Creature Painting

The opening of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit provides a model of how to use rich details to create a setting. After reading the description of Bilbo Baggins’ abode, young writers create their own magical home for a fantasy creature. The...

"This looks like an owl!" Kids get a chance to create all sorts of things by arranging various shapes, painting them, and gluing them together. A great way to encourage creativity and spontaneity.

I love big mural projects. They bring a sense of ownership to the classroom, look great for parents, and can be a great way to complete a unit. Here are the steps and suggestions needed to create an ocean mural for your class. Learners...

Students view the painting Yellow Rain Jacket and discuss. In this animal parts lesson, students visualize the missing parts of a horse to explore how different creatures have different parts.  Students make predictions about what the...

Students explore lodge construction as a representation of culture. In this cultural diversity and Native American history lesson, students listen to a narrative explaining the origin of Native American painted lodges. Students design...

You have to collect lots of materials (boxes, bags, toilet paper rolls, etc.) for this activity to work successfully. After modeling how to create an imaginary creature out of the collection of recycled materials, let your class search...

When little ones make things out of clay they're not just exercising their creativity, they are following directions, developing fine motor skills, and building a sense of pride in their work. First graders use the pinch-and-score...

Here is a great way to incorporate art into your next unit on prehistoric people. The class makes stones out of ceramic clay and then creates paintings like those found in the Lascaux Caves in France. A video link, full day-by-day...

An art instructional activity involving fish can accent a wide variety of subjects. Here are the steps needed to create a fish banner with paint, shapes, cardboard, and paper. This would be a nice way to start or finish a unit on fish or...

Explore the extraordinary creatures of the ocean! Learners create Florida Blue Crabs (imitation of course) using blue paint and their hand prints. This is a cute supplementary project perfect for an ocean-themed unit or preschool...