Teach students about ALL of the Art Elements and Principles of Design in one dazzling art lesson! Engaging organic sculpture lesson 8th-12!
Create this woven bowl using the free printable template, a paper plate, & yarn. This is a great elementary / middle school art lesson to introduce weaving.
In this mixed media lesson, students will use three mediums to create a shaded, unified piece of art.
Try this easy tinfoil sculpture art lesson in your classroom. Learn more from this blog post.
Here's a great idea I spotted on Pinterest.... I tried this lesson with my middle school students and they had so much fun with it! I originally used a copy machine to enlarge students' fingerprints. It was cumbersome and time-consuming. But then I figured out a faster, easier, and better way! For detailed instructions with photos, tips, writing prompts, a student gallery, and fascinating fingerprint facts, check out my fun resource on TPT! My pdf also comes with 3 ready-to-use fingerprint enlargements in case you don't have time to take students' actual fingerprints. This can also be helpful for students who arrive late or miss the first day when you work on these. Optional... use colored pencils to lightly add some designs in the background before tracing over your writing with Sharpie. This will personalize your self-portrait even more!
7th graders started their quarter off with a project inspired by this Blick lesson as well as the work of Andrew McCormick's students. To introduce the idea of graffiti, we talked about street art (the ethics behind illegal and legal street art) as well as the idea of reverse graffiti and it's implications. We also used many resources from http://graffitidiplomacy.com/ to help up along in our name designs. Value shading with colored pencil and pattern design (with the metallic sticky paper in background) was a big focus of our work and reflected on our rubric. These were a great first project to begin with since students names were so obviously drawn into the work. Hopefully they help me learn names faster this quarter! Check out this graffiti generator for ideas on how to get started drawing names in graffiti styles. http://www.graffiticreator.net/ Very cool! Check out some of our finished work below...
Relief sculpture is an art form that is midway between painting and sculpture in the round. It is a process in which the subject stands out or projects a surface from the background. The surface can be several levels including high relief (deep or almost in the round) or low relief (shallow) or anywhere in between. To create their relief sculptures, seventh graders first learned about the difference between shape and form. A shape is two-dimensional (it has height and width) whereas a form is three-dimensional (it not only has height and width but also depth). Students experimented creating forms out of basic paper shapes by rolling, bending, folding and gluing them. After trying a variety of forms, students chose their favorite and created sixty variations of that form. Students then considered space and balance to position their forms into their final sculptural arrangement. These look awesome on display as they protrude from the wall- it's hard to really see the depth in these individual photos, but the shadows and dimension are super cool up close! Some photos of the students folding, rolling, arranging and gluing: The final pieces: Some views from an angle and up close:
Kick off the school year with an easy First Week of Art Lesson Plan! Engaging icebreakers & creative drawing activities for an fun start.
Middle School students will love this pop art lesson that focuses on the principle of movement. It also makes a great abstract portrait that is frame-able!
With a new school year upon us, here is a look at 10 must-use secondary ELA teaching units, lessons, and activities for your classroom. These units are
Graffiti Name Designs Art Jam! Students will love designing their own tag. 3d metallic block letter & shaded bubble letter handouts included.
Graffiti Name Designs Art Jam! Students will love designing their own tag. 3d metallic block letter & shaded bubble letter handouts included.
Looking for fun, educational games for art class? Check out these three simple games you can put together in a few minutes.
Art handouts and worksheets are invaluable tools for young artists and educators looking to unleash their creativity. These resources provide a structured platform for learning and experimentation, allowing budding artists to explore various techniques, concepts, and subjects. Whether you're a parent searching for engaging activities to inspire your child's artistic journey or a teacher seeking educational materials to enhance your art curriculum, our collection of art handouts and worksheets is sure to be a valuable entity that cultivates a love for art while honing essential skills.
The biggest challenge with teaching middle school is the race against the clock! Ideas for how to structure a 60 minute class period.
This post covers tips to designing a successful middle school art curriculum. It's all about scaffolding, building confidence, and having fun
In this Aquarium Perspective Lesson, Middle School students will dive right into learning about the principle of perspective while designing an aquarium.
Teach the eight parts of speech with creativity and engagement. The eight parts of speech should be fun grammar activities.
Try these middle school drama lessons and ideas.
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
How to draw with colored pencils on black paper: Let's dive into the vibrant world of colors, shadows, and the subtle dance between light and darkness.
Need Wonder activities for your classroom or home school Wonder teaching resources? We have Wonder lesson plans, Wonder worksheets, and more ideas for book projects, kindness activities for middle school, and diversity lessons to make a great study unit for students using both the novel by RJ Palacio and teaching with movies (including the popular precepts project!).
Middle School Self Portrait Lesson Plan Just want to share what we are currently working on… Self Portrait Procedures Students take selfie with phones Upload selfie to our online platform (my…
Unlock the Power of Art Exit Slips! Explore 9 creative ways to use these formative assessments in your elementary art room. Engage young artists and enhance learning with practical ideas!
We had a lot fun studying real candy prices as our inspiration for our Pop Art Candy Paintings. Tempra paint and black Sharpie outlines adde...
The Artists and the Elements is a year long art curriculum that combines the elements of art, art history, and hands on art projects that make art fun!
In 6th grade, we talked about how colors can evoke emotions. For example, red can mean love or anger. The students took self portraits with ...
Can You Draw What Isn't There? Discover a captivating art lesson designed to ignite creativity in your art room! With our Negative Space Chair project, teaching the fundamentals of negative space becomes a breeze. Watch as middle school and high school students dive into the intriguing concept of drawing by focusing on what surrounds an object, adding their unique twist with patterns and colors. Perfect for Art Sub Plans! NEWLY UPDATED Now featuring 12 additional reference images and an exciting student-centered video tutorial! Is your art curriculum missing a key piece? Mastering Negative Space isn't just about drawing—it's about honing observational skills that set the stage for exceptional artwork. Perfect for all skill levels: Whether your middle or high school students are beginners or seasoned artists, this cost-effective lesson serves as an essential building block, paving the way for more advanced techniques like life drawing. Are you ready to make a big impact without breaking the bank? This drawing lesson is perfect for art teachers working within tight budgets or limited supplies. It's a versatile addition to any art curriculum, seamlessly complementing existing coursework and preparing students for further exploration. TECH NOTE: Don't forget to make a copy of the Google tutorial file links for seamless sharing within your district's server area. Lesson is meant to follow Negative Space Stool Worksheet - found HERE Items Included in the Negative Space Chair Lesson: Project Overview Project Overview Teacher Video Tutorial 18-pages - Chair/Rocking Chair/Plant Reference Photos ½ Page Rubric for Chair Project (without directions) Full Page Project Directions and Rubric “All-in-One” Sheet Additional Chair/Rocking Chair Project Directions TWO Student Video Tutorials (diamond back chair and ladder back chair) – great for homebound students, as a homework assignment, early finishers, extra credit, additional practice) Short video of student work (link above) Supply List: Construction paper – various colors for students to choose from Pencils Rulers Colored Pencils Markers Sharpie Pens Ballpoint Pens Please go to mrstfoxresources.com and subscribe to my Sunday newsletter, "The Weekly Fabulousness" for teacher freebies and much more! There are hundreds of examples of student work on both my Instagram @mrstfoxresources and my Pinterest MrsTFox Resources - be sure and check it out! MrsTFox Resources is now on YouTube! Check out the free content and classroom resources :D Don't forget to leave a review on this (or any) resource by logging into your TpT account - TpT is now giving credits toward future purchases for teacher feedback - yay! :) All my best for a safe and productive school year, Thank you for stopping by! tiffany :)
Unlock the Power of Art Exit Slips! Explore 9 creative ways to use these formative assessments in your elementary art room. Engage young artists and enhance learning with practical ideas!
Welcome to the How-To Guide for First Year Art Teachers where I give you my 10 Steps for Success! Congratulations! You got your own classroom. OH MY GOSH, you have your own classroom. Your mind and stomach start racing, both with extreme excitement and panic because now, it all just got real. You will have a lot of students, a lot of planning, and a lot of classroom to keep organized. Figuring out where to even start is a huge stress and will require a tea (or a beer) and a nap (probably some Netflix too).
This is such a fantastic Unit! Students spend about 3-4 weeks learning about the history and genre of printmaking, and how to create their own Collagraph plate, Radial Print and Portfolio! This Unit purchase includes a variety of resources including: 2 slideshow presentations Sequence of learning events Student examples instructions & steps worksheets and more! At the end of this unit your students will have a clear understanding of what printmaking is, as well as beautiful Collagraph prints that they will be proud of! Best wishes, Art Teacher Fusion ✏️
Drama games & activities in your classroom or drama club as warm-ups, ice breakers, or as fun activities to start any class!
This semester, 8th grade students are part of a collaborative course between a STEM classroom and the Art room. This is a new approach for us at BMS and so far, it's been a great adventure. We started
It is Back to School Art Lesson Planning season and I am so excited to share my ULTIMATE Back to School Art Project Ideas & Guide for Engaging Art Lessons for kids from Kindergarten to Middle School with you! These are some HOT new Art Lessons that explore Artists & Art History and a variety of Themes that you can use to help plan your YEAR! There are over 650 Art Resources in the Ms Artastic TpT store now and they will help you facilitate art instruction in your classroom.
These landscape watercolor paintings inspired by Claude Monet and the Impressionists are sure to bring calm to your classroom ! When goin...
10 Creative Art Activities for Kids, including free printable drawing prompts and art collages, plus many more creative art ideas!
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
I’ll admit, when I first began using stations the main reason was so I didn’t have to make copies for 200 students. The copy machines at my school were frequently broken, out of toner, and often inaccessible due to high need from other teachers and the lack of regular and predictable planning periods. If I wanted to make copies, I either had to get to school around seven or stay well after the final bell rang. Even then I might not be able to print what I needed for my students because the paper might be locked away to save the district some money. Stations were a perfect solution to my copy machine dilemmas. However, once I began using stations I found many more reasons to keep using them in my seventh grade science classes. Perhaps most importantly, students love stations and are motivated simply because they can be out of their seats and be more in charge of their learning (more on that later). Stations are super easy to differentiate and can be used to meet the needs of all of your students. Also, they are easy to use and quick to set up. If you’ve never heard of stations, ever considered using stations, or if you currently use stations and they aren’t quite as effective as you’d like, keep reading. Students practice identifying variables and writing hypotheses with these Scientific Method Stations. What are stations? Stations are a way for students to practice lesson content while moving around the classroom instead of being seated at desks. (That might sound scary when considering certain classes—believe me, I’ve been there. However, I’ve used stations with even my most rambunctious, out of control classes of 35+ seventh grade students. It can be done successfully.) Stations can be questions or short tasks posted on the perimeter of the room. In my science classes I typically used questions that could be answered with students’ notes, textbooks, knowledge, or skills. I included a variety of question levels—some easy and straightforward and others rigorous and challenging. I have also set up measurement stations with tasks to complete such as finding the volume of an object using the water displacement method or predicting the mass of an object and then using a balance to see how close their predictions were. When I noticed students had a hard time finding information in textbooks, I had stations where students had to find a specific piece of information using glossaries, tables of contents, or indexes. I’ve even cut up a worksheet and posted it around the room as stations. Answering the questions on a worksheet can be tedious, but when that same worksheet is in station form it becomes more engaging and meaningful. When students are up and around the room doing stations they’ll need to record their answers. This can be done on notebook paper that they hand in when they’re finished or in their interactive notebooks. How do I set up stations in my classroom? Start off by writing the questions or tasks you want your students to answer. Use fairly large font so they are easy to read from a distance of several feet. Then print them out and cut them up. If you want, you can laminate them so they are in good condition by the time the last class of students goes through them. I personally did not laminate them, so I always had some rips or pencil marks on the papers by the end of the day. Instead of laminating I just used extra tape to prevent the majority of damage. Once you have your stations printed, cut out, and maybe laminated you can tape them around the room on walls, windows, or tables. Finding space in my classroom was always easy because my room was ginormous. I also had countertops bordering the walls of three-quarters of my classroom. The space you leave between stations obviously depends on how many stations you have, but whenever possible try to leave at least a yard between them. This helps the students stay focused on their task instead of socializing with nearby groups. It also helps the teacher spot misbehavior earlier and sprout fewer gray hairs. When should I use stations? There were two purposes for using stations in my classroom: practice or review. If I was using the stations as a way to reinforce the material we learned, I scheduled them after taking notes and doing a whole class practice. Basically, I wanted my students to have the fundamentals down and the ability to be decently independent before beginning stations. If students needed to review material, I typically used stations as a review activity the day or two before a test. I’ve also had luck using stations before big breaks like Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, or summer vacation. Whenever students are especially squirrelly, stations are usually a good choice because students can move around the room and still engage in the material they need to learn and understand instead of wasting learning time. (Stations have kept me sane on more than one occasion before a break.) What behavioral expectations should be established before beginning stations? Before beginning stations, you MUST go over your behavior expectations. Otherwise, the students have a 95% chance of turning feral within three minutes. Here are the station expectations I went over every time we did stations. Students will have no more than three students to a station at any time. If there is already a group at that station, then they must go to another station. Students do not have to go in order. They may skip around to any station as long as they write their answers in the correct location on their own papers. As long as students are on task and working, students may pick the student(s) they want to work with. Students may also work individually. Students will receive only one warning for off task behavior. If they are off task a second time, they will have to complete the assignment individually in their seat using a worksheet form of the stations. Students may only visit the answer sheet twice during the stations. When students finish the stations they need to check all of their answers and return to their seats. How do I monitor behavior during stations, and what do I do about misbehavior? If you aren’t directly supporting a group of students, walk around the room and monitor behavior. Keep an eye and ear out for horseplay. Whenever students misbehave or don’t follow a station expectation give them a warning. If students have a second problem, direct the offending students back to their seats and give them a worksheet form of the stations to complete individually. Remind students they cannot get out of their seats for the remaining station time, otherwise you might find them messing with their friends and wandering around the room “working on the stations.” Depending on whether your stations consist of questions or tasks, your students might not be able to do every station on their worksheet. In that case instruct them to skip the station or complete it individually later on. Biggest advice here: don’t let small misbehaviors get out of hand. Immediately give the warning/consequence and briefly explain to the student what they did wrong and why it’s a problem. Here is an example of how that might sound: “Billybobjoe, you were visiting another group again. When you do this it is distracting to other students and you can’t learn. Because you didn’t follow the station expectations, now you will finish the stations at your desk by yourself on this worksheet.” How can I use stations to meet the needs of all of my students? Stations are excellent for differentiation purposes. Students can choose what works for them. For example, I let my students determine if they wanted to work independently, with a partner, or in a group of three. They also determined the order in which they completed the stations. They could skip around or go in numerical order while working at their own pace. Posting an answer sheet gave my students support by allowing them to check their work or get help with a problem they were struggling with. While my students were working, I was free to meet with a small group of students who needed extra support. Sometimes I determined ahead of time who should be in that day's support group and other times I left it up to the students to come to me for assistance. Consider posting answer sheets (like I did with the Changes in States of Matter Stations) so students can check their work and get assistance if needed. Another way to differentiate is by arranging the stations from easiest to hardest. For the most part, students are pretty good at determining their levels of understanding. Whenever I arranged the stations this way, I explained it to my students and let them choose where they needed to be. Providing the right context and reasoning is important for this. Don’t just say: left is easy, center is medium, and right is hard. Then you’d have a flock of students on the left with no one really benefiting. Explain that the stations on the left side are for students who feel they are having difficulty with the content and need to build up their knowledge and skills first. The stations in the center are a medium level of difficulty for students who feel they have a fairly good understanding of the content and are ready for reinforcement practice. The stations on the right side of the room are for students who feel they understand the material very well and need a challenge. When I explained it this way, my students didn’t feel bad if they were on the left side. As for the right side, many were eager for a challenge and would start by looking at the questions to see if they were ready or needed to go more towards the center. When arranging by level of difficulty, give your students a number of stations to complete. If there are 30 stations, maybe have them choose any 10. Having students complete all of the stations can defeat the purpose of arranging them this way. What do I do when students finish the stations at different times? There are several solutions to this. You can set a timer and have students complete as many stations as they can in 20 minutes. If there are a small number of stations or if the questions/tasks are relatively quick to get through, you can start a five-minute timer after the first five students finish; then announce that everyone needs to be done in less than five minutes. You can have students begin their homework or an individual class assignment at their seats. They can read a book. I’ve tried all of these methods in my class and switched it up depending on the student or lesson needs. What stations do you use in your own classroom? I'm so glad you asked. :) In my Teachers Pay Teachers store you can find many of the stations I have used in my seventh grade science classroom. Currently, these are the stations in my store: Scientific Method Stations: These can be used in a variety of ways. Most often my students used these stations to identify independent and dependent variables and write hypotheses. Changes in States of Matter Stations: These stations give students practice with the key points of melting, freezing, vaporization, condensation, and sublimation. Genetics and Heredity Stations: These stations give students practice with a variety of genetics topics. They are great to see what students know or to review key concepts. Human Body Organ System Stations: Students practice the important characteristics of the skeletal system, circulatory system, respiratory system, muscular system, digestive system, and nervous system. Properties of Matter/Physical Science Review Stations: I use these stations to review physical science concepts before the unit test. They go over atoms, states of matter, changes in states, physical and chemical changes, law of conservation of mass/matter, homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures, elements, and compounds. Measurement in Science Stations: These stations are all about the tools and units used to measure metric length, volume, mass, and density. Density Stations: My students always need extra practice with density before things really sink in. These stations help them understand. Volume Stations: These stations focus on finding the volume of solids and liquids and measuring correctly. Mass and Weight Stations: Students get practice with the difference between mass and weight with these stations. If you haven’t already, try using stations in your classroom. With the correct implementation, they can really benefit your students. Plus, you don’t have to make a bazillion copies ;) Are you a middle school science teacher? You might be interested in my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter here. Just for signing up you'll receive an exclusive freebie that you can't get anywhere else.
