Drawing is one of the most important activities you and your students can do. Drawing not only provides the basis for other creative activities – like painting, sculpture and printmaking – but it also provides a direct link with reading, writing and especially mathematics. Drawing is the single most accessible form of art available. All you need (to begin with), is a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Students will read the Eric Carle book Animals, Animals. They will then identify different animals, research their chosen animals and write about their animals. This lesson incorporates social studies, science, technology, art and the writing process.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Students will learn about Expressionism as they create portraits in the style of artists like Emile Nolde, Edvard Munch and Vincent van Gogh.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Students will use a magazine photo of a person, cut in half, as the beginning of a drawing. Half magazine picture, half drawing.
Ages: 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs, 14 yrs+
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Levels: Junior, Middle School, High School
Children will learn about artist Faith Ringgold as they create paper quilts inspired by her art.
Ages: 5-8 yrs
Grades: K-2
Levels: Primary
Kids will use watercolor pencils or washable markers to create leaf-themed works of art.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
The following drawing lessons are a great way to introduce your students to the magic of drawing.
Students will draw unexpected items inside a drawing of a jar.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Students will read the Bill Martin Jr./Eric Carle book Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See. They will then create a picture of what they see.
Ages: 5-8 yrs
Grades: K-2
Levels: Primary
Learn how to create colorful banners with fish as the theme.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Students will create fruit and vegetable portraits inspired by the work of artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Garden journals are a wonderful way for kids to learn about and share in the excitement of gardens. This lesson incorporates Art, Reading, Writing and Science
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
This is a wonderful mini lesson in which children will learn how to make gesture drawings.
Ages: 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs, 14 yrs+
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Levels: Junior, Middle School, High School
Students will create portraits of themselves after reading the book “I Like Me” by Nancy Carlson.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Using white glue for “lead” and chalk (or oil) pastel for “glass”, you can create wonderful stained glass designs. For this particular lesson, personal totems were the theme, however you can use any subject or theme with this project. (see Glue Fish)
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Students will be introduced to the designs of Ancient Greek Pottery as they explore the use of geometric and organic shape in making ordered patterns.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Students will learn about Ancient Greek Pottery designs as they make their own mini vases using styrofoam cups and paint.
Ages: 8-11 yrs
Grades: Grades 3-5
Levels: Junior
Children will learn about artist Henri Rousseau. They will then create oil pastel versions of Rousseau’s jungle-style paintings.
Ages: 8-11 yrs
Grades: Grades 3-5
Levels: Junior
Students will gain appreciation for the work of Eric Carle not only as a story writer, but as an illustrator during this fun “Hermit Crab” inspired lesson.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
The following lesson plans will introduce you and your students to Eric Carle, American designer, illustrator, and writer of children’s books.
Students will learn how to draw shaded bottles which appear to be three dimensional.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
This infographic features lots of great tips on how to teach your child to draw.
Students will create portraits of themselves after reading the book “I Like Me” by Nancy Carlson.
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5
Students will learn how to draw the inside and outside of objects like fruit.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Students will create an original crayon resist drawing or painting of a bug’s life.
Grades: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Junior, Middle School
Students will study the art and life of Kandinsky. They will also make an oil pastel picture of circles while listening to music.
Ages: 5-8 yrs, 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Primary, Junior, Middle School
Students will learn about the use of symbolism in cultural art as they learn and use design elements in creating Khamsa hand prints.
Ages: 5-8 yrs, 8-11 yrs, 11-14 yrs
Grades: K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Levels: Primary, Junior, Middle School
