to add to replicate scales and other features. Use batons, a rolling pin and clay boards to create a slab of clay that is 1cm thick. Cut this to shape using a clay cutter.

Start your sculpture

Children can now either use a template or score their shape directly into the clay. Use a variety of tools to create texture in the clay to give the appearance of dragon scales. Join different pieces of clay together with slip. This ensures pieces are less likely to fall off while being fired in the kiln.

If you don’t have access to a kiln, leave your dragon eyes to air dry then add a layer of varnish or PVA glue. Alternatively, use salt dough or modelling clay then oven bake, or try playdough or plasticine.

After you’ve fired your dragon eyes, use acrylic paint to add colour. Add a PVA glue glaze over the top to add extra shine if you wish. Finally, add a glass eye using a glue gun. Don’t forget to document the whole process in sketchbooks using annotations and sketches.

Download another lesson plan about creating 3D eye sculptures .

Space art ideas

If you’re doing space in science, this project links in perfectly. Begin by looking at a range of images of the universe. Discuss how you might recreate these using pupils’ art skills and knowledge.

Experiment with using a scrunched up paper towel to add bursts of poster paint to black card. This will create a textured, mottled effect. Be careful not to add too much paint, as you still want the black to be visible.

Some children may want a very busy background full of stars and constellations, while others might aim for a more muted effect.

Next, look at a range of drawings and photographs of astronauts wearing spacesuits. Draw different versions of astronauts on white paper using black felt pen. This can either be a close-up, with lots of detail on the suit, or a smaller astronaut to place in the background – children should be encouraged to create a composition of their choice.

Cut out the visor of the spacesuit so that the background is visible through the drawing. This gives the illusion of a reflection in the helmet of the suit. Encourage children to discuss their ideas and reasoning while creating their work.

Super sugar skulls craft for kids

This idea works well if you’re studying the ancient civilisations of South America in history. Encourage children to use their sketchbooks to research the vibrant imagery connected to Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday.

Explore different art media, artists and the culture of the festival, documenting your findings via annotations in sketchbooks. Next, pupils can practise their sewing skills by creating a ‘sugar skull’ using felt. Use a template to cut out the shape of the skull, then embellish it with felt, embroidery thread and buttons.

This will give pupils the chance to try running, back and blanket stitch. After constructing your sewn sugar skulls, create a report that evaluates the making process. Consider materials and equipment used, the making process, knowledge learnt and skills practised.

Create a self-portrait inspired by mythological beasts

We are always looking for ways to link our creative projects with other subjects, as this is an ideal way to reinforce learning throughout the curriculum.

Our Year 3 children have been learning about  Ancient Greece  and were also looking at a range of artists and illustrators who have been inspired by artwork from the past.

We decided to base a short art project on the book  Mythologica ,  written by Stephen Kershaw and illustrated by Victoria Topping. This title is full of wonderful, vibrant images that really sparked our children’s imaginations. 

Where to start

Begin the project by reading a range of Greek mythological stories, and spending some time learning about the different characters. We used a variety of books and websites and watched videos, to find out about the myths, and there’s plenty out there to choose from.

Next, get children to discuss the stories and characters in small groups and brainstorm what they have learned, creating a mood board of their ideas. 

Then, focus on the book  Mythologica , reading the stories and looking carefully at the illustrations created by Victoria Topping. We also explored  her website  and studied a range of her illustrations, spending time discussing her style and wondering how she might have created her images. We all liked the bright and vivid colours that she uses in her work.  

Creating your creatures

Now let the children spend time planning what type of mythological creature they would like to be. What would they look like? Would they have any special powers or a specific personality? Ask them to work together to take photographs of each other in different poses using an iPad.

How would their creature stand? How can they use the iPad to create different photographs? From which angle should they take the shot? Do they want to include full body or just head and shoulders? 

Print the photographs out onto either A3 or A4 paper, in colour or black and white (let the children choose). Then get them to cut out their photographs and fix them onto background paper using glue – you can use sturdy card, or even coloured paper if desired. Again, you can let them choose their background.

Provide them with paint, oils pastels, felt pens and crayons to begin working into the image to emulate Victoria Topping’s style. Children should carefully consider the layout of their work and the colour choice of materials. 

Name your characters

Once the children have finished creating the background, leave the work to dry. You can use acrylic paint pens, oil pastels and permanent markers to add the finer details. My class added small icons and images to their creature, and different patterns into the background. These were all inspired by icons and images found within Ancient Greek artwork.

Finally, let the children choose a name for their new character. E.g., God of sunlight and happiness – Goddess of laughter and mischief.  

Mandy Barrett is a specialist art teacher at Gomersal Primary in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire.

Absorb pupils in the beauty of nature and learn about Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe by creating delicate wire flowers , with these ideas from Lesley Armstrong…

This project on  Georgia O’Keeffe  flowers started with a link to nature. I typically start every term with a new concept for my class. Recently, we looked at ‘relationships’; specifically, our relationships as humans with the natural world.

For the art portion, I wanted to move away from a traditional  sculpture unit , which tends to be based on the medium of clay or papier mâché, and try something a bit more adventurous, like wire .

The class had been tasked with designing a collaborative piece for our new meeting room. It needed to be something that could be hung on the wall but still have a 3D element to it.

We had been reading about Frida Kahlo and her love of flora, so had the idea to create wire flowers inspired by her visuals and Georgia O’Keeffe’s flower paintings. 

1. Georgia O’Keeffe flowers

Initially, have a look at some of Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork and discuss the importance of colour.

Can the children identify how colour could portray emotion, movement, or texture? Next, look at the same works in black and white or grayscale and ask the same questions.

In my class, we all agreed that it was important but not vital to have colour in art; monochrome is still creative and beautiful.

However, we did agree that a world without colour could be dull, depressing and less creative. These ideas will support pupils when editing their flower photography images in the next session.  

2. Flower photography

Next, a photography session; encourage the children to use different angles and to zoom in to pick up the fine details of flowers. If you have some in your school playground, great, otherwise perhaps you could bring in a bouquet from the supermarket.

They can then manipulate the colour in the images and replicate them in monochrome.

We observed that both images were of the same thing but when looking at them, you concentrated on different parts of the flower; it prompted a different discussion.

One child suggested that colour isn’t always important; it is more about the form and self-expression.  

3. Drawing and sketching

Following this, get pupils to experiment with drawing and sketching different types of live flowers from different perspectives, so that they can understand and explore form and shape.

We chose to keep these as pencil explorations, but you could introduce chalk, pencil crayons or pastels. You could also make watercolour paints available so that the children can experiment with adding splashes of colour if they wish. 

4. Wire sculpture

Give pupils an opportunity to create a small-scale composition using flexible florist wire. They can experiment with making one petal and then using tissue paper and glue to cover it. We found it was important to keep the compositions small, as tissue paper and PVA glue don’t play together well!

Some children may decide to take it further by using their collage skills, exploring what happens when they layer different colours together.

This could be done as a separate exploration from forming the wire petals, too, giving them a chance to dry before attaching them to wire.  

5. Wire flowers

Once the children have created their wire and paper petals, they can begin their own compositions by twisting wire together to create flowers.

As we were concentrating on making larger flowers, my class worked in pairs. The key here is to use flexible craft wire and aluminum foil tape.

While the tissue petals are drying, pupils can create the centre of the flower, including stamens and fine details.

Some of my class chose to add small beads and pieces of organza, whereas others used coloured paper. Once they’re finished, you can affix the flowers to a display board using pins, ready to show off! 

Lesley Armstrong is a Year 6 teacher and Key Stage leader at a primary school in Hampshire.   Follow Lesley on Twitter  @KujayhawkLesley

Bringing bold mixed media options to the table can instantly enliven your art sessions, explains art teacher Adele Darlington…

The national curriculum suggests that primary pupils should be taught to use a range of materials and techniques creatively, and learn about great artists. The projects below will help you provide your class with experiences that do just that! 

Does the idea of carrying out mixed media art projects with your class fill you with a little fear and trepidation? Is the thought of combining two or more different media, tools and techniques a touch daunting? Worry not! A mixed media approach to creating artwork is not only for specialist teachers and their classes; it’s for everyone, of every level, and makes for fun and rewarding classroom experiences. Quash your arty qualms with these projects that are easy to easy to plan, prep and deliver. 

Before embarking on a mixed media sequence of learning, inspire your class by looking at some examples of work from relevant artists who create or created in similar styles. This will give the children something to aspire to and will really get their creative juices flowing.  

Artworks such as Pablo Picasso’s cubist collages and Faith Ringgold’s story quilts demonstrate how different media can work together for maximum impact.  

Another idea is to contact the art department of your local secondary school to see if they will give you access to some of their students’ work. Seeing art ‘in the flesh’ fills pupils with awe and wonder; the brushstrokes, shapes, texture, and colours come to life in a way that cannot be replicated in a book or on screen.  

Give pupils the chance to look closely and discuss the artwork. What can they see? How do they think the artist created it? What materials and tools and techniques did they use? Such an experience is sure to give your pupils food for thought and build excitement for their own creations.     

Under the sea  

For this project you will need cartridge paper or mount board (we were donated offcuts from our local gallery), poster paint, acrylic paint, glue and gold leaf sheets.  

For best results, spread the creation of these works of art out over a few days. This gives each layer a chance to dry completely and produces higher quality results.  

Before my class began painting, they watched footage of coral reefs on YouTube and explored the ocean landscape using both fiction and non-fiction texts. By the time they began creating, they already had lots of content ideas swimming around in their heads.  

To begin, the children mixed a variety of tints and shades of blue, which they used to entirely cover their canvases. This was then left to dry completely, before using acrylic paint to add seaweed, rocks, coral and fish to their compositions.  

Acrylic paint gives a lovely bright finish as well as visible, thick-textured brush strokes. Once this layer is dry it’s time to get really messy! Using a splatter painting technique, pupils can add bubbles and splashes of white to their creations. Water down some white poster paint, dip a brush in and flick the paint onto the canvas.  

Finally, the children chose where they wanted to place some accents of gold and then ripped and applied the gold leaf using glue. If you don’t have any gold leaf sheets, foil or other shiny paper will do. The finished pieces look fabulous as the shiny features capture the light and bring the compositions to life.  

Woodland landscapes  

This project came about after my class had studied and worked with a mixed media artist local to us in Rutland,  Jenny Grevatte . She enthused the children with her woodland nocturne artworks and inspired them to replicate them for themselves.  

For this project you will need: watercolour paper (to save on cost, I buy this in pad form rather than individual sheets); wax candles; black woodie pencils; green and blue watercolour paints (or watered down acrylic); large brushes; newspaper; PVA glue.  

The first step is to use the wax candles to draw vertical tree shapes onto the paper. Then, using either the watercolour paint or watered down acrylic, wash colour across the paper using large brushes. Use blue over the top two thirds of paper and green on the bottom third. This creates the illusion of a blue sky and a lush, green forest floor.  

The children love the magic reveal when the wax resists the paint and their trees appear! More trees can then be drawn on the landscapes using the black woodie pencils. These work fine on the wet paper as the lines bleed a little and contribute towards the creation of a mystical atmosphere in the artworks.  

Finally, thin strips of newspaper (to look like silver birch trees) can be cut and applied to the pictures with glue. A super simple, but super effective project!   

Rousseau’s Jungle  

I’ve not worked with a class of children yet, who don’t feel both excited and enthused by the works of Henri Rousseau.  Surprised!  – also known as  Tiger in a Tropical Storm  (1891) – is a firm favourite in classrooms up and down the country and provided the inspiration for this next project.  

You will need some A3 cartridge paper, pencils, poster paint (plus some acrylic paint if you have access to it) and oil pastels. The jungles of Rousseau are lush, bright and full of interesting flora, and fauna – perfect for inspiring children’s own jungle compositions.  

I gave the children I worked with the opportunity to play about with composition ideas in their sketchbooks. They drew a series of thumbnail sketches (small drawings designed to help visualise and plan final works) before deciding on their preferred one to transfer to their larger canvases. 

The pupils then sketched out their chosen compositions using pencils on the cartridge paper before painting colour on top. Encourage your class to create their own personalised paint colour palettes, mixing up a range of chosen tints, tones and shades to complement their artwork visions. Once painted, the artworks need to be left to dry thoroughly before the next stage can begin.  

Finally, using oil pastels, pupils can pick out features of their artwork that they wish to emphasise and make stand out to viewers of their work. This may be an animal or animals, trees, a bird, plants or something else. They may wish to colour the features in using the pastels, or simply outline them. Acrylic paint can also be used for a similar purpose. The final results are bright, striking and full of character.  

Adele Darlington is an EYFS teacher and art lead in Rutland. She is also the author of  100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Art,  published by Bloomsbury. You can find her online at  @mrs_darl

Little and often is the key to improving kids’ art skills, so slot in these speedy ideas by senior lecturer Maria Vinney where you can…

Everyone knows that art can be a really important way of supporting children’s emotional health and wellbeing. But it isn’t always easy to fit everything into a busy primary timetable. However, there are lots of ways you can build more art into your curriculum that don’t need a lot of time or planning.

Children’s art skills improve the more they practise, so little and often really can make a real difference. Pupils need the chance to revisit and build on what they’ve learnt to really develop.

It’s a big ask, particularly when time is limited but, as well as looking at the curriculum map for your year group and thinking about where you might be able to make meaningful connections between art and some of the other subjects, the following ideas will help you make the most of those five or ten minutes before playtime or assembly, or at the beginning or end of the day.

Treasure box mini masterpieces

No matter which year group I was teaching, I always had a ‘treasure box’ in my classroom. This is a box about the size of a shoebox, covered in interesting paper that invites children to want to look inside.

It contains all sorts of tiny but intriguing natural and man-made objects: a beautiful shell; a tiny carved elephant; an old key – you get the idea. Children choose an object and do a small line drawing on 10cm x 10cm paper, with a choice of either black fine liner or pencil.

Soon enough you’ll find children starting to add their own ‘treasure’ to the box and asking you, “Can I draw something from the treasure box please?”. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful exhibition of tiny drawings, some of which may, time permitting, be developed into paintings, collages or even a print.

Five minute drawing ideas

Create a poster called ‘Got five minutes?’, featuring five drawing ideas such as: draw your friend, your shoe, an ear, your pencil case, the view. Change the poster every Monday and challenge the children to complete the five drawings by the end of the week.

I always remind my teacher trainees of the importance of having paper and drawing tools available for wet playtime too – there will always be children who just want to draw.

Match a patch

If you can, purchase five or six small watercolour palette tins for your classroom – they last for ages. Once you’ve shown children how to add water to their brush and stroke it over the colour they want, you’ll find they’ll use them time and time again.

Cut out a patch from a magazine and stick it to a bigger piece of paper, then challenge children to use their colour mixing skills to work outwards from the patch. Children from Y1 upwards love coming back to this when they’ve got a few spare minutes and it doesn’t involve getting lots of materials and equipment out.

If children can hold a pencil there’s no reason why they can’t master a small paintbrush. If you only give them big brushes to work with, those are the only kind of marks they’ll make.

Questions to ask

We want children to have agency over their art and the confidence to make their own creative choices about the materials they use. They can only do that if you create a climate in your classroom where they feel able to try things out and embrace what I call ‘happy accidents’.

Plan in time for ‘trying things out’. Start by modelling and asking aloud some questions related to what you’re doing:

• What happens if I use oil pastels and then paint on top?
• Can I smudge this charcoal and what happens?
• What different kinds of marks can I make if I scratch into the surface?
• Did anything surprise you?
• What do you want to find out more about?

Let children experiment in sketchbooks. They’ll really enjoy the process and it usually generates much excitement and discussion.

Maria Vinney is a senior lecturer in primary and Early Years education, focusing on art and design, at the University of Winchester.

Make gargoyles out of clay

Picturebook Night of the Gargoyles  by Eve Bunting provides a fun and motivational context for this clay sculpture project that also links perfectly with cross-curricular English learning. Pupils will learn how to work, sculpt and join clay to create a 3D sculpture.

Experiment with photography

From swallowing a rainbow to playing football with the sun, you don’t need special effects to create astounding photographs, just an active imagination. There’s lots of ideas to try on this photography lesson plan PDF .

Create protest art

Protests have been at the heart of political and social change for decades. Exploring the work of artist and activist Patrick Brill, known as Bob and Roberta Smith, with this KS2 art lesson plan is the perfect way to introduce your class to activist art.

Motivate footie fans with pop art

Make links between art and football to motivate sporty pupils by focusing on the art of Keith Haring and creating your own vibrant responses in  this KS2 lesson plan .

Make silhouettes and sunsets

Help KS2 children to understand the principles of printmaking by creating a beautiful savannah sunset artwork based on African wildlife silhouettes.

Make a collaborative collage

This collage KS2 lesson plan involves collaborating on a collage and playing with contrasting colours, tones, shapes and sizes. Pupils will experiment with contrasting complementary colours and explore the richness and diversity of colour and tone.

• AccessArt  is a fantastic charitable organisation that has amazing visual resources and exemplar planning and progression frameworks which will help you teach high quality art and design
• The  National Society for the Education of Art and Design  features great resources and courses
• Oak Academy has a wide range of KS2 art resources

Browse ideas for  Children’s Art Week .

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5 Amazing Art Ideas For Kids

Help kids create artwork that has the wow factor with these inspirational projects, art activities and crafts.

Hands-On Education’s Art and Design Topics for Key Stage 2 Students

There are several engaging art activities and resources available for Key Stage 2 students to enhance their creativity and learning in the classroom:

• Photography Projects: Encourage students to use their creativity and imagination to capture amazing photographs without the need for special effects. A lesson plan available in PDF format provides numerous ideas for photographic experiments that children can enjoy and learn from.
• Activist Art Inspired by Bob and Roberta Smith: Introduce students to activist art by exploring the works of Patrick Brill, who is famously known under the pseudonym Bob and Roberta Smith. This can provide a historical context to art and its influence on political and social movements. A dedicated art lesson plan for this topic is specifically designed for KS2 students.
• Pop Art and Football: Link the world of sport with art by utilizing the energetic and vibrant art style of Keith Haring. The lesson plan encourages students to create art that relates to football, aiming to captivate the interest of sporty students and integrate it with artistic expression.
• Printmaking with Silhouettes and Sunsets: Teach students about printmaking techniques through the creation of sunset prints that incorporate silhouettes of African wildlife. This lesson plan not only introduces the principles of printmaking but also allows children to produce beautiful artwork while learning about different biological environments and animals.

These resources offer varied and stimulating ways to approach art education for Key Stage 2 pupils, ensuring that lessons are both educational and enjoyable.

Teaching via a range of techniques can also be a great way to enable children to express themselves creatively and gain inspiration from the largely unknown early great artists, craft makers and designers.

What are some examples of questions that teachers and parents can ask children to prompt experimentation and exploration in art?

To facilitate experimentation and exploration in art, teachers and parents might consider incorporating a variety of inquiry-based questions that encourage children to think creatively and critically about their art-making process. Some examples of questions that could be used include:

• What new effects can we create by combining different materials like crayons and watercolour?
• How does the texture change when you mix sand with paint?
• What patterns emerge when you layer these two colors?
• What do you notice about the colors when they blend together?
• What would you like to discover more about in your artwork?

Encouraging children to keep an explorative journal or sketchbook is beneficial, as it offers them a personal space to freely experiment, observe outcomes, and reflect on their artistic choices, enhancing their engagement and learning.

How can teachers and parents foster children's agency in their art and encourage them to make creative choices?

To cultivate a sense of agency and encourage children to make independent creative choices in art, teachers and parents can adopt several effective strategies. First, it is crucial to establish a supportive environment in the classroom where children feel safe and confident to explore different artistic methods and materials without fear of making mistakes. This can be done by fostering a culture that values experimentation and views mistakes as opportunities for learning and creativity, often referred to as "happy accidents."

Teachers and parents should allocate specific times during art lessons for free exploration, where children can experiment with various art materials and techniques. This could involve using mixed media like oil pastels combined with paint or experimenting with charcoal to understand its blendability and the different effects it can create when smudged. Furthermore, encouraging children to engrave or etch onto surfaces to discover the range of marks each tool can produce can be particularly enlightening.

During these exploration sessions, teachers and parents can model curiosity and inquisitiveness by verbalizing wonderment questions that prompt further investigation, such as “What will happen if I layer these materials?” or “What new textures can we create with these tools?” This not only demonstrates the thought process behind artistic experimentation but also invites the children to think critically and ask their own questions.

It is also beneficial to encourage children to use sketchbooks as a personal space for experimenting with their ideas. This practice helps them to develop a habit of documenting their artistic explorations, reflecting on their process, and discussing their discoveries with peers, which can enhance their learning experience and excitement about art.

By implementing these strategies, teachers and parents can help children feel empowered to make their own artistic decisions and develop a deeper engagement with art, promoting both creativity and confidence in their abilities.

How can teachers and parents encourage children to engage in drawing activities during wet playtime?

To motivate children to participate in drawing activities during wet playtimes, teachers and parents can implement a creative and structured approach. One effective method is by introducing a weekly drawing challenge. Teachers and parents can design a poster titled ‘Got five minutes?’ which displays a list of five new drawing prompts each week, such as sketching a friend, a shoe, an ear, a pencil case, or the scenery outside a window. This not only provides variety but also sparks interest among the students to explore different subjects. The challenge would involve the children attempting to complete all five drawings by the end of the week, turning it into an enjoyable and systematic activity. Additionally, it’s crucial for teachers and parents to ensure that drawing materials are readily accessible during these times. Stocking the classroom with ample paper and drawing tools lets children know that there's always an opportunity to draw, especially during indoor recess, fostering ongoing engagement in artistic endeavours.

How can students be encouraged to create personalized paint color palettes in the "Rousseau’s Jungle" project?

To encourage students to develop personalized paint color palettes for the "Rousseau’s Jungle" project, instructors can guide them through a process of experimentation with different tints, tones, and shades. Begin by asking students to envision the colors that resonate with their interpretation of a jungle environment. Provide them with the tools and basic knowledge on mixing colors, allowing them to explore and create a variety of hues that they feel best represents their vision.

Encourage students to document their color mixing experiments in their sketchbooks, helping them understand their choices and how these colors influence the mood and tone of their artwork. They could start with thumbnail sketches, incorporating these colors to see how they work together in small scale before finalizing their choices.

Once they select their preferred palette, they can apply these personalized colors to their larger compositions on canvas. As they build their paintings, they can use oil pastels to enhance and highlight certain elements of the artwork, making specific details pop and adding depth to their creations. This method not only helps students develop a unique color palette but also deepens their engagement with their art, allowing them to express their visions more vividly.

What materials are needed for the "Rousseau’s Jungle" mixed media art project?

For the "Rousseau’s Jungle" mixed media art project, the required materials include A3 cartridge paper, pencils for sketching, poster paints, and oil pastels. Additionally, acrylic paints can be used if available. These supplies will help in creating vibrant and detailed jungle-themed artworks inspired by Rousseau’s rich portrayals of flora and fauna.

How can the resist technique be used to create tree shapes in the "Woodland Landscapes" project?

In the "Woodland Landscapes" project, the resist technique is used to create tree shapes by employing wax candles to draw the outline of vertical trees on a sheet of paper. This initial step involves sketching the silhouette of the trees with the candles, which lays the foundation for the design. After the tree shapes are drawn, artists apply watercolor or diluted acrylic paint over the sketch. The application is generally divided into two distinct color zones: blue for the upper two-thirds of the paper, mimicking the sky, and green on the lower third, representing the forest floor.

The unique aspect of this technique emerges when the paint is applied over the wax outlines; the wax repels the paint, allowing the white of the paper to reveal the tree shapes distinctly. To enhance the woodland scene and add depth, more trees can be added over the painted area using black woodie pencils. These pencils are effective on damp paper as their pigment slightly bleeds, further enhancing the mystical quality of the scene by softening the outlines of additional trees. This technique combines candle wax resistance with layered painting to create a captivating woodland landscape filled with depth and intrigue.

What materials are needed for the "Woodland Landscapes" mixed media art project?

For the "Woodland Landscapes" mixed media art project, the required materials include watercolor paper, which can be more economically purchased in pad form instead of single sheets. Additionally, you'll need wax candles, black woodie pencils, and both green and blue watercolor paints, though diluted acrylic paints could also be used. Large brushes are necessary for applying the paint, and you will also need newspaper and PVA glue for various stages of the project.

How can teachers and parents inspire their class before embarking on a mixed media sequence of learning?

Teachers and parents can ignite inspiration in their students before starting a mixed media art project by introducing them to a variety of works by accomplished artists known for their unique styles. For example, showcasing the cubist collages of Pablo Picasso or the story quilts by Faith Ringgold can provide students with vivid and amazing examples of how diverse materials can be integrated to create impactful art. Additionally, arranging a visit to a local secondary school's art department allows students to experience peer artwork firsthand. Observing art directly enables students to engage fully with the tactile and visual aspects of different pieces, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the artistic techniques used. During these visits, teachers and parents should encourage students to explore and discuss what they observe in the artworks, including the potential techniques, materials, and creative processes used by the artists. Such interactions often spark curiosity and enthusiasm among students, setting a vibrant tone for their own mixed media projects.

How can teachers and parents quash fear and trepidation when carrying out mixed media art projects with their class?

Teachers and parents can overcome the anxiety of conducting mixed media art projects by embracing the process as a universally accessible and enjoyable teaching method. Mixed media art projects, which incorporate various materials, tools, and techniques, are not solely for expert arts teachers and parents; rather, they can be successfully implemented by educators at all levels. To alleviate fears, educators can start with projects that are simple to organize, prepare, and execute. This approach not only demystifies the use of multiple artistic mediums but also ensures a fun and fulfilling experience in the classroom for both teachers and parents and students.

What materials and techniques should primary pupils be taught according to the national curriculum?

According to the national curriculum, it is recommended that primary pupils be educated in using various materials and artistic methods creatively. They are also encouraged to acquire knowledge about distinguished artists as part of their learning process.

How can mixed media art projects be used to enliven art sessions?

Mixed media art projects add a dynamic and exciting element to art sessions by incorporating diverse materials and techniques, as explained by art educator Adele Darlington. Such projects align with the national curriculum's directions, which encourage primary students to explore various artistic methods and learn about notable artists through creative engagement. Through the introduction of multiple media, tools, and techniques, students are provided with an enriching experience that enhances both their skill-set and understanding of art. Implementing mixed media in the classroom allows all students, regardless of their expertise level, to engage in enjoyable and fulfilling artistic adventures. This approach demystifies art creation, making it accessible and amazing for every student, helping to foster a deeper appreciation and enthusiasm for art.

What steps are involved in creating wire flowers using flexible wire, tissue paper, and other materials, and how can children display their finished pieces?

To create wire flowers using flexible wire, tissue paper, and other materials, you can follow these comprehensive steps. This activity is not only fun but also great for children to enhance their creativity and motor skills. Here's how you can do it:

Materials Needed:

• Flexible wire
• Tissue paper (various colors)
• Tape or glue
• Floral tape
• Wire cutters
• Optional: Beads, paint, ribbons for decoration

Steps to Create Wire Flowers:

Prepare the Wire:

• Cut the wire into pieces ranging from 6 to 12 inches, depending on how large you want your flowers to be.
• Bend one end of each wire piece into a small loop; this will prevent the tissue paper from sliding off.

Shape the Petals:

• Cut the tissue paper into strips (about 2 inches wide) and then into squares.
• Place a wire piece over a square of tissue paper, positioning the loop at the center.
• Fold the tissue around the wire and twist slightly below the loop to secure it, forming a petal.
• Repeat this step until you have enough petals for your flower (typically five or six).

Assemble the Flower:

• Gather all the petal-tipped wires and twist their ends together to form a flower. Adjust the petals as needed to create a full, rounded shape.
• Wrap floral tape around the base of the petals to hold them in place and create a smooth stem.
• If using paint, allow it to dry completely before proceeding.

Add Finishing Touches:

• Decorate the petals using beads, painting small dots or stripes, or tying ribbons around the stem for extra flair.

Displaying the Finished Piece:

• Children can create a small bouquet by making several flowers and wrapping the stems together with floral tape.
• Place the bouquet in a vase, or make a flower arrangement on a wreath by attaching the wire stems with additional floral tape.
• Another fun display option is to create a flower mobile by hanging individual flowers from a wire frame or stick.

This craft not only lets children express their creativity but also makes a delightful, colourful addition to their room or as a special gift for family and friends. Enjoy crafting and displaying your beautiful wire and tissue paper flowers!

What activities and discussions can help children understand the importance of color, form, and self-expression in art?

To help children understand the vital roles of color, form, and self-expression in art, educators can undertake a series of engaging activities and discussions. A recommended starting point is to explore the artwork of Georgia O’Keeffe, focusing initially on the use of color. Teachers and parents can lead a discussion, prompting students to analyze how O’Keeffe uses color to express emotions, suggest movement, or depict textures.

Following this, the same artworks can be viewed in black and white or grayscale to underline the impact of color by its absence. Students can then compare their initial observations with new insights from the monochrome images, discussing how different elements come to the forefront without color. This exercise highlights that while color enhances art, monochrome also holds its unique appeal and creativity.

Further discussions can revolve around how, even in the absence of color, the shape and form of subjects in the artwork continue to convey meaningful expressions and elicit emotional responses. This helps underscore the idea that art is often about personal expression as much as it is about the elements used to create it.

These activities not only deepen students' understanding of artistic techniques but also encourage them to think critically about the ways artists convey messages through different mediums. This preparatory discussion sets a perfect stage for practical sessions, like editing their flower photography, where they can apply these insights and enhance their creative expression.

How can children be encouraged to name their created characters and add personal touches to their artwork?

To encourage children to name their created characters and personalize their artwork, begin by guiding them through the process of designing a setting or background using a variety of materials, such as acrylic paint pens, oil pastels, and permanent markers. After they complete this, have them add unique symbols or patterns to their creations, drawing inspiration from historical or cultural art, for example, ancient civilizations.

Once the artistic piece is near completion, invite the children to think deeply about the personality and story of the characters they've created. Encourage them to think about what traits their character might have, what their strengths are, and what role they might play in a story. Facilitate a brainstorming session where they can come up with different names and titles, possibly tying these back to the character’s traits or roles, like ‘God of Sunlight and Happiness’ or ‘Goddess of Laughter and Mischief.’ This helps students deeply engage with their creation and embed their personal touch in both name and design.

What resources and methods can be used to introduce Greek mythological stories and characters to children?

To introduce children to Greek mythological stories and characters, a multifaceted approach using diverse resources proves effective. Begin with an exploration of Greek myths by utilizing an array of books and digital content, including educational websites and engaging video material. This variety helps cater to different learning styles and keeps the subject matter accessible and interesting. Following the initial research phase, encourage the children to engage in group discussions to share insights and ideas about what they've learned. Facilitating these discussions helps solidify their understanding and allows them to learn from each other. Additionally, having the children collaborate on a mood board can be particularly useful. This activity involves them visually compiling what they've discovered into a collective, creative display, further reinforcing their learning through artistic expression.

How can a self-portrait art project be linked with learning about Ancient Greece and mythological creatures?

To link a self-portrait art project with learning about Ancient Greece and mythological creatures, start the learning process by engaging students with a variety of resources on Greek mythology. Utilize books, educational websites, and videos to delve into the rich stories and diverse characters from Greek myths. Encourage students to analyze these stories and reflect on the mythological characters during group discussions, and have them create mood boards that capture their insights and inspirations.

Next, introduce students to "Mythologica" and examine the work of Victoria Topping, focusing on her unique illustration style and the vibrant use of colors in her artwork. Analyze her approach to depicting Greek mythological figures and discuss the artistic techniques she might have used. Inspire students to explore their own interpretations by brainstorming what features their personal mythological creature would embody, considering aspects such as appearance, abilities, and traits.

Moving into the practical phase, guide students in posing and taking photographs of one another for reference, utilizing digital devices like iPads. These photos will serve as the foundation for their self-portraits, where they can artistically express the mythological creature they envisioned, drawing on the knowledge and styles they have studied. This project not only teaches them about Greek mythology but also allows them to explore artistic expression and identity through the lens of ancient cultural stories.

How can students create super sugar skulls as a craft project related to the ancient civilizations of South America?

Students can engage in a creative craft project by making super sugar skulls, which ties into their studies of ancient South American civilizations. Start by having students delve into Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities to understand its colorful and vibrant traditions. They should use sketchbooks to gather and note information on the festival’s art, culture, and artists.

Once the research phase is complete, the practical part begins. Students can start by using a template to cut out sugar skull shapes from felt. This activity allows them to practice essential sewing techniques such as the running stitch, backstitch, and blanket stitch by decorating the felt skulls with embroidery thread and buttons for added flair.

After crafting the sugar skulls, the students should compile a report analysing the entire creation process. They should evaluate the types of materials and equipment utilized, detail the steps taken in the crafting process, and reflect on the new knowledge and skills they have acquired. This comprehensive project not only enhances their understanding of a significant cultural celebration but also develops their artistic and manual skills.

How can space art ideas be incorporated into an art lesson that aligns with a science topic on space?

Incorporating space art projects into a science curriculum about space can be a dynamic way for students to visualize and apply their knowledge creatively. A lesson plan that combines art with science begins by engaging students with a diverse collection of images depicting the universe. These visuals will help spur discussions about the elements they will recreate through art, such as galaxies, stars, and planets.

For the practical art-making segment, students can use a technique where they dab poster paint onto black cardstock using scrunched-up paper towels. This method allows students to create a mottled and textured effect that mimics the vast, star-filled expanse of space while ensuring the dark backdrop of 'space' remains prominent. This activity can be adapted based on individual preferences; some students might opt to craft a densely starlit sky, while others may choose a subtler approach, focusing on specific astronomical elements.

Furthermore, the lesson can be expanded by introducing astronaut imagery. Students can sketch various types of astronauts in spacesuits, either in detailed close-ups or smaller figures set against their cosmic backgrounds. An innovative aspect could involve cutting out the visor from the drawn spacesuits, allowing the starry art behind it to show through. This simulates the reflection typically seen in an astronaut's helmet, adding an element of realism and depth to the artwork.

Throughout this art activity, students should be encouraged to discuss their creative choices and the scientific concepts they incorporate, linking their artwork back to the space science topics studied in class. This holistic approach not only enhances their understanding of the subject but also promotes creativity and critical thinking.

What are the steps involved in creating clay dragon eyes as part of an art project?

To create clay dragon eyes as part of an art project, follow these detailed steps:

Shape the Clay: Begin by either using a template or freely scoring your desired shape directly into the clay.

Add Texture: Utilize various sculpting tools to imprint textures reminiscent of dragon scales onto the clay surface.

Assemble the Pieces: Attach any separate pieces of clay using slip, a creamy mixture of clay and water, to ensure a sturdy bond that holds up during the firing process.

Drying Options:

• If a kiln is available, fire the shaped clay to harden it.
• Without a kiln, allow the dragon eyes to air dry and then strengthen them by applying a layer of varnish or PVA glue.
• Alternatively, consider using materials like salt dough or modeling clay, which can be baked in a conventional oven, or non-hardening materials like playdough or plasticine for a different approach.

Painting: Once the clay or alternative material is set and hard, paint the dragon eyes using acrylic paints to bring them to life with vibrant colors.

Finishing Touches:

• Apply a coat of PVA glue over the painted surface to enhance the shine and appearance.
• Affix a glass eye to each dragon eye with the help of a glue gun for a realistic effect.

Documentation: Throughout the process, maintain a sketchbook to document each step. Include sketches and annotations detailing the techniques and materials used, which will serve as a valuable reference and a record of your artistic development.

Following these steps will help you create detailed and unique clay dragon eyes, adding a mythical flair to your art projects.

How can a project involving mythical and fantastical creatures be implemented in the classroom?

To implement a classroom project centered around mythical and fantastical creatures, an effective approach would involve integrating this theme into an art project that encourages exploration of visual arts techniques and the use of varied materials. The project can begin with students studying and drawing eyes of different mythical creatures, such as dragons or unicorns, using their sketchbooks. This activity could incorporate experimenting with diverse drawing tools and materials to create textures, such as bubble wrap, textured papers, or even natural materials for imprinting.

Teachers and parents can further enrich this project by connecting it with previous lessons on art techniques such as tone, painting, and printing. This will help students apply their prior knowledge to this new context, making artistic decisions based on their understanding of these concepts.

The project could then transition into three-dimensional work, where students explore sculpting. They can use clay to create the eyes of these mythical creatures. By rolling out a slab of clay using rolling pins and creating the thickness desired, they can carve out the eye shapes and add textures that mimic scales or other fantasy features using various sculpting tools.

If the classroom lacks access to a kiln, alternative materials like air-dry clays, salt dough, modeling clay, or even commercial products like playdough or plasticine could be utilized. These materials still allow for the creation of detailed, three-dimensional forms that can be painted and decorated once dry.

For finishing touches, students can paint their creations with acrylics to bring their mythical eyes to life. A final layer of varnish or PVA glue can provide a glossy finish, enhancing the visual impact of the textures. To further elevate their artworks, pupils can affix a decorative glass eye to their creation using a glue gun.

Throughout this project, students should document their process, decisions, and reflections in their sketchbooks with detailed annotations and sketches. This not only reinforces their learning but also helps them develop a portfolio of their work, showcasing their journey from concept to finished piece. This methodical approach to an arts project on mythical and fantastical creatures can greatly enhance students' artistic skills and deepen their appreciation for art.

How can KS2 children work together to produce inspirational portraits of significant people?

To engage KS2 children in creating inspirational portraits of notable individuals, particularly during observances like Black History Month, consider implementing a collaborative art project. Start by introducing the children to several influential figures, discussing their accomplishments and famous sayings to provide context and inspiration.

The activity begins by selecting images of the people to be depicted. Each child can contribute by applying a layer of graphite or an oil pastel on the reverse of the chosen images. These images are then taped lightly onto A3 cartridge papers. Using a biro, the children can trace over these images to transfer the outline onto the paper through the underlying graphite or pastel, a process that promotes teamwork and attention to detail.

Once the outlines are on paper, the children can use black felt-tip pens to go over them, making the images bold and pronounced. They should then incorporate the chosen quotes into the design, enhancing the educational aspect of the activity. To add a creative touch, use PVA glue for a collage background, utilizing various textures and materials to make each portrait stand out. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also educates the children on different art techniques.

For coloring, have the children use acrylic paints to brighten the images, ensuring the portraits and texts remain visible. They could experiment with watercolors for subtle shading on the faces, adding depth and lifelike quality. Finishing touches can be made with marker pens, such as POSCA, to outline and highlight certain features or elements of the portrait.

Displaying these collaborative portraits together can create an inspiring exhibition for the school, showcasing the collective effort and creativity of the children while broadening their understanding of significant historical and contemporary figures. This project not only fosters artistic skills but also encourages teamwork, research, and appreciation of diversity through art.

How can teachers and parents help pupils develop their printing skills while learning about rocks and fossils?

Teachers and parents can facilitate the development of Year 3 students' printing skills in an engaging and educational setting by incorporating a unit on rocks and fossils. Begin by providing each pupil with a piece of polystyrene and a biro, instructing them to engrave designs based on ammonite fossils onto their sheets. This activity will serve as the foundation for creating a printing block.

Once the blocks are ready, teachers and parents can encourage experimentation with different colored inks, allowing students to apply the ink to their blocks and make trial prints on sketchbook pages. This step is crucial for students to visualize the outcomes of their blocks and adjust their techniques accordingly. They should be prompted to reflect on the intensity of the color, the quantity of ink applied, and their personal preferences for improvement.

Subsequently, broaden the activity to include printing on various materials such as different types of paper and fabrics. This comparison will help students understand the effects of printing on different textures and backgrounds. Throughout these processes, it's important for students to keep a detailed record of their observations, feelings, and modifications in their sketchbooks.

To culminate the project, students can create a visually appealing display by tearing pieces of colored sugar paper and arranging them as a background on a bigger sheet. They then use their refined blocks to overlay prints of the fossil design, exploring repetition and pattern creation. Through these hands-on activities, students not only enhance their printing skills but also deepen their understanding of geological patterns, all while creatively expressing their learning experiences.

What do children learn about in art lessons in KS2?

In Key Stage 2 art lessons, children engage in a variety of activities that help them learn and experiment with different art techniques. They work in sketchbooks where they practice drawing, painting, and sculpting. Throughout their studies, they are introduced to significant artists and artistic movements, enriching their understanding of art history. The curriculum is designed to encourage students to express themselves and their personal experiences through their artistic creations. By the conclusion of their primary education, they are expected to have developed the skills necessary to critique and discuss art effectively, using specialized vocabulary.

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This is a beautiful piece of artwork created using paper and paints.

The background is easy to replicate but the swan takes a little bit more time.

Instruct your children to write the word ‘Swan’ in bubble writing in a similar way to the picture shown (wavy). Ensure the S is tall and resembles a neck. The letters W and A must be taller than the N. You can also make the N part of the tail by making it longer.

Once they have completed that, they must then create the curved head.

Negative Symmetry Art

This style of artwork is diverse and can be linked to a topic of your choice.

The children will need a black piece of card and a white piece of card to start. Stick both pieces together landscape as shown in the picture.

To create the shapes perfectly, the children will need a sheet of black paper, a sheet of white paper and a page of card to use to create the templates.

They will then draw the outlines of their chosen image on the page of card to create a template and cut it out.

They will then trace around the template of both pieces of black and white paper (not card). Once they have done that, they can stick the paper outlines on to the pieces of card. The white paper will go on the black card and the black paper will go on the white card. Children must ensure the bottom of each item is touching where the black card meets the white card as shown in the image.

Perspective Art

This is a challenging piece of artwork but the best always are.

As the image is quite complex, perhaps just draw one house with your class initially and see how it goes.

Inform the children that they are going to start with the house with the yellow roof (top left). Start by drawing the grass square. Make sure the square is rotated as shown in the image and the children are drawing light lines as they will need to be rubbed out.

Once the outline of the grass has been drawn, you can now draw the house. Draw a tall cuboid – The children may need plenty of practice doing this so take a scrap piece of paper. Rub out the grass lines that would be behind the house.

Once the children have drawn this, they must take a piece of squared paper (smaller than the grass area) and place it on top of the cuboid to create a roof. Ensure the corners are in line with the edge of the house and the grass corner.

Finally draw on the windows and door.

This piece of artwork has been created using sheets of paper. The children will create waves like those shown in the picture. The holes can be created afterwards using a hole puncher.

Once the waves have been cut out, punched with holes on the ends and stuck down onto a blue background page.

They will then create the surfer and board using card and stick it on the waves. To create the water droplet effect, cut paper into very small pieces, glue them and then sprinkle onto the background.

Animal Silhouettes

These are beautiful silhouettes of animals that can be created by tracing round an animal of choice, cutting it out to make a template.

Once the template has been created, the children can add colours to a palette to create a background. Ensure the children don’t mix the colours thoroughly, as you want the colours to be definite in parts.

Once the colours have been mixed, placed the template on a white piece of card and then paint using a sponge. Remove the template and you have the image shown.

Note: To create grass, trees etc. you must create a new template.

Pineapple Art

This is a very simple, yet effective piece of artwork. The children will get pretty messy, but it’s worth it!

Add colours to a palette but don’t mix them thoroughly as you want the definite colours to be shown.

Pointillism

Click the image to get a closer look at this pointillist artwork created using cotton buds. You can also create pointillist artwork linked to your class topic.

Matisse Inspired Art

You children can create this Matisse inspired artwork by cutting paper to create different textures.

Create a mind map of the various burger toppings and discuss ways to create those textures by using paper only.

Snowy Mountains

A fantastic piece of artwork. This artwork makes good use of colours, lines and also introduces the concept of shadows.

Tilly Willis

This is a very simple, yet very effective piece of artwork by Tilly Willis. Using a variety of colours and straight lines, your children will be challenged to create the depth of the image. I would recommend leaving space for the sun and the reflections whilst painting, or creating their effects using glitter.

Silhouette Artwork

Although this artwork is inspired by stonehenge, your children could choose any landmark they liked.

Art Tutorials

This link takes you to an artistic website. The aim of the site is to develop the skills of young artists by providing them with video tutorials. The site is broken down into categories to focus of different aspects of art. A great resource for teachers to help develop the artistic skills of your children.

Patterns Landscape

Encourage your children to focus on patterns with this lovely landscape.

Each pattern represents the terrain it covers. If you begin with the definite black lines from the bottom and work your way up, you will find this a relatively straight forward piece of artwork.

First use pencil to create the black lines. Then create the patterns. Finally go over the pencil lines with thin black pen.

Click the image to get a closer look at the patterns.

Animal Patterns

This is a very effective piece of artwork when looking at the different patterns of animals.

The children will research different animal patterns, select the colours and shades they need and paint a background pattern.

They can then use tracing paper to draw their chosen animal and stick it over the patterned background.

Leaf Animals

This is such a beautiful concept… bringing animals to life using nature.

The children will gather a range of leaves to create a piece of artwork. Ensure the leaves are different types, shapes, colours and sizes to get the most out of this activity. Autumn is always a great season to complete this activity.

Click the image to see more examples…

Paul Klee Artwork

Born – December 18, 1879

Paul Klee, a Swiss-born painter who greatly admired the art of children, who seemed to create free of models of artwork.

In his own work he often strove to achieve a  simplistic piece of work, often by using intense colours, line drawing and using shapes.

To find out more about Paul Klee and to access a range of artwork examples to complete with your children, click the image.

Andy Warhol Artwork

Born:  August 6, 1928

Andy Warhol’s works explore the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture, and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s.

To see a range of art examples that you can complete with your class, and instructions on how to create the artwork, click the image.

Midnight Fair

Create a very effective midnight fair using pastels and black card.

Cave Finger Painting

Create cave finger handprints using chalks and the smudging technique. Click the image to learn more.

This a very effective piece of artwork. Teach your children about different lines and colours and lines to create depth.

Character Swap

Create a range of characters by cutting card into three pieces and sliding them across.

This tutorial shows you how to create a snowman, but you could create a character to fit in with your topic or use it when writing stories.

This could also be part of an ICT project.

Click to learn how…

Cat Mummies

A fantastic and effective piece of artwork using kitchen rolls cut in half. Great when looking at Ancient Egypt.

Create a cool looking skeleton. Click the resource to download the template.

A fantastic, yet simplistic technique of creating 3D artwork with your children. Click on the image to watch the full tutorial.

Getting to know me

A great idea for a lesson linked to ‘Ourselves’ or ‘Getting to know me’. The children have the freedom to draw whatever they feel is important to them in their silhouette. This is also a good way for the children to get to know each other – likes, hobbies and other details. Place all the artwork on display and let the children learn about each other like they were walking around a gallery.

Thinking Art

A variation to the above image and another great idea for a lesson linked to ‘Ourselves’, ‘Getting to know me’ and ‘Feelings’. The children have the freedom to draw whatever they feel is important to them in their silhouette. The children could also draw different thing that makes them happy, sad etc. linked to ‘Feelings’ in PDMU.

Winter Trees

This artwork is created by using masking tape and paint. First you mask a border around the card. Next your create the trees in any shape. Then you paint over the entire page. Finally you peel off the masking tape. Tip: Use shiny card as normal card tends to rip.

Inform the children that they are going to draw the outline of any object they wish. Encourage the children not to draw to small or too complex. Using a variety of colours, the children will colour the online then smudge outwards.

World War 1 art idea. There are many ways to complete this artwork. Encourage your children to start with the background and then allow then to create their silhouette of the soldier.

A great piece of artwork for your children to experiment with using shapes to create artwork. This artwork will also encourage them to find shapes in the world around them and decide which shapes best represent features. Your children could choose any animal.

Allow your children to experiment with contrasting colours using this artwork as guidance.

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KS2 Art lesson sequence on Space, ideal for Space topic

Subject: Art and design

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

6 October 2021

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Easy to follow unit for art based on the Retro Futurist aesthetic, all on one powerpoint. Fits neatly in with a space topic, and week by week explores different art techniques to building up to producing a final composition based on a view of a planet in outer space. Resources are listed at the start of each lesson. Please leave a review or comment if you found useful. Overview and knowledge organisor to be added soon!

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Fantastic planning and slides! Do you have any examples of the final composition - it would really help me to demonstrate what the children are aiming towards

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cbutler33_306

Engaging and thorough. Thanks for sharing!

Very good planning.

alisonrawsthorne

What a great resource! Lots of information and images to support lessons.

Amazing thank you so much! Saved me a lot of time!

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Best art home education resources

Best for interactive art activities and quizzes

A fantastic art website for children, Tate Kids is a hub for playing loads of interactive art games and quizzes, watching videos arty (find out about surrealism or watch Jacqueline Wilson's tour of Tate Britain), exploring art and artists, making art with different techniques (we like the sound of chocolate painting!) and sharing your art with other users.

Best for original colouring sheets

Fancy colouring in a medieval manuscript, an anatomical drawing of a heart or a sketch or a winking owl? Libraries, archives and cultural institutions around the world are sharing free colouring sheets based on materials in their collections through  Colour Our Collections , and there are some fascinating options to choose from.

If you'd rather do some science-themed colouring, we love the  Oxford Physics Colouring Challenge : learn about magnetism, spin waves and flux pinning as you colour in!

Download a FREE Creative Writing toolkit!

• KS1 & KS2 workbooks
• Bursting with fill-in prompt sheets and inspiring ideas
• Story structure tips, style guides and editing suggestions

Best for creating pixel art

Have you ever wanted to make your own Mario character? Inspired by the artwork of old-school role playing games? Create your own pixel art character resources from the National Video Game Museum resources will guide you through creating animated pixel art step-by-step.

A video,  Create Pixel Art with the National Videogame Museum , is also available.

Best for wannabe superhero illustrators

If your child love superhero characters, encourage them to get creative and draw them themselves! Will Sliney, a Marvel Comics artist who has primarily worked on Spider-Man and Star Wars comic books, is providing children with free Youtube lessons on how to draw favourite Marvel characters .

Best for creative record breaking

Our Creative Face is a record attempt is to have 50,000+ collaged portraits on the Creative Face online gallery over the next few months. Once the record is made, everyone who uploads one or more portraits will receive an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ certificate and be OFFICIALLY AMAZING™!

Best for daily art inspiration for all ages

Learn to make salt dough beads, paint with string, make your own kaleidoscope, take part in a paper aeroplane workshop, watch a kids' art history guide to Frida Kahlo and more – Isolation Art School on Instagram is packed with projects, daily lessons and tips by artists to help people get creative while housebound.

Best for daily doodling time

Mo Willems, author of  Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  and the Kennedy Center’s first Education Artist-in-Residence, opened his home studio every weekday for approximately twenty minutes worth of  LUNCHDOODLES .

You can catch up with the whole LUNCHDOODLES series on YouTube  and there is even a "graduation gift" to download for Mo's students !

Best for a live daily art class

#DrawTogether with WendyMac is a 30-minute drawing class for children of all ages, live on Instagram every school day at 5pm UK time. Each class includes a warmup exercise and a How-to lesson (and sometimes dancing!). You can watch previous #DrawTogether with WendyMac classes on YouTube and learn to draw anything from racer cars to cupcakes and sound waves.

Best for learning to express yourself through art

Inspired by artist Rebecca Baumann, keep an art journal to track your emotions and experiences using only visual forms like sketches, diagrams, colour fields or abstract drawings. You could also glue objects or photos into your journal. Download a guide to art journalling from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Australia.

Best for future animators

Learn how to draw your favourite Disney characters with online tutorials from Disney animators – there are 42 detailed video guides to choose from, featuring Frozen characters, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Woody from Toy Story, characters from Inside Out and lots more. Look through the Disney Parks How to Draw playlist now.

Best for a series of art creation lessons

Guide your child through the process of creating artwork with an art lesson plan program from the Japingka Aboriginal Art gallery , inspired by conversations with artist Sarrita King and based on the theme “My Family”. Your child will explore painting through colour mixing, colour theory and the emotional quality of colour, creating a piece of art which explores their own feelings about their family.

Best for history of art for children

Discover New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art collections using an interactive map and by watching behind-the-scenes videos presented by children, then travel through more than 5,000 years of art in the MetKids time machine and find out fun facts about works of art, from dragons to dancers and mummies to masks!

Best for art games and art investigations

With 107 arts games and 99 arts investigations to choose from, Artsology is a brilliant site to introduce children to art history through play. Why not wander through New York City looking for walls to tag with digital graffiti, challenge Mondrian to a classic game of dots, escape from the Hieronymus Bosch Underworld, create abstract art images or play the classic arcade game Frogger (with a Surrealist twist) – all for free.

Best for art tutorials

Art John offers exciting art lesson ideas and free video tutorials from experienced arts educator, John Mayson.

Subscribe to the Art John YouTube channel for simple, mess-free introductions to Op-Art, chalk art, spin painting, landscape drawing and sculpture – the results are seriously impressive and visually exciting.

Best for art modelling

Learn to transform egg cartons, milk bottles, biscuit boxes and yoghurt pots into amazing installations with artist Darrell Wakelam's free ArtJumpStart projects . From pasta fossil fish to toilet roll rockets, milk carton elephants, paper plate penguins and tin foil sea monsters, follow the step-by-step suggestions to turn recycling into art. 

Best online art courses for kids

The Future Creatives Art School for 7 to 10 Year Olds Online Short Courses from University of the Arts London offers young learners the opportunity to develop their creativity at home. The online art and design classes are live, led by qualified teachers, and children explore new creative skills, techniques and concepts with practical, fun activities.

Each class is different and only basic art materials are required to take part. Prices start at £1 for a one-hour Future Creatives taster , up to £60 for three two-hour sessions. You can also browse through artist-suggested creative things to do with kids during lockdown if you'd like to run your own art session for your child at home.

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Fun Art Lessons for the First Day

Art teachers have been sharing some great ideas for fun art lessons for the first day on social media.  Some teachers go through expectations and rules and this may be the right thing to do in your school or even a requirement by your management but given the choice, I like to try to get creative straight away and drip feed students the rules and expectations over the first few weeks.  Here are some ideas for lessons that will make an excellent, creative first impression:

Making Sketchbooks

Some art teachers really dive straight in and get their classes to make sketchbooks.  You would need to be super organised but if you were, what a great first lesson this would be.  Sketchbooks with different papers inside are so appealing and there are numerous ways to do this.  You could use different ways of making sketchbooks with different year groups.

Why is Art Important?

Why not start the year with the question ‘Why is Art Important?’  Have some post-it notes handy for students to think in pairs to start with and then open the discussion up to the class.  Use your environment to talk about what is designed. Reflect on how important art was in lockdown.  The video that you can use by Tate Shots ‘ Why Study Art ‘ makes some excellent points and is clear and concise!  You could move onto art careers if you have time.

Exquisite Corpse

Exquisite Corpse is a Surrealist game that asks players to create a collective drawing.  In turn, players draw the head and then pass on the drawing to the next player who draws the body and the final player draws the feet.  It can be lighthearted and fun and doesn’t really require any drawing skill.  You can find a free lesson plan for this game here: Exquisite Corpse.

Embrace the Shake

If you haven’t seen the TED talk called ‘Embrace the Shake’ you need to check it out.  Artist Phil Hansen explains how he overcame a tremor in his hand and embraced his limitation and turned it into a positive.  Inspiring stuff!  You can find it on my art TED Talks page.

Two Truths and a Lie

For a light-hearted start to the year where the focus is on getting to know your class, the game ‘Two Truths and a Lie’ is an easy no-prep game to choose.  It’s as simple as it sounds.  One person has to say three statements, one of which isn’t true.  The class have to guess which is the untrue statement.

Group Painting

A group painting can make a fun lesson for the first day.  Divide your class into groups.  Give each group a large piece of paper and whatever materials you want.  Alternatively, one long strip of paper down the middle of the room could be fun too.  You could either give students a theme such as ‘Your Summer’ or ‘Back to School’ or ‘Things I Love’, or ask them to paint to music.  I have even read that one teacher placed a dot on the paper and said you can draw anything but you need to incorporate the dot into the composition.  Great idea!

Assessment for Learning

If you have some drawing projects planned for the year, you could ask students to draw something with no instruction which, at the end of the year, they could compare to their work after they have been taught to do it.  For example, on a page they could draw a portrait and a hand.  This is great for them to see the progress they have made and great for you to evidence progress.  This could be a portrait from their imagination or of a classmate, or you could give them a mirror.

Make Bad Art

Task your class with making a bad piece of art.  Put out a range of materials for them to use.  This will lead to an interesting discussion about what good and bad art is. What is bad art?  What is good art? Who decides this?

Marshmallow Towers

This is a classic task which you’ve probably heard of before.  Group your students and then give each group a set amount of dried spaghetti and marshmallows.  Then give them a time limit and the challenge of who can build the highest tower.  It’s a great team-building exercise.  An alternative way to run it is to give them dried spaghetti and a set length of masking tape and one marshmallow.  You then challenge them with making a structure that can hold the marshmallow and the highest structure wins.

Baseline Testing

Many schools complete baseline testing to assess the level their students are working at.  If your baseline tests are delivered as fun and creative activities, you could dive straight in with these. I have a fun baseline testing activity that I use which covers creativity, drawing ability, spatial awareness and manual dexterity.

Continuous Line Drawings

Challenge your students to create continuous line drawings of their classmates.  Show some good examples and demonstrate what a continuous line drawing is.  Give each student a large piece of paper.  If possible make them work in pen and use a different coloured pen for each drawing.  It’s ok if the drawings overlap slightly – in fact, it looks great if they do.

If you have some ideas for what makes a good first lesson, please comment below.  Click the image below to be kept informed about new blog posts and to be able to access 3 of my free resources a month.

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The Arty Teacher

Sarah Crowther is The Arty Teacher. She is a high school art teacher in the North West of England. She strives to share her enthusiasm for art by providing art teachers around the globe with high-quality resources and by sharing her expertise through this blog.

20 responses to “Fun Art Lessons for the First Day”

Love the ideas!

Thanks Jason 🙂

I am Magda and I love art. I am an EFL teacher in Guayaquil – Ecuador. I have been taking some private art classes in my native city. This year it will be my first time teaching art. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

Hi Magda, Good luck in teaching art for the first time. I hope you have discovered all of my free resources which you can see here: https://theartyteacher.com/downloads/category/free-downloads/

Thanks for these ideas! I love group painting, and getting those creative juices to work.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, group work is a great way to build team spirit and creativity.

An abundance of ideas! As a first year, middle-aged art teacher, this is beyond helpful. I more than appreciate it, this is truly a gift.

Hi Lawna, Thanks for your comment and good luck with your first year. I’m so pleased you found this useful. Do register on my site if you haven’t already done so as I send out a weekly email that features my resources and blog posts. Sarah

I had my AP art students, do a selfie character design based on the style of a character design artist or in their own character design style. The character is supposed to be in action doing something they like to do. It should also resemble them. The kids had a great time with this. They took photos of themselves in action to use as a reference, looked up existing character illustrations and got right to work. I liked walking around the room and seeing what they liked to do based on their drawings.

This sounds like a great idea and a really great way to get to know your students. Thanks for sharing.

Have you seen ‘how i became 100 artists’ Shea Hambrey Ted talks – it’s fab! I get my IB students to write about it – see if they get it or not!

I’ve just taken a look at this and it is very inspiring. Thanks for the suggestion.

I enjoyed this so much! Thanks for the suggestion.

That’s great to hear. Thank you.

Love your ideas thanks for sharing. I did a fun one today for the first time. I had students illustrate something they love or something they are good at as I called attendence. Then, on the back of the paper I printed 9 different images. My class sizes are 36. After they drew for 10 min they moved to new seats with classmates who had the same image as them. In those groups they had to cut their drawings out and tape them together to create a superhero. So, it could have a remote control head, a book body and paintbrush arms for example. I told them they could emprovise, redraw or add anything if needed. Then, create a name and superhero power. I tapped them to a poster with the name above in sharpie. They were hysterical and a great ice breaker. I even went a step further and they voted anonomously for their favorite super hero name up use as their class nickname.

This sounds like a fun and creative idea. Thanks for sharing. (Sorry for my slow response, I’ve been away!)

If time and space permit, I like to have my 7-12 students make or repurpose mark-making tools- paint brushes or drawing tools.

That sounds like a lovely, creative lesson.

Thanks Vanessa 🙂

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Art Club Ideas for KS1 and KS2

What is a school art club.

Art clubs are an important part of many children's education. Art is often squeezed into the packed school day and attending an art club outside of lesson time gives children a chance to enjoy art without needing to fit into the expectations of the National Curriculum. Art clubs often happen at lunch time or after school and make up part of the extra curriculuar learning available to children.

So whether you are setting up an art club or you are looking for new ideas for your established club continue reading for lots of easy art club ideas for KS1 and KS2 children. These ideas provide some fantastic art activities that are both fun and educational.

Art Club Activities KS1

Art in KS1 should enable children to experience and experiment with a variety of different media and techniques. Here are our favourite activities for KS1 using clay, beads, masks and artists' work as inspiration.

Although messy, clay sculptures are perfect as a KS1 Art Club activity because they can be left for a whole week to dry before painting and varnishing. If children can’t quite manage standing structures, challenge them to roll a flat ‘plate’ of clay to work from. They could print leaves or shapes into the clay, or imprint their own patterns, pictures or designs.

Clay self-portraits is also a fun one! Check out this ready-to-teach activity from our Self Portrait scheme of work:

Rock Painting

Grab some pebbles and challenge your class to create their own pet rocks ! You can add pipe cleaner tails, card wings, googly eyes – anything!

Alternatively, challenge them to make story rocks by painting the characters, props and settings of a well-known story onto various pebbles so they can retell the story.

Piet Mondrian Paintings

Piet Mondrian’s simple style is perfect for little artists to recreate. Challenge them to stick lines of masking tape across an A4 page, then paint in the gaps. Once the tape is removed, use a ruler to draw some black lines and voila! A perfect Mondrian replica.

Kandinsky Circles

Kandinsky’s famous circles are another great work of art that can be easily replicated by younger artists in lots of different ways. Using a coloured grid background, children can use cut-out circles of coloured paper layered on top of each other, as shown in this Colour Creations art lesson:

Paper Beads

This fun, simple activity will teach your KS1 Art Club how to make paper beads from triangles of paper. Once they’ve created the beads, they can string them together to make necklaces, keyrings, bracelets and loads of other things!

Making Masks

Making masks is a versatile Art Club activity that you can adapt to suit almost any purpose. Once you have the main template for a mask, you can create masks for story characters, animals, festivals, famous people...anything!

This activity from our African Art scheme of work provides mask templates for both traditional African masks and some African animals if you want something to start you off!

Art Club Activities KS2

Art in KS2 should enable children to build on their enjoyment of the subject and develop the skills they have.

Wassily Kandinsky

Learn all about the life and work of Kandinsky, with this free 3-lesson mini-scheme . Challenge children to sketch and develop their ideas for an abstract work of art of their own by simplifying drawings of people, animals, places and objects.

Photo Cut-Outs

This simple activity works with practically any photo or picture. Mask part of the photo and challenge children to complete the picture. These could be photos of the children themselves, famous portraits, pictures of animals, photos of buildings, flowers, landscapes...anything!

This lesson from our Tudors topic challenges children to complete Tudor portraits. Or why not try these free ‘Finish the Picture’ resources?

Step-by-Step Drawings

KS2 Art Club is the perfect place to help children really develop their drawing skills, and using step-by-step instructions to draw different objects, people or animals always goes down well! Check out these ‘Draw your own rainforest animals’ sheets from our Rainforest Topic or learn to draw Chinese dragons from scratch.

Palette Knife Painting

Painting with a palette knife isn’t a standard KS2 Art activity but it’s one that children will love and which can produce some fantastic results. In our Cityscapes scheme of work is a lesson that explores the palette knife technique used by Leonid Afremov. There are palette knife templates that children can cut from card to recreate these incredible works of art.

Drawing from observation is a skill that any keen artist should spend time developing. The best way to do this is to physically put different objects (leaves, flowers, vases, fruits, vegetables, books… anything!) on the table in front of them and challenge them to draw what they see. If you don’t have time to gather these bits and pieces beforehand, high-quality photos will suffice, like the ones we provide in our William Morris scheme of work.

Another good challenge for still life observational art is to give children one colour, along with black and white, and challenge them to paint an object using tints and shade, like this activity from our Still Life lesson pack.

Pointillism

Ahh, Pointillism! Children love it and it’s easy to see why. There’s something very satisfying about all those little dots!

There are lots of ways you can create Pointillism artwork in your Art Club – give them cotton buds, the end of a pencil, the end of a paintbrush, or even a felt tip pen and challenge them to create or colour in anything at all! You could try landscapes, people, letters, patterns… the possibilities are endless. If you want a starting point, check out this Pointillism lesson pack which has some templates for the children to colour in using dots.

Vanishing Word Art

I remember learning this technique when I was about 10 and I was obsessed with it for a good few years! Not only does it create a lovely effect but it also helps teach your Art Clubbers about perspective and vanishing points. Download the full lesson here .

Learning art ‘tricks’ is always fun and an activity your KS2 Art Club children will love. Try this simple hand art activity where, with just a few lines, children create the illusion of a hand popping out of the paper.

Or, teach them how to make circles that pop out of the page!

And if all else fails, try these super simple Art Club ideas:

• Children to draw a series of lines all over their A4 page. These can be swirly lines or straight lines drawn with a ruler. Either way, they should overlap across the page. Once they have their outlines, challenge them to colour in each section, making sure to never have two sections of the same colour next to each other.
• Provide each child with a mirror and tell them to draw their own self-portrait. To give this a twist, challenge them to colour in or paint their self-portraits using one colour only.
• Provide each child with a sheet of dark blue or black paper. Demonstrate how to drop small blobs of paint onto the page, then blow into a straw to move the paint around. Instant firework art! Challenge them to see what happens when they drop two different colours in the same spot.
• Ask children to get into pairs. Each child draws a simple squiggle on a sheet of paper – nothing massive, just a few lines. They then pass these squiggles to their partner who then has to create a picture out of the squiggles.
• Take children into the computer room and challenge them to use a painting program to create a piece of digital art (abstract works well for this). Once each child has finished, print each one onto acetate and frame with black paper or card to create stained-glass windows.
• Let them loose! How often do we let children just let their creativity flow? Provide them with paints, chalks, pastels, sketching pencils and any other resources you have around. You may also like to provide some prompts, like photos or famous works of art, and just see what they produce. You might be surprised what happens when they aren’t prescribed an activity!

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