middle school art history assignment

• Survey 1: Prehistory to Gothic
• Survey 2: Renaissance to Modern & Contemporary
• Thematic Lesson Plans
• AP Art History
• Books We Love
• CAA Conversations Podcasts
• SoTL Resources
• Teaching Writing About Art
• VISITING THE MUSEUM Learning Resource
• AHTR Weekly
• Digital Art History/Humanities
• Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Survey 1 See all→

• Prehistory and Prehistoric Art in Europe
• Art of the Ancient Near East
• Art of Ancient Egypt
• Jewish and Early Christian Art
• Byzantine Art and Architecture
• Islamic Art
• Buddhist Art and Architecture Before 1200
• Hindu Art and Architecture Before 1300
• Chinese Art Before 1300
• Japanese Art Before 1392
• Art of the Americas Before 1300
• Early Medieval Art

Survey 2 See all→

• Rapa Nui: Thematic and Narrative Shifts in Curriculum
• Proto-Renaissance in Italy (1200–1400)
• Northern Renaissance Art (1400–1600)
• Sixteenth-Century Northern Europe and Iberia
• Italian Renaissance Art (1400–1600)
• Southern Baroque: Italy and Spain
• Buddhist Art and Architecture in Southeast Asia After 1200
• Chinese Art After 1279
• Japanese Art After 1392
• Art of the Americas After 1300
• Art of the South Pacific: Polynesia
• African Art
• West African Art: Liberia and Sierra Leone
• European and American Architecture (1750–1900)
• Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth-Century Art in Europe and North America
• Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Sculpture
• Realism to Post-Impressionism
• Nineteenth-Century Photography
• Architecture Since 1900
• Twentieth-Century Photography
• Modern Art (1900–50)
• Mexican Muralism
• Art Since 1950 (Part I)
• Art Since 1950 (Part II)

Thematic Lesson Plans See all→

• Art and Cultural Heritage Looting and Destruction
• Art and Labor in the Nineteenth Century
• Art and Political Commitment
• Art History as Civic Engagement
• Comics: Newspaper Comics in the United States
• Comics: Underground and Alternative Comics in the United States
• Disability in Art History
• Educating Artists
• Feminism & Art
• Gender in Nineteenth-Century Art
• Globalism and Transnationalism
• Playing “Indian”: Manifest Destiny, Whiteness, and the Depiction of Native Americans
• Queer Art: 1960s to the Present
• Race and Identity
• Race-ing Art History: Contemporary Reflections on the Art Historical Canon
• Sacred Spaces
• Sexuality in Art
• Check out our e-journal Art History Pedagogy and Practice
• AHTR Weekly The (Contemporary) Art History Mixtape: Setting the Tone in the Classroom with Music
• AHTR Weekly Field Notes from an Experiment in Student-Centered Pedagogy
• Contact us! [email protected]
• Teaching and Learning Resources SoTL Resources
• AHTR Weekly Bringing the Museum to AP Art History—a Model for Collaboration
• Lesson Plans Islamic Art

Art History Teaching Resources (AHTR)

is a peer-populated platform for art history teachers. AHTR is home to a constantly evolving and collectively authored online repository of art history teaching content including, but not limited to, lesson plans, video introductions to museums, book reviews, image clusters, and classroom and museum activities. The site promotes discussion and reflection around new ways of teaching and learning in the art history classroom through a peer-populated blog, and fosters a collaborative virtual community for art history instructors at all career stages.

From AHTR Weekl y

Lesson Plan Reflection

Re-Teaching Rapa Nui

October 30, 2021

by Ellen C. Caldwell see the complete lesson plan here In January of 2020, just before the world would be unalterably impacted by COVID-19, I had the great fortune of traveling to Rapa Nui. Having taught art history surveys with an emphasis on Polynesian and Oceanic art for over a decade, I had dreamt of […]

Announcement

Revealing Museums — Together

February 19, 2021

How do public art museums function today? Who selects the objects on display and defines the stories that are (de)constructed? What are the value systems underpinning how museum collections and exhibitions operate? Join a three-part series of live online conversations with artists, students, and staff of the MFA Boston, exploring some of the critical questions, structures and processes that guide our museum work today.

February 5, 2021

By Aly Meloche and Francesca Albrezzi February 10th marks the beginning of a CAA annual meeting that promises to be unlike any other. Normally, many of us look forward to the annual meeting as an opportunity to catch up with colleagues from around the world and hear new ideas for research and teaching. It’s strange […]

Online Teaching

Baptism by Fire: Tips and Tactics from My First Time Teaching Remotely

November 20, 2020

While I’ve had many years of experience working with digital tools and creating digital art history projects, the transition to distance learning provided me with an opportunity to get creative and try some things that were new. Here are a few tips and tricks that I used, which others may find useful as we continue to teach and learn in an online environment.

Teaching Strategies

Can COVID-19 Reinvigorate our Teaching? Employing Digital Tools for Spatial Learning

November 14, 2020

Spatial learning provides exciting possibilities, unhindered by remote learning (and perhaps unbound by it?), combining the brain’s natural aptitude for spatial thinking with the contextualization possible through virtual environments.

Conducting SoTL of an online art history course: using discourse analysis of discussion boards

November 1, 2020

For those of us who are just beginning to teach online, the concept of conducting scholarship of teaching and learning in addition to all of the other new responsibilities must sound about as much fun as running a virtual meeting while trying to homeschool new math.

Teaching Strategies Tool

Rethinking the Curriculum by Rethinking the Art History Survey

October 14, 2020

s a Renaissance art historian I am keenly aware of the passion that can be generated through “classic” works of art from the traditional Western survey, but it is long past the time that we stop prioritizing such a model. Doing so would not only be good for art history, but it might also offer the chance to lead by example for greater inclusivity and equity in higher education more broadly.

Writing About Art

Decolonial Introduction to the Theory, History and Criticism of the Arts

September 14, 2020

Written by Carolin Overhoff Ferreira, Associate Professor at the Department of History of ArtFederal at the University of São Paulo, this book “draws on texts from recent picture and image theory, as well as on present-day Amerindian authors, anthropologists and philosophers [to] question the power structure inherent in Eurocentric art discourses and to decolonize art studies, using Brazil’s arts, its theory and history as a case study to do so.”

Equity in Education Online Teaching Reflection Student Voices Teaching Strategies

Student Voices: The Online Switch

August 14, 2020

Author: Xavier Lopez is a queer art history student who has attended San Francisco State University and Mt. San Antonio College. He is transferring to UC Berkeley this coming fall to pursue a B.A. in Art History. With a focus on Pre-Columbian Art, Lopez hopes to further educate himself on these Indigenous cultures along with […]

Assignment Lesson Plan Online Teaching

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Formal Analysis:Updating a Classroom Staple for the Age of Remote Learning

August 10, 2020

With some creativity and advanced planning, remote modalities can actually offer important silver linings to the art historical instructor. In particular, a well-designed, intentional rethinking of the classic formal analysis exercise has the potential to facilitate the inclusivity that we as instructors strive to foster.

Assignment Online Teaching

What do you see that makes you say that?: Gallery Teaching in the (Online) Art History Classroom

July 31, 2020

This is a reflection on the Hammer Museum Student Educator’s recent shift to digital conversations about art. In the past few months, the educators have transitioned to facilitating conversations about works of art with adult and K-12 groups on Zoom. While the bodily relationship to works of art is lost in the digital sphere, aspects of the educator’s facilitation have become richer and more nuanced.

Teaching Online Now

July 22, 2020

AHTR was founded as a space of community to share successes, failures, and reflections on teaching art history between peers. It was also founded so folks would not have to reinvent the wheel each time they taught; instead, they could expand the knowledge and experiences of colleagues. With this in mind, we have decided to devote the AHTR Weekly to teaching art history online throughout the coming academic year.

Lesson Plans

These lesson plans help you integrate learning about works of art in your classroom. Select an option below to browse lesson plans by grade, or continue scrolling to see all lesson plans.

Lesson plans for elementary school students

Lesson plans for middle school students

Lesson plans for high school students

Elementary School

Ancient Animals at Work

Identify ways animals (past and present) enhance daily life through a close look at an ancient figurine and art making.

Animal-Inspired Masks and Masquerades

Help students understand the connections between art and the environment of Guinea, animal anatomy, and the cultural context of the Banda mask with the help of viewing questions and a dance activity in the Museum's African Art galleries.

Armor—Function and Design

Identify moveable and static features of armor as well as functional and symbolic surface details and examine similarities and differences between human and animal "armor" through classroom viewing questions. Enhance the lesson with a sketching activity based on an English suit of armor in The Met collection.

The Astor Chinese Garden Court

Explore the Museum's Astor Chinese Garden Court and enhance students' understanding of how traditional Chinese gardens reflect the concept of yin and yang and how material selection and design can convey ideas about the human and natural worlds. Use viewing questions and a storytelling or drawing activity in the Museum's Chinese galleries.

The Burghers of Calais

Convey the interpretive significance of pose and expression in the visual arts—in the Museum or the classroom—with viewing questions and a story-writing activity inspired by a nineteenth-century French sculpture by Auguste Rodin.

Medieval Beasts and Bestiaries

Explore the use of animals as symbols in medieval art with viewing questions and a group drawing activity at The Met Cloisters or in the classroom.

Power in Ancient Mesopotamia

Examine how a great ancient Mesopotamian king conveyed power and leadership in a monumental wall relief in the Museum's Ancient Near Eastern art collection and consider how leaders today express the same attributes through viewing questions and an activity.

The Nomads of Central Asia—Turkmen Traditions

Students will be able to identify ways art of the Turkmen people of Central Asia reflects nomadic life and understand the functional and symbolic role objects play in their lives.

Voices of the Past

Focus on a slit gong in the Museum's Oceanic collection to illustrate the impact of scale in works of art, and consider objects' functions in their original contexts and ways different communities engage with their elders and ancestors. Classroom viewing questions and an oral history activity enhance the lesson.

Middle School

Aeneas, Art, and Storytelling

Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid , has inspired generations of artists and writers. Create your own artwork inspired by the text and consider how artists draw upon and reinterpret stories from the past.

Architecture and the Natural World

How can buildings reflect the relationship between people and the environment? Explore possibilities in this lesson plan featuring an ancient Egyptian temple.

Art and Empire—The Ottoman Court

Students will be able to recognize ways a tughra functioned as a symbol of power and authority within a culturally diverse and geographically expansive empire.

The Battle of David and Goliath

Illuminate strategies for conveying stories through images in the classroom with viewing questions about a large silver plate in the Museum's Medieval collection and an illustrating activity.

Beyond the Figure

Consider how artists convey personality in nonfigural portraits and the relationship between visual and verbal expression by looking at a painting by Charles Demuth in the Museum's Modern and Contemporary galleries and through a portrait-making activity in the classroom.

Bravery Stands Tall

Examine a major turning point in the American Revolution through a close look at this depiction of General Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River.

Composing a Landscape

Study the relationship between the human and natural worlds in art, as well as the techniques artists use to convey ideas, by exploring a painting by Frederic Edwin Church in the Museum's American Wing. Extend the lesson through a writing and drawing activity in the classroom, or a sketching activity outdoors.

The Making of a Persian Royal Manuscript

Students will be able to identify some of the key events and figures presented in the Persian national epic, the Shahnama (Book of Kings); make connections between the text and the illustrated pages of the manuscript produced for Shah Tahmasp; and create a historical record of their community.

The Mughal Court and the Art of Observation

Students will be able to recognize ways works of art reflect an intense interest in observation of the human and natural world among Mughal leaders; and understand ways works of art from the past and present communicate ideas about the natural world.

Muses vs. Sirens

Through movement and storytelling, uncover the layers of meaning embedded in a Roman sarcophagus.

Point of View in Print and Paint

Explore ways that viewpoint shapes the way we picture the past in this lesson plan featuring a depiction of the abolitionist John Brown.

The Power behind the Throne

Bring the Museum's African collection into the classroom with viewing questions and an art-making activity that cultivate visual analysis and an understanding of how surface detail and composition can express themes of power and leadership.

A Rite of Passage

Explore the ways rituals, ceremonies, and rites of passage play an important role in communities around the world through an investigation of related objects.

Science and the Art of the Islamic World

Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between scientific tools used now and long ago; and use research findings to support observations and interpretations.

Shiva—Creator, Protector, and Destroyer

Inspire students to interpret, communicate through, and personally connect with art through an in-classroom examination of a powerful sculpture in the Museum's Indian art collection and a self-portrait activity.

High School

Ancient Mesopotamia—Literacy, Now and Then

From cuneiform inscriptions to digital tablets, this lesson highlights changes and continuity in written communications across the ages.

Arabic Script and the Art of Calligraphy

Students will be able to identify visual qualities of several calligraphic scripts; recognize ways artists from the Islamic world engage various scripts to enhance works of art supporting a range of functions; and assess the merits of several computer-generated fonts in supporting specific uses.

The Art of Industry

Use viewing questions and a debate activity to investigate the relationship between art and community values, techniques artists use to convey ideas, and strategies for interpreting an American painting in the Museum's Modern and Contemporary galleries.

Above: Writing board (detail), ca. 1981–1802 B.C. Middle Kingdom. Dynasty 12. From Egypt; Said to be from Upper Egypt, Thebes or Northern Upper Egypt, Akhmim (Khemmis, Panopolis). Wood, gesso, paint, 16 15/16 x 7 1/2 in. (43 x 19 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1928 (28.9.4)

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Art history.

Art history, also called art historiography, historical study of the visual arts, being concerned with identifying, classifying, describing, evaluating, interpreting, and understanding the art products and historic development of the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, the decorative arts, drawing, printmaking, photography, interior design, etc.

Studying the art of the past teaches us how people have seen themselves and their world, and how they want to show this to others. Art history provides a means by which we can understand our human past and its relationship to our present, because the act of making art is one of humanity's most ubiquitous activities.

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35 Art Lessons and Projects for Middle School – HS

Here are 35 wonderfully written art lessons and projects for student in middle school and high school. These handouts were created by S. Wagner-Marx, and teach and cover a range of areas that will stretch artistic abilities and skills. You can also check out all of our  Art related pages here .

Abstract Watercolor Paintings Animal Collage Ceramic Lanterns Ceramic Ocarinas (Whistles) Cezanne Still Life Clay Looms and Weaving Common Threads Emotional Portraits Environmental Art Etched Mirror Figure Sculptures Futuristic Cityscape Gargoyles and Grotesques George Segal Inspired Figure Sculpture Illuminated Letter Japanese Batik Lanterns Multi-Stage Print Nested Glass Sculpture Notan Pop-Art ala Roy Lichtenstein Recycled Assemblage Sculptures Repousse Mask Design Repousse Masks Sacred Circles Scranimals Self-Portrait in Style of Modigliiani Silly Faces Book Social Issues Print Soda Can Stages Spirit Vessels Surreal Hand Drawing Surrealist Collage Drawing Surrealistic Imagery Tile Boxes Zoomorphic Tripod Vessel

– love learning -your best ed lessons guide, Scott

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5 Successful One-Day Art Lessons for the Middle School Classroom

We’ve all been there. You start your day with grand intentions for a stellar lesson. Still, your plans are interrupted for whatever reason, and you can’t quite pull it together. Maybe too many students are absent, you have less of an essential supply than you remembered, or a pep rally is cutting your class twenty minutes short. Don’t feel guilty! It happens to the most organized of us. Whether you need a lesson in a pinch or want to plan ahead to teach a quick technique, one-day lessons make great tools to fill your toolbox.

The right one-day lesson does more than just fill time. These quick activities can also be highly engaging! Creating a project from start to finish in one sitting provides immediate satisfaction for students while giving them an opportunity for valuable skill-building. One-day lessons can also introduce larger concepts in a simple way before jumping into a bigger unit. By selecting smaller paper sizes, simplifying materials, and using basic art tools, you will be well on your way to implementing one-day lessons in no time!

The best one-day lessons have built-in potential for success.

Highly successful lessons are enjoyable and engaging. A few other things they have in common include:

• Clear and limited steps.
• Completion in one class period.
• Student autonomy (in material choice, design, color, etc.).
• Scaffolding for future skills and techniques.
• Easy clean-up.

Here are five simple, one-day art lessons that will keep your middle schoolers engaged.

1. crumpled paper “stained glass”.

It doesn’t get much easier than this! Show students a completed version and connect it to patterns found in stained glass windows. Use this History of Stained Glass download below. You can find this resource in the Nature’s Stained Glass Lesson to help you introduce historical connections. Find this lesson and many others in FLEX Curriculum.

Students will have so much fun fracturing and coloring in their paper by following these steps:

• Crumple a half sheet of paper. After re-opening the paper, examine the tons of tiny, fractured shapes and folds.
• Create a “stained glass” look using a pencil or ultra-fine permanent marker to outline every shape. It’s fun to see the look on students’ faces when you casually mention this!
• Color in each shape, using colored pencils for a soft look or markers for a bold one. Alternate colors so that no two shapes with the same color are touching.

This wonderfully simple lesson subtly requires persistence to complete and encourages thoughtful decision-making in the color arrangement. If papers are well-crumpled and students take their time applying color, this project can quickly fill an average class period and is sure to leave students feeling satisfied.

Do you want to extend your lesson?

Try the Lesson, Radial Stained Glass , to continue building the skills from this exercise. This lesson can be found in FLEX Curriculum .

2. Abstract Papercutting

It pays to maintain color-separated boxes of scrap paper throughout the school year for projects like this! Whether you need to reduce the amount you have accumulated or want a fast project to practice color theory, cutting skills, and composition, this one’s for you. Your artists can practice warm and cool or complementary colors depending on your curriculum goals. They can also demonstrate more advanced cutting techniques such as overlapping, layering, and emphasis.

Students begin abstract papercutting by following these steps:

• Select a large piece of colorful construction paper as a base.
• Cut organic shapes from contrasting colored pieces of scrap paper using scissors.
• Apply glue to the back of each organic shape.
• Arrange the organic shapes on the base construction paper to create an exciting composition.

You can seamlessly connect this activity to a unit about Henri Matisse’s cut-outs or an intermediate-level lesson to create a Recycled Paper Abstract Collage . Find this collage lesson and many others in our FLEX Curriculum .

3. Suminagashi Paper Marbling

Suminagashi paper marbling is a little-known, magical activity that wins students over every time . The process utterly mesmerizes students and teaches them how to experiment with patterns and color. As a bonus, students will generate multiple sheets of decorative paper for use in future projects. Suminagashi is so fun that students will even enjoy watching others do it!

Pre-packaged kits make a suminagashi lesson easy, or you can purchase a few bulk materials to have on hand.

Here’s how to get started:

• Fill shallow trays with water.
• Drop the paper dot that comes with the kits into the water.
• Squeeze a drop of the suminagashi ink onto the dot and watch as it magically pushes the dot through the water!
• Add several subsequent drops in varying colors to create patterns.
• Manipulate the dot and influence the ink’s pattern on the water’s surface using a paintbrush or chopstick. Students will enjoy experimenting with different techniques, such as blowing the water or gently tilting the tray to see how their patterns change. Be careful not to “overmix” the ink, or colors and patterns may become muddy.
• Gently lay a piece of paper on the water’s surface for a few seconds.
• Starting from one corner, lift the paper in one smooth motion to reveal the ink design adhered to the paper.
• Allow the paper to dry.

After an experiment or two, students will learn which colors and techniques produce their desired results. Make sure you have enough kits for each station or table group in your classroom so students can try creating several papers.

Once the papers have dried, you can incorporate them in future lessons about bookbinding, visual journaling, or collage. Try using the paper as a background in the lesson, Watercolor Coral Collage, or integrate it into a Painted Paper Weaving artwork. Find both of these lessons in FLEX Curriculum . No matter how you choose to connect this activity to your lessons, students are sure to love this intriguing process.

4. Watercolor and Salt Paintings

A fun way to scaffold watercolor projects and talk about science is by experimenting with watercolor and salt. Salt absorbs water through the process of osmosis. Students investigate color mixing by allowing painted areas to bleed into one another. Encourage them to observe how varying amounts of water and salt types in different areas correlate to the final, dried result.

This low-stakes exercise allows students to test out hypotheses about salt’s effect on watercolor paint by following these steps:

• Apply watercolor paint to watercolor paper using the wet-on-dry method.
• Sprinkle salt over the watercolor paint.
• Wet dry areas of the paper with water and then apply watercolor paint using the wet-on-wet method. Allow the paint to pool, and sprinkle salt into the pools.
• Allow areas of watercolor paints to mix, and apply salt.
• After the paper has thoroughly dried, brush the salt off the paper over a trash can and observe the effect it has created.

Once students understand how salt applications affect watercolor paint, they can try  Hide/Seek: The Art of Camouflage. In this lesson, students approach science from a different angle and practice more control of their salt application to create their desired outcome. Look for this lesson in FLEX Curriculum .

5. Value Scale Water Droplet

This small but mighty pencil and paper assignment is a tried and true plan for working with the most limited materials to generate the most significant impact. Students will be delighted as they work to create the illusion of a water droplet on paper. Plus, it’s easier than it looks!

With a piece of paper, pencil, and eraser at the ready, start creating droplets by following these steps:

• Draw one to three circles on your paper.
• Select which angle you will have a light source coming from. The example above shows the light source shining from the upper left corner of the paper.
• Sketch a crescent moon shape on the light source’s side of the circle and shade it with a medium to light gradation.
• At the outer edge of the crescent, the circle’s outline will have the deepest shaded value. It should lighten and fade toward the center of the circle. The lightest value should be at the circle’s center and out toward the opposite side. Students may want to use their erasers during the blending process.
• Add “shine” highlights on the crescent by creating rounded rectangular shapes.
• Complete the effect with the shadow cast on the side farthest from the light source by shading it with the deepest value.

Students will be thrilled to try their hand at these four additional value scale activities .

Let your one-day lessons do double duty.

There are many different times when a one-class lesson makes the most sense to implement. First, consider which skills you want your students to practice and how to maximize their learning. Is your goal to introduce a larger unit later or to briefly reinforce existing skills? Then, use one of these quick-to-organize lessons to create fun and satisfying masterpieces. You will be amazed at how engaging one-class projects can be and how prepared your students will feel to level up to the next assignment. Give yourself some breathing room, and then get back to your regularly-scheduled plans without guilt.

What are your most effective one-day art lesson ideas for middle school?

How do you use one-day lessons to scaffold larger units?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Andrea Wlodarczyk

Andrea Wlodarczyk, a former middle school art educator, is a former AOEU Writer. She is a deep believer that the art room can be a brave space for students to collaborate across cultures, languages, academics, and socioeconomics and celebrate self-expression and diversity through community.

Art and Appetite: 7 Ways to Explore the Significance of Food in the Art Room

7 Engaging Ways to Teach the Elements and Principles of Art and 3 Fun Ways to Review Them

10 Easy Strategies to Apply Brain-Based Learning in the Art Room

7 Common Misconceptions When Approaching Your Art Curriculum This Year

*Grades 6-8

We’ve listed all of our Middle School art lesson plans here. These activities are best suited for Grades 6-8 – or – ages 11-14 years. Grade levels are given as a guideline only.

Oil Pastel Hearts

K-2, Grades 3-5, Middle School

Black Capped Chickadees

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

Snacking Cardinals

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Mandalas help to bring balance, peace and calm. This makes creating them a perfect activity for children (and adults) of all ages. This lesson uses readily available …

Getting to Know You

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The first days and weeks of school can be exciting and terrifying, all at once. Arming yourself with a few “getting to know” you exercises can help …

Design Your Own Nutcracker

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Nutcracker dolls symbolize good luck in German tradition, but where did they come from? This drawing lesson will teach children the answer to this question, and more. …

Drawing with Glue

by Andrea Mulder-Slater If you are looking for a sure fire way to get a great response from your students, walk into the art room and tell them they will …

Gingerbread Village

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Every year my daughter and I decorate a gingerbread house (or two, or three). We don’t bake from scratch, but instead work with pre-baked, pre-cut slabs of …

A Cup of Cocoa

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The only thing better than chocolate, is chocolate in a cup! Big mugs of hot chocolate (or hot cocoa) are the theme of this cozy art lesson. …

Paper Pumpkins

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Here’s a super quick way to make paper pumpkins that look real enough to pick! [This is a small snippet of a lesson we have inside The …

6 Ways to Make Sketchbooks

by Andrea Mulder-Slater When I was a student at art school, my drawing professor had one rule and that was to draw, every single day. From her I learned there …

Pop Art Owls Drawing Art Lesson with Video Tutorial

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Glue Flowers

Negative Space Plant Drawings

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, High School

Criss Cross Doodles

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Using materials found in every art room, students will draw criss cross lines to create shapes for doodles to live! Then, by following a few basic prompts, …

Design a Miniature Garden

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

Architecture Mood Board

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Draw and Paint a Sea Turtle

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25 Unique Art Projects for Middle Schoolers

It’s time to get creative!

The benefits of art education are further reaching than many people realize. Besides boosting students’ creative-thinking skills, engagement in the arts can help students improve their performance in other areas, including math and reading. It can also help with critical thinking, concentration, confidence, and motivation. Since learning about different art movements and mediums are important parts of art education, we gathered a list of diverse and interesting art projects for middle schoolers. Give one a try during your next art class!

1. Giant-sized comic strip

Regardless of your artistic abilities, creating comic strips is a fun way to express yourself. We especially love the idea of getting down on the floor and creating a larger-than-life story. You can also use this as a collaborative art project and have different groups of students tackle different parts of a story that you come up with together as a class.

Learn more: Make Your Own Giant Comic Strip at What Do We Do All Day?

2. Oil pastel candles

Before tackling this project, have your students try out creating oil pastel gradients in their sketchbooks. Then, use a guided drawing to have students draw their candle shape and size on blue pastel paper. This is so creative because while everyone has the same subject matter, no two candles and no two flames will look the same.

Learn more: Oil Pastel Candle Art Lesson at That Art Teacher

3. Mixed-media collage

Before doing this project, teach your students about a number of different collage artists. Then, have students thoughtfully compile different things to include in their collage. This project is particularly personal and will reflect each student’s individuality.

Learn more: Mixed Media Collage at Anita Sagastegui

4. Animal mosaics

Some art projects for middle schoolers are complex but well worth the effort. This is one of those projects since it is part carpentry and part art. Students will learn to safely use plywood, electric jigsaws, and sanders to create these spectacular animal mosaics. You’ll also want to teach kids a bit about the history of mosaic art.

Learn more: All in Pieces at Davis Art

5. 3D snowflakes

Get your free 3D snowflake template at the link below and then get crafting. We all remember making paper snowflakes at school or at home, but these 3D snowflakes really take this beloved project up a level. Add sparkles and sequins and you have some gorgeous classroom decor for the winter months.

Learn more: Stunning 3D Snowflake Craft at Kids Craft Room

6. Faux stained glass

While this project can be done by kids as young as toddlers, it’s also a fun project for middle schoolers. Hand out pieces of wax paper and then have students dab on large, thick piles of paint. Next, take bottle caps and have them push the paint into the wax paper for a stained-glass effect. Finally, once dry, have your students use a Sharpie to define designs throughout. Once dry, hang in the window for a dazzling effect.

Learn more: Stained Glass at Happy Hooligans

7. Neuro-Doodle designs

This is a perfect lesson for teaching about line quality and weights while also experimenting with different mediums. We love middle school art projects that give students experience with a variety of materials, and this one does just that! Students will try their hand at using felt-tip black markers, watercolor paints, colored markers, and colored pencils.

8. Figure drawing

Drawing from life is always ideal, especially when the human body is involved. Middle school students are at an ideal age to learn to sketch different poses quickly. And charcoal makes for an ideal medium.

9. Bubble wrap trees

Learning to paint can feel daunting to some students, but it definitely doesn’t have to be! Introducing students to acrylic paint before oil paint is often the best way to go. This art project uses unconventional materials like bubble wrap for a fun and somewhat easy painting project.

10. Art history timeline

The visual arts are an important part of an art education, but middle school art projects should include art history as well. This project combines both. Have students select an artist or time period and then have them create a timeline like the sample at the link below. Then have them present their timelines to the entire class.

Learn more: Art History Timeline at Hey That’s My Art Teacher

11. Self-portraits

Art projects for middle schoolers that force kids to think deeply are some of our favorites. This project teaches a typical art lesson like how to create a self-portrait but makes it more personal through additional imagery and words.

Learn more: The Real Me Art Lesson at Art With Mrs. E.

12. Yarn painting

Yarn, scissors, heavy paper, and glue are all you need to create these pretty yarn paintings. Well, maybe that and also a hefty dose of patience. This is a project that will likely take a couple of classes to complete. Art projects for middle schoolers like this one provide students with a lot of opportunity to individualize their works through creative choices.

13. Texture relief

Before working on this project, teach your students a bit about texture, and show them lots of examples of artworks that include different textures. Have students bring in different items to include as part of the texture in their project (think leaves, sticks, burlap, etc.). Then, have them cover those items in tinfoil, being careful to reveal all of the different surfaces. Once that step is done, they will need to apply black paint to the surface of the tinfoil. Once dry, have them use steel wool to reveal the texture. These make for an impressive finished product.

14. Wire stocking sculpture

This idea is so unique and it yields impressive results. Build off a lesson on cubism and sculpture by having your students construct sculptures from a soft block of wood, a wire coat hanger, a nylon stocking, and some paint.

15. Playing cards with a twist

We love art projects for middle schoolers that require patience, creativity, and even communication. To begin, students are tasked with coming up with a design for a playing card that involves an animal. They initially design just the top part of the playing card and then use tracing paper to replicate the design onto the rest of the card. Finally, pair up students and have them explain how to execute their original design to someone else.

Learn more: A Playing Card With a Twist at Just Your Everyday Art Teacher

16. Pop art candy paintings

This is the perfect project to pair with a lesson on the pop art movement. And all you need is some tempera paint and a black Sharpie.

Learn more: Pop Art! Candy Paintings at Art at Becker Middle School

17. Fingerprint self-portraits

Before working on this project, have students gather old magazines to bring in for inspiration. To begin, have students go through the magazines to find words that appeal to them and describe themselves. Then, have them draw the outline of their fingerprint on a piece of paper and paste the words down.

18. Vortex drawings

Learning to draw vortexes is a fun exercise that is developmentally appropriate for middle schoolers! Follow the video tutorial above.

19. Mixed-media still life

Students will love the agency they have over this project since they get to choose what materials to use for their mixed media (newspaper, magazines, cardboard, etc.). Learning to draw from a still life setup is a vital part of any art education, and we think the addition of the mixed media really ups the ante.

20. Skyline printmaking

Printmaking is a fun lesson to teach at any age, but we think it is perfect for middle schoolers. This project begins with creating a stamp of a cityscape out of a foam plate and then transferring it to paper using a paint roller. You may choose to have students begin this lesson by painting their background first with watercolors. 

Learn more: Printmaking at Painted Paper Art

21. One-point perspective

Learning about perspective is certainly one of the foremost lessons in any art education. This video does a good job teaching how to use one-point perspective to re-create a school hallway.

22. Keith Haring–inspired art

Keith Haring was easily one of the most influential artists of the 1980s. His legacy includes bringing graffiti art into the mainstream as well as drawing attention to the AIDS epidemic. This video is a good introduction to the artist and his work and even includes a visual art lesson on how students can create their own Haring-inspired artwork.

23. Pop art sculpture

The main objective of this project is to task your students with creating a 3D television sculpture in a pop art style. Have them bring in an empty shoebox and then provide them with a number of different materials. Before getting started, be sure to go over background, middle ground, and foreground.

Learn more: Prime Time Televisions at Davis Art

24. Personalized soda can label

This art project is simple, and it teaches students about marketing and brand design. Just have students design their very own soda can label complete with text and corresponding images.

Learn more: Personal Soda Can Label at The Art of Education University

25. Water droplet drawing

This is a great lesson on creating dimension on a flat surface. It also introduces students to the concept of shading. Your students will get a kick out of watching their water droplets come to life using nothing more than a pencil and paper.

What are your favorite middle school art projects to do in the classroom? Come and share your ideas in our  We Are Teachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Plus,  get ideas for collaborative art projects.

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16 Art Projects That Only Require Basic Supplies

Kids don't need specialized supplies to make amazing art. Continue Reading

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Art Class Curator

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Art printables, worksheets, and powerpoints.

Inside: A collection of printable art worksheets, PowerPoints, and lesson plans to use in art class. (Most of them are FREE!)

Art class should be about more than just making art! Art lessons should introduce students to a variety of works of art and allow them to explore the process, the history, and their own personal connections to the artworks they encounter.

Keeping a class full of students engaged while looking at art takes practice, confidence, inventive activities , and a variety of approaches. But most of us weren’t taught how to talk about art with kids . That’s why I’ve gathered some of my best printable art worksheets and downloads in one place! Most of these art lesson plans can be used for any grade level and there’s enough variety to keep elementary, middle, and high school students interested and intrigued.

Free Printable Art Worksheets

My favorite go-to art lessons come from the Art Appreciation Worksheet Bundle .

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! 1. Pick an artwork 2. Print one of the Art Appreciation Worksheets 3. Watch with joy as your students connect with and interpret art

The bundle includes 25 printable art worksheets, but everyone who signs up for Your Weekly Art Break , my email newsletter full of art inspiration, gets six FREE art appreciation worksheets . Fill out the form below to receive your free art worksheets and weekly art inspiration.

Free Worksheets!

Art Appreciation Worksheets

In this free bundle of art worksheets, you receive six ready-to-use art worksheets with looking activities designed to work with almost any work of art.

Below, you’ll find a collection of the Art Class Curator posts that include art printables and downloads. These brains-on art activities will jump-start students’ critical thinking skills and breath new life into their  art projects . All of these art lesson plans are all free unless otherwise marked. Most are printable PDFs, but the ones containing PowerPoints are marked.

Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack

This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative. Click here to download the Elements and Principles Printable Pack.

Free Resource!

Elements & Principles Printable Pack

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

Art Appreciation Printables

• Free Art Appreciation Printable Worksheet Bundle
• Art Appreciation Worksheet Bundle 25-Pack  
• I am… Dorothea Lange: Exploring Empathy
• Character Analysis Art Activity: Twitter Perspectives
• Haikus about Art
• I See, I Think, I Wonder
• “I Feel” Word Wheel: Learning Emotional Literacy in Art Education

Art Appreciation Activities & Art Appreciation Lessons

• Art Description and Drawing Activity
• Virtual Art Museum Field Trip
• Complete the Picture: An Easy Art Appreciation Game for Kids
• Interpreting the Power of the Kongo Nkisi N’Kondi

Artworks Printables

Artworks Worksheets & Artworks Activities

• Art, Horror, and The Sublime: Symbolism in Pablo Picasso’s Guernica
• Kollwitz & Cassatt: Two Views of Motherhood in Art
• Rosa Rolanda Jigsaw Art Learning Activity

Artworks Lessons

• Elements of Art Examples & Definitions
• Principles of Design Examples & Definitions
• Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas  Art Discussion Lesson
• Art Analysis Activity for John Gast’s American Progress
• Art Around the World in 30 Days – China
• Masterpiece Monday: Manifest Destiny Art

Art Criticism Printables

Art criticism worksheets.

• SPARK: 5 Art Criticism Steps for Inspired Art Connections and Conversations
• Art History Student Study Guide Worksheets

Art Criticism Activities

• 82 Questions to Ask About Art
• Photograph Analysis Learning Activities

Art Criticism Lessons

• 4 Steps of Art Criticism Lesson
• What is Art? – Aesthetics Lesson Bundle
• Classical Sculpture Analysis Lesson  
• Decoding Style: How to Teach Students to Read an Artwork  

Puzzles About Art Printables

Teaching students about  art and aesthetics  is a great way to make them think about art in a new way. Aesthetics puzzles ignite exciting, meaningful classroom art discussions  and flex students’ philosophical and critical thinking skills.

• Puzzles About Art: The Chimpanzee Painter
• Puzzles About Art: Call it Driftwood

More Art Printables

You can find more art lesson plans in the Art Class Curator store and on Teachers Pay Teachers . Sign up for  Your Weekly Art Break   to get six free art art worksheets and weekly art inspiration delivered to your inbox!

Get Art Inspiration To Your Inbox!

*free bundle of art appreciation worksheets*.

Make a Mark Studios

My Favorite Middle School Art Projects

After a decade of teaching high school art, I’ve recently moved to teaching middle school art. It’s a blast and there is truly NEVER a dull moment. Through some trial and error, I’ve learned that some projects are more engaging than others. Below are some of my favorite middle school art projects that have yielded engagement and great visual end products! The ideas below use a variety of art media and include a range of 2d and 3d art projects. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment below if you’d like to share some of your personal idea for successful middle school art projects.

#1- 3D Shadowbox Collages

Student goal: Use found collage images to create layers of depth inside a 3D foam core shadowbox. Click here for the full lesson of this 3d shadowbox collage project.

#2- Colored Light Self Portraits

Student goal: Use colored pencils on toned paper to draw a self portrait of yourself photographed with a colored light source (we used 3 light sources- red, blue and green bulbs). Click here for more information about this lesson using colored light sources.

A variation with a cropped composition on expressive eyes.

#3- Vortex Drawings

Student goal: Use a media of your choice to draw a vortex that shows depth, rhythm and movement. Click here for a full lesson on how to draw a variety of vortexes.

#4- Alien Point of View Perspective Drawings

Student goal: Use paint stix, oil pastels, or colored pencils to render an exaggerated “alien’s point of view” space drawing. Click here for free lesson a guided worksheet of this fun, alien perspective drawing.

#5- 1/2 Cartoon Face Digital Portraits

Student goal: With a photographed portrait, creatively divide the face in half and use digital drawing methods to stylize one side as a cartoon. Click here for free guided steps on how to do the 1/2 cartoon face portrait.

*This project was inspired by a viral challenge called #cartoonme. Lots of cool inspiration photos online!

#6- Plaster Masks

Student goal: Using plaster strips upon a cardboard armature, create a wearable 3d mask. **In my class, we connected this to Hispanic heritage month and created Sugar Skull and Alebrije masks. We used this free template to create the armature for the mask.

#7- Elements of Art Project

Student goal: Divide one subject into seven sections. In each section, illustrate each of the elements of art using a variety of materials. For more information on this lesson including step by step directions, click here.

#8- Monochromatic Posterized Portrait Paintings

Student goal: Using a portrait of your choice, create a monochromatic, posterized portrait. **We used this method (with the free webpased program Pixlr) to digitally posterize our photo references prior to drawing and painting them on canvas.

#9 Limited Color Scheme Landscapes

Student goal: Using a random color scheme of only 5 colors, create a composition of a landscape that shows a sense of space with foreground, mid ground and background. ** Click here to check out how I randomly assign students their 5 colors and their landscape setting. There is also a free guided video to show students how to begin this project.

#10 Surreal Collage Perspective Rooms

Student goal: Draw a room with accurate 1 point perspective techniques and add color to all sides of the room. Then, creatively incorporate surreal collage images into the room. Click here to check out my FREE guided step by step instructions on how to draw a 1 point perspective room interior.

#11- Open ended art challenges

Student goal: Using a random art challenge prompt (such as the #blendartchallenge) , artists will use a style and medium of their choice to compose a solution.

#12-Monster Dolls (inspired by kid drawings)

Student goal: Using a drawing of a monster from a young child for inspiration, create a hand sewn stuffed animal. Use a variety of materials including felt, cloth, yarn, buttons, and more!

#13- Wire Stocking Sculptures

Student goal: Using a block of wood as your base and a nylon stocking stretched over a manipulated wire hanger, create an interesting 3d form. Use acrylic paint to create a gradient of at least 3 colors.

This is a really popular project, if you are looking for step by step directions a quick google search of ‘wire stocking sculptures’ should get ya there!

#14- Dictionary Page Drawings

Student goal: Given a random dictionary page, find at last one word on the page to illustrate visually. Use a variety of art media to contrast your drawn image with the busy background. ** For more info on this lesson, check out this link here.

#15- Geometric Creatures

Student goal : On a watercolor wash background, draw a silhouette of a creature. Break your creature into polygonal shapes and add color with marker.

#16- Collaborative School Logo “Quilt” Drawings

Student goal: Create a quilted tile section of the school logo. Use a material of your choice and a style of your choice to show your individual personality. **Note, the entire logo is visually connected by the black lines.

#17- Faux Lined Paper Illusion Drawings

Student goal: On a white piece of paper, create a “faux” lined piece of paper with bending blue lines over a shaded pencil drawing. **My students used this awesome website by Julianna Kunstler to aid in our drawings. It was very helpful.

#19 Linoleum block printing

Student goal: Create high contrast prints using a hand carved linoleum block.

#20-Oil Pastel Dragon Eyes

Student goal: Use oil pastels to create a colorful drawing of dragon eye. Imply the texture of the scales through use of blending gradients. **Note- I am definitely not the teacher who created this idea, it’s pretty popular and oh-so-fun! I would love to credit whoever originally got this going, so let me know! My students used t his resource by Art by Ro to help us draw the dragon eyes.

#21- Line Drawing Landscapes-in-a-shape

Student goal: Create a landscape in a shape that shows a sense of depth. Explore a variety of line drawing techniques such as hatching and stippling to add texture and value. **Note, this lesson comes from this post from Cassie Stephens who was inspired by an artist named Jen Aranyi.

#22- ANYTHING op art!

Student goal: Choose from a choice board (I gave them lots of choices!), create an original op art drawing! **If you are interested in a fun op art drawing from Make a Mark Studios, check it out here! 🙂

#23 Art History Reproductions

Student goal: Analyzing the brushstrokes, colors, and composition, recreate a famous artwork. **We created ours on our ceiling tiles as our 8th grade legacy works. C lick here for tips we learned along the way for painting on ceiling tiles.

#24 Non Objective Abstract Art

Student goal: Use sharpie to draw a non objective abstract artwork with a variety of lines and shapes. Using oil pastels, color in the composition fully.

#25 3D Creature Heads

Student goal: Use recyclables to build an armature of a 3d fictional creature head of your own imagination. Use paper mache or plaster strips to finalize your head . For full lesson on how to do this, check out my blog post here—

#26 Glowing Light Bulb Drawing

Student goal: Use colored pencils on black paper to create the illusion of a glowing light bulb. For step by step guided tutorial and video, check out my full post here.

#27 Watercolor Mosaic

Student goal: Create a mosaic using cut tiles from a painted watercolor background. Explore either random polygonal tile shapes or a geometric repeated shape. For full lesson, check out my blog post here.

#28 2 point perspective graffiti wall

Student goal: Create a personalized graffiti tag on an illustrated 2 point perspective brick wall. For a FREE full guided drawing lesson of how to do this, check out my blog post here.

#27 Bauhaus Geometric Shape Paper Collages

Student goal: Create an asymmetrically balanced, geometric Bauhaus-inspired paper collage. For more info on this creative shape challenge, check out my blog post here.

#28 Mixed Media Abstract Art with EMPHASIS

Student goal: Create a mixed media abstract artwork that employs the principle of design EMPHASIS to create a defined focal point. For more info on this lesson, c heck out my blog post here.

#29 Hand Sewn Pop Tart Plushies!!

Student goal: Hand sew a pop art plushie inspired by contemporary felt artist, Lucy Sparrow! Step by step tutorial for how to sew a pop tart can be found here!

#30- Primary color, Pop Art Inspired Onomatopoeia Compositions!

Student goal: Create a composition of an onomatopoeia inspired by the pop artists using techniques such as ben day dots, primary color schemes, bold outlines, and more! Click here for the lesson on how to complete this Pop art project..

#31- Color wheel in an Eye

Student goal: Using only 3 primary colors of paint, create a color of 12 analogous colors in an iris of an eye. Click here for a step by step tutorial of how to create a color wheel in an eye.

Thanks for checking out this blog post! Please  follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook  to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!

-Stephanie Villiotis , creator of Make a Mark Studios

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47 Inspiring Art Activities For Middle School Students

October 19, 2023 //  by  Eisha Mohsin

There’s nothing quite like creative art projects to break the monotonous routine of middle school students. Contrary to popular opinion, artistic ability is not an innate skill, but rather something that can be honed and developed with practice but finding art projects that are engaging and immersive can be tricky. Look no further- we’ve gathered a list of 47 art projects for middle school that your kiddos will love. Which one will you get them started on first?

1. 3D Snowflakes

This craft project is bound to be a big hit with your kiddos, especially around wintertime. All you’ll need is a few sheets of paper, ideally in varying shades of blue. Print out the snowflake template from the link above, and have them cut and stack the snowflakes onto each other for a 3D effect. Optional: decorate with glitter!

Learn More: Kids’ Craft Room

2. Line Practice

No art lesson is complete without line practice . Have your kiddies dedicate an entire lesson to just lines since this will come in handy when they’re sketching. If they need inspiration, you can us print out this handy and ask them to copy the patterns to the best of their ability.

Learn More: Kitchen Table Classroom

3. Thumbprint Art

This is a fun and versatile idea that can be tailored to suit any age group. All you’ll need is a piece of paper and some basic supplies like paints and markers. Your kiddos will love how hands-on this activity is! They get to paint with their own thumbs and be as creative as they want to with the art that they create- what’s not to love?

Learn More: Hello, Wonderful

4. Collaborative Mural

This art project idea involves giving your students large pieces of paper and acrylic paints in a vast array of colors. Divide the class into groups and let them work on this project over the course of a few lessons. Give each group full creative freedom regarding their section of the wall and watch them create a unique mural.

Learn More: What Have I Learned

5. Self-Portrait

This is an amazing activity to try with older middle schoolers. If there’s one thing most famous artists have in common, it’s that they all painted self-portraits! Examine a few famous self-portraits with your kiddos and discuss what they give away about the artist. Now, ask them to create their own self-portrait and reflect on what it reveals about them.

Learn More: Hi Mama

6. Faux Stained Glass Painting

This activity requires a slightly higher skill level than the rest but is still kid-friendly. Get a dollar store picture frame and put a printed outline of choice inside the frame to use as a template. Have your little artists paint the glass with a mix of paint and glue, then once dry, finish the piece by outlining shapes with a black permanent marker for a gorgeous stained glass effect!

Learn More: Fabulessly Frugal

7. Chalk Art Projects

Create a fun game out of this idea which only requires colored chalk. Take your kiddies out to a paved surface where they can easily draw with chalk. Give them prompts to draw, for example, their favorite food, flower, or article of clothing within a set time. Let their creativity flow! 

Learn More: Tiny Blue House

8. Grid Drawing

Get your kiddos on the grid! Teach them how to perfect more complicated art projects by drawing onto a grid. Encourage them to take the piece one square at a time, and this will help them to balance proportions in their artwork. You can make the grids bigger or smaller depending on what level of detail you’d like them to achieve. 

Learn More: Pinterest

9. Geometric Shape Drawing

This colorful project challenges your kids to draw and paint an animal, only using geometric shapes. Although this may initially seem challenging, there are several animal forms that can be artistically replicated using shapes only! What animals will they come up with?

Learn More: Tree Valley Academy

10. Halloween Pebble Paperweights

This is a super fun art project to do around Halloween time. Have your kiddos collect a pebble from outside, then paint their favorite Halloween character onto it. The best few pieces can be displayed around the class during Halloween week for an extra spooky feel.

11. Fibonacci Circles

This is an art and math lesson all rolled together in one! Have your learners draw and cut out circles with diameters that correspond to the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence, then let them each arrange them into a colorful piece of art! Marvel at the different layouts and combinations that they come up with!

Learn More: W h at Do We Do All Day

12. Sculpture Art

This cool project involves taking a rather complex art form and making it simple and accessible to middle schoolers. Instead of using cement, have your kiddies use packaging tape to create a 3D sculpture of a person. You’ll be surprised to see how realistic the final result is!

Learn More: Look Between the Lines

13. Bubble Wrap Art

Repurpose any bubble wrap you have lying around for your kiddos to create a beautiful painting. Take some black paper and a few neon-colored paints. Start by cutting the bubble wrap in circles, then paint the bubble wrap with neon-colored paints. Before the paint dries have them imprint it on a sheet of paper and add details to create these interesting pieces of artwork.

14. Thumbprint Biography

A project that’s truly as unique as your kids are! Use the photocopier to blow up each of your kiddies’ fingerprints then use the printed result as a template for them to write their biography on. Encourage them to make it as colorful as possible. It’ll be a little labor-intensive, but the results are well worth the effort!

Learn More: Julie Ballew

15. Create a Comic Strip

Does your class love comic books ? Get them to practice their storytelling skills and display their artistic prowess at the same time by downloading a comic strip stencil like this one. Challenge them to come up with a short but effective comic strip that links to your class topic, or give them free rein to create a story of their own. The possibilities are endless!

Learn More: Really Good Designs

Use up your scrap paper for this next project. Start by cutting up any spare pieces of craft paper you have into different-sized and shaped pieces. Then, let your kiddos use these pieces to create their own masterpieces! These pieces will look great displayed on the walls of your classroom. 

Learn More: Art with Mr. Hall

17. Metal Foil Art

Explore texture with this next idea. Have your students create this stunning effect by drawing their design onto some metal foil with an embossing pen. Flip the foil over then use paints or markers to add color. The raised, metallic effect is the perfect way to create a spooky atmosphere in this winter-themed craft!

Learn More: Sebenta Marta

18. Easter Egg Painting

Get egg-cited for this Easter craft! Grab a bunch of eggs and go through the process of dyeing them in pastel colors with your class. Once they’re dry, have each kiddie decorate one each! Add even more fun by awarding a prize for the best decorated egg or you could even consider hosting a classroom-wide easter egg hunt once everybody is done!

Learn More: Active Littles

19. Origami Art Installation

Origami is like magic – just when you think a piece of paper is all folded up, it unfolds into something incredible! Let your kiddos relax with the calming art of origami and together your class can create an amazing art installation. Show them how to create the pieces you need then let them have a go. The end result will be an impressive display!

Learn More: YouTube

20. Resin Art

Resin art is all the rage at the moment! From creating bookmarks to art pieces to coasters- the options are endless. Have your kiddies forage for some leaves and flowers to use in their art then help them mix and pour the resin. The best part is that if done right, the final product looks absolutely mesmerizing and makes for a great handmade gift for them to take home as well!

Learn More: Art in Context

21. Dream Catcher Creation

Dive into the mystical by guiding your kids to create their own dream catchers . You can discuss the Native American origins and the cultural significance, then provide hoops, threads, beads, and feathers for a hands-on exploration of art and history.

Learn More: Crafts by Courtney

22. Nature Scavenger Hunt Art

This one’s for the nature lovers! Organize a nature scavenger hunt where your kiddos can gather leaves, twigs, flowers, and more natural materials. Post-hunt, they can use these materials to create unique nature-inspired art pieces. What a super creative way to foster an appreciation for nature and the outdoors!

Learn More: Green Child Magazine

23. Art from Recyclables

Reduce, reuse, create! Spark creativity and environmental awareness by encouraging your learners to create art from recycled materials. Give them a variety of recyclables like cardboard, plastic bottles, and old newspapers, then watch as they transform trash into treasure.

Learn More: Clean River

24. Puppetry Arts

Combine drama and art with this fun idea! Introduce your kiddos to puppet-making, and have them create their very own characters. Once they’re happy with their puppets, get them into groups and have them script and perform short puppet shows for the rest of the class. This is the perfect way to foster storytelling skills alongside crafting abilities.

25. Clay Sculpting

Clay sculpting is the art of making something out of almost nothing – all it takes is a bit of imagination and a lot of squishing! Give your little sculptors clay to create various objects, animals, or figures. This tactile activity encourages creativity and can be a calming sensory experience for them. 

Learn More: Craft in America

26. Wearable Art

Inspire your kiddies to make some art that they can actually wear! Let them design and create their very own jewelry with this paper mache bracelet craft. This hands-on project is a fantastic avenue for self-expression and exploring the fusion of functionality and aesthetics in art. By the end of the day, you’ll have a bunch of totally unique designs for them to wear home!

27. Historical Art Re-creation

From Monet to Picasso, the history of art is varied and full of inspiration! Choose a period in art history to study with your kiddos and teach them about its characteristics. Next, let them get hands-on and recreate or reimagine artworks in that style. They’ll love this engaging way to combine art practice with historical learning!

Learn More: Teach Starter

28. Photography Challenge

Say cheese! Equip your kiddos with cameras or iPads, and set them on a photography challenge around school grounds! You can assign themes or subjects to capture, and encourage them to gain a new perspective and appreciation for their everyday surroundings. 

Learn More: Capture 24

29. Mixed Media Collage

Let chaos and creativity collide in a beautiful, artsy explosion! Give your kids the chance to explore mixed media by creating fantastic collages. Provide an assortment of different materials – fabric, magazine clippings, paints, markers, and more, and let their imaginations run wild. You can make this activity more challenging for middle schoolers by giving them a specific theme!

Learn More: The Artful Parent

30. Artistic Story Stones

Challenge your kiddos with this creative storytelling craft! Let them paint or draw on stones to create story stones, where each stone represents a different item, character, or emotion in the story. You can follow this activity up nicely with a creative writing lesson where they can then use their story stones to craft and share their imaginative narrative!

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

31. Wind Chime Crafting

Get creative with a range of different materials with this idea. Guide your kiddies to craft their own wind chimes using materials like clay, metal, or wood to explore the different materials and discover varied sounds and musical notes they make! Once they’re finished, why not hang your wind chimes in an outdoor learning space so they can be enjoyed by the whole school?

32. Found Object Sculptures

Wacky meets wonderful in this found object sculpture craft! Challenge your little artists to create sculptures from some cardboard and random objects like bottle tops, cutlery, pieces of plastic – anything they find lying around! You’re not just teaching art, you’re teaching them to see the potential and beauty in everyday items.

Learn More: The Art Teacher

33. Shadow Art

This idea explores the playful side of light and shadow. Give your kiddos some cardboard and colored cellophane and see how creative they can be! Guide them to sketch, then cut out their design, before gluing the colored pieces of cellophane down. All that’s left is to wait for the sun to come out and head outside!

Learn More: The Best Ideas for Kids

34. Kinetic Sand Art

Who doesn’t love kinetic sand? Give your kids some kinetic sand and let them shape and mold to create magnificent structures or crazy landscapes. Your class will love this calming sensory activity that fosters creativity and encourages them to experiment!

35.  Mind Maps Art

Blend visual art with brainstorming by creating colorful mind maps. This is a super way to introduce a new topic or subject to your learners, or it could map out a project. Logical thinking meets creative expression!

Learn More: Edrawmind

36. Poetry Illustration

Bring visualizations to life! Have your kiddos select their favorite poem and get them to create an illustration or artwork inspired by it. This activity fuses literary and visual arts, enriching your class’ understanding of both.

Learn More: The Art of Education

37. Mask Making

What’s behind the mask? Exploring cultural or theatrical masks can be both educational and creative! Let your kiddies design and craft masks of their own using paper, cardboard, feathers, and more, to reflect different cultural, historical, or imaginative themes. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with!

38. Watercolor Exploration

Watercolors teach the art of going with the flow, one delicate stroke at a time! Set your kids up with some watercolor paints and let them have fun exploring this unique medium. Through experimenting with different techniques, they learn about color blending and layering to create a range of different effects. 

Learn More: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

39. Mindful Doodling

Why not practice some mindfulness with your kiddos? Encourage mindful doodling or Zentangle art to promote relaxation and creativity. Give them some markers and a blank page and let them doodle as their minds wander. This meditative activity is the perfect way to boost focus and artistic expression while keeping your classroom calm.

Learn More: Lightly Sketched

40. DIY Musical Instruments

This idea is a super way to repurpose and recycle items like old coffee cans or plastic bottles. Crafting simple musical instruments from these everyday materials not only teaches your kiddies about music and sound but also opens doors for a homemade orchestra and creative musical exploration. Let’s make some noise!

Learn More: Music In Our Homeschool

41. Urban Sketching Adventure

Take art outside! Lead your kiddos on an urban sketching adventure around the school or local area, encouraging them to sketch scenes or objects they find interesting, honing observation and drawing skills. They’ll gain a whole new appreciation for their local area and improve their artistic skills in the process!

42. Silk Painting

Explore the unique medium of silk painting. Using specialized silk paint, your little artists can create beautiful, vibrant artwork on silk fabric. This project gives them a chance to try out this amazing traditional art form and requires them to have patience, attention to detail, and a steady hand! The end results will be beautiful!

Learn More: Gathered

43. Community Art Project

Make art a community endeavor! Engage your kids in a community art project, like painting a mural in the school or crafting art for a local nursing home. It’s a wonderful way to instill a sense of community and the positive impact of art. What a super way to bring everyone together!

Learn More: Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

44. Yarn Bombing School

Weave some fun around your school with this craft project! Introduce your kiddos to the wacky world of yarn bombing by decorating a part of the school with colorful knitted, or crocheted yarn! It’s a cozy way to explore public art and crafting.

Learn More: Twinkl

45. Zen Garden Creation

In the chaos of school, a zen garden could be a welcome moment of calm! Guide your students to create miniature Zen gardens, discussing the principles of Zen and the calming nature of raking sand and arranging the stones. It’s a peaceful activity that also introduces cultural appreciation to your class.

Learn More: Guidepost Montessori

46. Performance Art Exploration

Drama meets art in this next idea! Challenge your kiddos to create and perform short performance art pieces. Encourage them to use their bodies as part of their art as they learn about how this modern art form pushes boundaries. With no limit on creativity, the results are sure to be out of this world!

47. Animation Basics

Action! Introduce your learners to basic animation techniques through a stop-motion animation project. Have them create their own short animations, using modeling clay, paper pieces, or even LEGOS to learn about and have a go at this exciting and modern art form. They’ll love creating their animations and playing them back to the rest of the class!

middle school history

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Middle school history

Part 1 Complete U.S. History Curriculum | Middle School Bundle

Ancient Egypt Portraits Art History Project: Middle School Art Sub Plan Activity

• Google Apps™
• Easel Activity

*Art History Workbook for Middle School Art; Famous Artists - Art Hist Units -10

Part 2 U.S. History Curriculum Middle School GROWING BUNDLE

Middle School U.S. History "NO PREP" Sub Resources and Independent Assignments

Rock and Roll Music History Lessons and Worksheets for Middle School Music

Famous Artist Units, Art History Workbook 23 Artist Bundle, Middle School Art

Matisse Floral Organic Shape Elementary Art or Middle School Art History Lesson

The History of Thanksgiving Activities Middle School

Medieval Era History Unit for Middle School Music Class

*2nd Edition: Art History Workbook 2 for Middle School Art, 10 Art History Units

First Day of School Activities for Middle School World History

CREEPY MUSIC THROUGHOUT HISTORY A Middle School Music Unit

• Google Drive™ folder

Middle High School Art History : History of Photography Lesson, Activity, Handout

US History Task Card Bundle | Social Studies Review | Middle School History

Middle or High School Art History Lesson: Figures in Art, Prehistoric to Modern

Middle , High School Art History Travel Journal Lesson: Ancient Art, Greek, Roman

Complete Washington State History for Middle School

Thanksgiving Packet - Middle School ELA/ History

Neurographic Art Project Art History Lesson Middle School Art High School Art

Women's History Month Middle School , Comprehension Activities, Digital, ELA

Renaissance Era History Unit for Middle School Music Class

Middle and High School Art Lesson-Art History

Ancient & World History Simulations - 6 - 7th Grade Middle School BUNDLE

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