Fourth grade art students are ready for new challenges, like trying out perspective or exploring tessellations. These projects are all well within their abilities but will also encourage your students to push themselves to create cool new works of art they’ll be proud to take home and show off. We’ve got art projects for 4th graders in every medium, so there’s something for all classrooms.
“I believe the art room is a joyful place where every child’s imagination can bloom and grow, with the right amount of nurturing!” says elementary art teacher Caroline M., known on Instagram as @scs.artteacher. “I love creating mixed‑media projects with my students, especially those that celebrate nature and the world around us.”
Caroline encourages art teachers to embrace a wide array of materials and supplies to encourage creativity at home and school. “My goal is to provide an environment that supports curiosity, celebrates process over perfection, and is ultimately a welcoming space where every student’s creative voice and spirit will grow and flourish.”
Explore some of Caroline’s favorite 4th grade art projects below, along with ideas from Lauralee Chambers (@2art.chambers) and Yvette Ackerman (@ackermans_amazing_artists), two more Instagram favorites. Visit their pages for more details and photos of each project!
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4th Grade Art Projects
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Origami Pencils
Lauralee notes that she loves doing a lesson on “pencil power” at the beginning of the year. Origami pencils give kids a bit of a challenge, just enough to encourage a growth mindset and set them up for a terrific year ahead.
Start by having kids paint or draw in the branches on their background paper of choice. To make the petals, students will be amazed at the cool effect they can get when they double-dip their brushes in two colors of pink paint, then “stamp” the brush down and twist.
This can be a quick project when you use supplies like Roylco butterfly frames and Hygloss cellophane sheets. For a more complex project, have students trace and cut out their own butterfly frames from black construction paper.
Start by spending time looking at pictures of castles from around the world with your class. Then, lead them through a guided-drawing session to create their own castles with the details of their choosing.
Geometric black-and-white patterns contrast beautifully with neon in this striking project. Try it around Valentine’s Day or any time you need to brighten up your art room.
If you haven’t tried foil-marker printing with your students, what are you waiting for? You’ll need water in spray bottles to create that beautiful blended effect. It makes the perfect background for patterned black-and-white leaves.
Here’s another terrific 4th grade art project contrasting color with black-and-white. This one teaches students about depth and 3D effect, as well as shapes like cylinders and ellipses.
Capture the magic of a snowy day with this painting project. Lauralee notes that this lesson teaches composition, texture, and value. Plus, kids will love adding the white paint splatter for snowflakes!
Put the power of symmetry to work by having students paint one half of a spider along the crease of a folded page. While the paint is still wet, fold the paper and press gently to create a balanced spider painting.
For this project, students take a close look at one part of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and re-create the brush strokes with oil pastels. Spend some time telling them about the artist’s life while they work. “Talking about art is just as important as creating,” Lauralee reminds us. “We hope to nurture well-rounded students who can appreciate art. Not all of them will become artists, but all will need to be visually literate in this world of images.”
Every kid will be excited to create these vibrant cupcakes! Art teacher Caroline from @scs.artteacher uses Crayola Model Magic for this project. Try using silicone cupcake “wrappers” as molds for the bottom.
What better way to urge kids to shoot for the stars than by asking them to draw themselves as astronauts? Chalk pastels give these drawings their vibrant color, with each student choosing the “groovy” design that suits them best.
This modern artist’s style is sure to strike a chord with students. Use the foil-printing method to create colorful backgrounds after students draw the pumpkins.
Students can develop real confidence in their artistic skills through directed drawing sessions. This makes them much more likely to try more drawing activities on their own too.
What a brilliant twist on gingerbread art! The background uses the popular foil-marker printing method. (Caroline notes that this time around, her students used Dab-o-Ink bingo daubers.) Students can sketch any style of gingerbread house they like; it’s the perfect project for those crazy days that lead up to winter break.
Start by having students draw their own patterned paper—Lauralee’s kids used metallic markers on black paper. Cut out acorn caps from their designs, then add them to acorn bottoms cut from wood-grained scrapbooking paper.
Talk with your students about the differences between our left brain and our right brain. Then, ask them to illustrate the part of their brain they feel is their strongest. (Or they can do both!)
When you rip the top layer off a piece of cardboard, you expose the cool textures underneath! Use them to create these fun sandcastle collages—add some real shells for detail if you can.
Use color theory or explore all the colors of the rainbow with this simple project. Lauralee used empty heart-shaped candy boxes, then had students cut strips of construction paper and roll them into tight scrolls. Glue them into place once you have a design you like.
Here’s another project that’s fun for learning color theory, as well as perspective and drawing 3D shapes. Let students choose their own way to “fill” each black-and-white box with color.
Need a simple project with fantastic results? Try these little Crayola Model Magic pumpkins. Use a stiff piece of cardboard to add the segments to flattened balls of clay in colors of your choice. Make the vines from green wire or pipe cleaners.
Circle weaving on paper plates is a pretty standard primary art project. So we love the twist Yvette Ackerman puts on it, using the circle weaving as a background with black paper silhouettes glued on top.
Here’s another surprisingly simple clay project. Roll out a slab of clay, then drape it over an object to create a ghost shape. Cut out the eyes and mouth with a craft knife or pointed stick. Spooky and cool!
Make this a simple project by starting with rainbow-colored paper. Then, guide kids through tracing shamrocks with black markers, adding patterns and using negative space for interest.
Click the button below and fill out the form on this page to receive our free printable bundle with art portfolio cover sheets for every grade, as well as an art project planning sheet and an artist study worksheet.
Art is about expressing your individuality, but you can also make something pretty incredible when people pool their talents. Group art projects give kids a chance to work together, putting their strengths to work.
We’ve partnered with some of our favorite Instagram art teachers to bring you this collection of project ideas. We’re always amazed by the vivid yearly collaborative art projects that Mrs. D. of @art.party.with.ms.d plans and produces—they’re especially impressive when you realize that her artists are in kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades!
For Lauralee of @2art.chambers, collaborative art often comes down more to the way she displays her students’ work. The key is using coordinating colors and designs that make a cohesive whole when you put them all together. Then, it’s just a matter of hanging everything where it can be appreciated.
This collection of collaborative art projects works for kids, teens, and adults alike while providing results everyone can be proud of. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, doodling, or mosaics, there’s truly something for everyone on this list. For additional inspo, drop by our partners’ Instagram accounts for photos, lesson plans, and more!
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Collaborative Art Projects
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Kindness Quilt
How many words related to kindness can you find in these paper quilt blocks? What an amazing display for your school hallway!
Interconnecting foam blocks are the perfect blank canvas for a collaborative art project. Lauralee took inspiration from artist Wassily Kandinsky and made this mat for International Dot Day!
Ask students to bring in empty egg cartons and cut them apart into individual segments. Let each student decorate one with paints or other media, then assemble them to form a mural.
What a fun holiday display! Use cookie cutters to create the individual star cookies from clay, then decorate with clay toppings. Pile them all together on a big dish, but don’t be tempted to nibble!
Embrace the many cultures that make up America with this amazing collaborative art idea! Students can choose a language that’s important to their family, or research the languages spoken in your area, past and present. “We know that Thanksgiving is an American tradition, but saying thank you and being grateful matters no matter where you are anytime,” notes Lauralee.
These geometric quilt blocks allow each student to be creative while still coming together in a cohesive display. Consider having each class work in one color palette so they can see themselves represented in smaller teams that are part of a bigger whole.
Based on the ancient sand paintings of Tibetan monks, this collaborative project doubles as a mindful meditation exercise. Tip: Place the sand in small squeeze bottles for more control.
Lauralee’s students created these pinwheels for an International Day of Peace display. If you have the space outdoors (and cooperative weather), try mounting these on sticks and displaying them outdoors for a gorgeous moving art installation.
Provide each student with a small canvas and choose a color palette, like blue and yellow. Each student can create their own design to paint. Then, assemble the canvases together on a larger panel for a coordinated display.
Making roses from air-dry clay is easier than you think! Let each student craft one in a color of their choice. Then assemble them all into a massive bouquet or floral display.
Art teachers love Kwik Stix paint sticks—they’re perfect for creating a big colorful mural. All you need is a long roll of paper, paint sticks, and plenty of room for kids to spread out.
The symmetrical designs on each individual block coordinate (but don’t exactly match) those on the others. They make a harmonious whole, but each one’s individuality still shines through.
Here’s one more collaborative quilt design to try. “This is the flying geese pattern used in quilts to give direction to enslaved people on the run north,” explains Lauralee. This would make a terrific Black History Month project.
Decorate the walls of your classroom with these simple and colorful cardboard letters. This project is a fun way to help young ones master their letters while letting their creativity flow!
These collaborative murals are very popular and so much fun to make. Ask each student to create a feather, then put them together into a pair of wings. If possible, create it at a level that will allow students to stand in front and take amazing photos.
Not all collaborative art projects need a long-term, lasting result. If you’ve got a brick wall in your playground or courtyard, give kids sidewalk chalk and let them each decorate a brick any way they like. This is a cool idea for the last days of school, letting students literally leave their mark before they set off for summer break.
Ms. D‘s yearly collaborative art projects generally all use the same basic concept: bright paper in a variety of designs. For this one, students drew butterflies on card stock, vellum, and clear transparencies, then cut them out. The arrangement against black paper really makes this display pop!
For this display, Ms. D took inspiration from International Dot Day. The 3D dot sculptures provide texture as well as color, filling the hallway with bright cheer.
Maya Angelou’s famous quotation anchors this lovely display of paper flowers, each with a bit of detail and texture. Ms. D notes that students used Astrobrights paper, Sharpies, and Wonder Stix to make the blooms.
Origami can be a real challenge for students, and many teachers use it to encourage a growth mindset. We love how students added their own details to each owl after they folded it, creating a flock of wise birds to fill their school hallway!
Here’s another origami collaborative display from Ms. D, this time featuring hearts. Students accented their hearts with hand-drawn patterns in slightly different shades to make them each unique.
These 3D houses really bring the wow factor! Kids can learn a variety of art techniques as they create them. They assemble into an incredibly impressive display.
You’ve probably seen painted rock collaborative art displays before, but we love Ms. D’s super-cool take on it! She collected the painted rocks into cement stepping stones, keeping them all safe, contained, and proudly on display.
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Have you ever watched as a child stares into an aquarium with awe? Whether it’s the song “Baby Beluga” or the movie Finding Nemo, kids love all things ocean! So you know they’ll be eager to dive into this collection of ocean activities and crafts. Whether it is a science experiment to learn how acid affects seashells, an art lesson where students create their own underwater scene, or a writing prompt about the ocean, students will learn all about our watery planet. Come on in … the water’s fine!
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Science Experiment Recording Worksheet
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Ocean Experiments and Learning Activities
FEATURED PICK
1. Learn about sea turtles and marine ecosystems
Make a splash with Wild Classroom’s free Sea Turtles and Oceans Toolkit. This ready-to-use resource helps students learn about ocean ecosystems by providing an educator’s guide, presentation, and fun, cross-curricular activities. You will also get bonus resources like quizzes and a video playlist, offering diverse ways to enrich your lessons. It is a great way to build critical thinking skills and inspire a love for ocean conservation.
2. Make an ocean in a bottle
Turn an old water bottle into a mini-aquarium. Fill it about a third of the way with sand. Then drop in some small shells and plastic fish and other sea creatures. Finally, top the bottle off with water (it’s up to you whether you want to dye it light blue first) and screw on the lid. (Avoid spills by adding a few drops of glue to the threads of the cap first.) Now kids can explore the ocean anywhere they go!
All you need for this science experiment is a shallow dish, hot and cold water, and some food coloring. Fill the dish about halfway with cold water that’s tinted light blue. Add some ice and stir so your water becomes very cold. Bring a few cups of water to a boil, adding food coloring to make it very bright red. Slowly (and carefully!) pour some hot water into one corner of the dish. Watch as the warm and cold water swirls and mixes, simulating the ocean currents that are formed the same way!
5. Assemble ocean zone bottles
Learn the zones of the ocean with this simple ocean activity. Round up four empty bottles and label them, one for each zone: sunlight, twilight, midnight, and abyssal. Use food coloring to dye the water in each deeper shades of blue to represent the amount of sunlight that reaches each zone. Finally, drop in a marine animal toy or fish that’s appropriate for each zone.
6. Watch an ocean documentary
Every streaming service is loaded with nature documentaries. Disney+ has an especially robust collection that’s perfect for kids. On Amazon, try Wildest Places or Ocean Mysteries. Netflix’s Our Planet series has episodes on coastal seas and high seas. So many options!
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7. Assign an ocean-themed writing prompt
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Use ocean-themed prompts for daily writing, journal entries, essay topics, bell ringers, or exit tickets. Some possible prompts:
If you were a marine animal, which zone of the ocean would you prefer to live in?
What would it be like to live in a coral reef?
Tell the story of a female sea turtle, from the time she hatches on the beach until she returns to that same beach years later to lay eggs of her own.
Write about a journey in a submarine to explore the deepest parts of the ocean.
Describe a day in the life of a marine biologist. What are they studying, and how do they go about it?
8. Turn paint sample strips into ocean layers
You’ll need paint sample strips in at least four deepening shades of blue; you can also add a beige color for the sandy bottom if you like. (Contact your local paint store for donations if you need more than just a few strips.) Label each paint color with one of the four zones, using deeper colors to represent deeper zones. Kids can write in descriptions of the zones, or add drawings and stickers of marine animals to each.
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9. See ocean waves in action
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Oil and water don’t mix, which makes them the perfect way to observe wave action up close. You’ll need a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, plus water, oil, and blue food coloring. Fill the jar with water about halfway, add a few drops of food coloring, and mix. Fill the container the rest of the way with oil, getting as close to the top of the jar as possible, and put the lid on tightly. Turn the jar on its side and tilt it back and forth. Watch as the waves ripple and react to one another.
10. Host a marine animal fair
Let kids choose their favorite marine animal, then spend time teaching them how to research using trusted sources (see below for a list of kid-friendly ocean resources). Let them choose how they’ll present their animal—posters, dioramas, slideshows, presentations, etc. Then, set up your classroom as a “marine animal fair” and invite other classes and parents to come see what they’ve learned!
11. Draw a life-size whale
Did you know that blue whales are the largest creatures ever to have lived on Earth? They’re even bigger than dinosaurs! Head to the playground with some sidewalk chalk and a tape measure to measure out and draw a life-size blue whale. Kids will be astonished at the results. Find blue whale info from National Geographic here.
12. Explore saltwater density
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Use this easy ocean experiment to show that items float more easily in salt water than fresh. Fill two clear glasses with water about three-quarters of the way. Add 2 tbsp. of salt to one cup, 2 tbsp. of sugar to another, and mix thoroughly. Ask kids to predict what will happen when you drop grapes into each glass, then drop them in to see if they’re right. The grapes should float in the salt water. (Add more salt if they don’t.)
13. Sculpt an ocean floor relief map
Start by learning about Marie Tharp and her groundbreaking work mapping the ocean floor. (She proved plate tectonics with her meticulous work!) Then, use play dough, salt dough, or another medium to represent the depths of one or more of the world’s oceans. It’s an amazing world down there!
14. Put together an ocean animal notebook
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Turn a blank notebook into an ocean reference manual. Draw or paste a picture of an animal on each page, then write in interesting facts about them. This is an ocean activity that will appeal to kids of any age, since you can vary the level of details you include.
15. Discover how ocean acidification affects seashells
One consequence of climate change is the increasing acidification of the world’s oceans. Learn why this matters so much with a simple experiment using seashells and vinegar. Add a shell to a jar, then cover it completely with vinegar. Observe what happens—before long, you’ll see carbon dioxide bubbles form as the vinegar begins to dissolve the calcium in the shell. Leave it long enough and the shell will become fragile and eventually dissolve completely.
16. Dive into an ocean-themed sensory bin
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Make a bigger version of an ocean in a bottle so kids can splash around a bit. Round up shells, toy sea animals, and maybe even a boat or two, then drop them into a bin of water. Every kid will enjoy splashing around while they learn!
17. Simulate and clean up an oil spill
Oil spills at sea are major disasters, affecting life both in the water and on land. Learn about some of the more famous oil spoils in history, then try this experiment. Fill a shallow baking dish about halfway with water. Drop in some small toy fish and sea creatures. Then, add food coloring to some oil and “spill” it into the water. Now, experiment with different methods to clean up the oil. Is it even possible to fully restore the water to its pristine condition?
Ocean Crafts and Art Projects for Kids
18. Download free ocean coloring pages
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Our octopus, whale, and jellyfish coloring pages are perfect for when you need a quick and easy activity for kids. Keep them on hand for early finishers or use them as bell-ringer activities, or display a collection of them for a no-stress bulletin board.
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19. Create an ocean in an egg carton
Give each child an egg carton to paint blue like the ocean. After they’re dry, they can decorate the inside of the lid to look like a reef or sandy floor. Then, they can keep shells, rocks, or fish and marine animal toys in each compartment.
20. Upcycle an ocean zones container
For this ocean craft, you’ll need a tube-shaped container like an empty sanitizing-wipes tub or even a Pringles can. You’ll also need four shades of blue tissue or crepe paper: light, medium, dark, and midnight blue. Spread some glue on the container and wrap the crepe paper around it in an ombre effect, with the lightest blue at the top. Label each layer and add stickers representing the animals that live in each. Now you’ve got an upcycled storage container for your shells or ocean-themed toys.
21. Build LEGO sea creatures
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Pull out the tub of LEGO and set kids free to create. The whole class can work together to set up an ocean-themed diorama, using LEGO bricks to make coral, seaweed, fish, whales, jellyfish, and more.
22. Paint a coral reef with sponges
Here’s another surprisingly easy ocean craft for kids. Cut disposable sponges into coral shapes, then stamp an underwater scene onto blue paper. Use markers, paint, or stickers to add fish and other marine animals to complete the picture.
23. Illustrate inspirational ocean quotes
Have kids choose a quote they love from our big collection of ocean quotes, then turn that quote into a poster. These make perfect hallway displays that will educate and inspire other students!
Starfish, more properly known as “sea stars,” come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, but they all live in salt water. That makes salt dough the perfect medium for this ocean craft. To make it, just mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water. Mix and knead until the dough is smooth, then store in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
25. Hang paper plate jellyfish
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Cut paper plates in half to create the bell-shaped body of a jellyfish, and let kids paint or color them any way they life. Then, show them how to use a hole punch to create a row of holes along the bottom flat part of the bell. Tie ribbon or yarn to each hole to create dangling tentacles, then hang your ocean crafts.
26. Make a cereal box aquarium diorama
The hardest part of this ocean craft is trimming one large side of the box to form a frame. After that, kids can use construction paper, paint, shells, rocks, and other art supplies to create their own undersea scene. They’ll love the creative aspect of this project.
27. Mix up ocean-themed slime
Use one of our foolproof recipes to show kids how to make their own slime. Then, provide mix-ins like glitter, sequins, and small fish or ocean animals to add to the fun. You know they’re going to love this ocean craft!
This easy ocean craft is a great way to use up old magazines. Kids choose a specific theme, like coral reefs, deep-water creatures, beaches, marine mammals, ocean pollution, and so on. Then, they cut out and paste pictures and words that match their theme. Making collages is a simple art activity that every kid loves.
Resources for Learning About the Ocean
29. Ocean Books for Kids
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Whether you’re looking for picture books or chapter books, fiction or nonfiction, our list of terrific ocean books has got you covered!
Our big list of reliably sourced facts will fascinate and amaze your students! You can even download a free set of Google Slides to share in the classroom.
Looking for online ocean activities? Try the Marine Life Encyclopedia. Kids will get in-depth information about all their favorite sea creatures, from sharks to otters and beyond.
Here’s another website full of online ocean activities. It simulates the thrill of joining actual underwater explorations, from coral reefs to deep-sea trenches.
Just as you’d expect from the Smithsonian, this website is full of information, photos, and more ocean activities. You’ll even find free lesson plans for teachers—score!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a whole page full of ocean activities, articles, and videos just for kids! There’s a lot here to explore, including plenty of hands-on experiments and exploration ideas.
Do you like to keep inexpensive gift ideas for students on hand to celebrate holidays, birthdays, or special accomplishments? Do you like to have small rewards to serve as incentives for good behavior or good work? Then look no further! This big list is full of fun, affordable little things (most are less than $1) your students will flip over.
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1. Scratch-and-Sniff Bookmarks
Not only do these humorous bookmarks look good, they smell good too!
Put together mixed sets of sheets of these colorful rainbow origami papers in zipper bags and add them to your treasure box. Purchase includes a free e-book tutorial for creating all kinds of shapes.
Want to encourage your students to write? Gift them these invisible-ink pens with built-in black light, and they’ll be motivated to compose secret messages.
Give each of your students a fun card game to pass the time at home over a holiday break. This set of 24 decks comes with an assortment of games, including Old Maid, Go Fish, and Monster Hearts.
How about a fidget toy that doubles as a fashion accessory? Your students will love these push-pop bracelets, and you’ll love that these inexpensive gifts for students are only about 50 cents apiece.
These adorable craft sets come in a variety pack of 24, featuring four different themes: Secret Clubhouse, Unicorn House, Butterfly House, and Space Center.
Hand sanitizer is a must-have, so give your students a whimsical way to carry theirs around. Grab a set of these refillable bottles for a fun and useful gift for students.
These bright-hued lanyards include a safety breakaway mechanism, so they’re even safe for younger kids. It’s the perfect way for them to wear their school ID.
Kids love stickers and they really love 3D puffy stickers. With themes of food, animals, hearts, and more, there’s sure to be a sheet every one of your students will love.
Help your students build fine motor and problem-solving skills with these adorable mini puzzles that feature an assortment of wild animals. Best of all, they cost less than a dollar each.
Amazon has lots of terrific children’s e-book options for a dollar or two each, and they make it easy to send a selection to a large group. Plus, check out our big list of free e-books.
Have you seen our calm-down jars? These are such a good experiment, and they can also make a good gift for students. You can use miniature jars to save money.
DIY fidget toys are inexpensive gift ideas that are always a hit with students. Plus, they’re a cinch to create when you’re binge-watching your favorite show.
Grab our free printable game boards and use them to create personalized games for your students. Pair them with some colorful dice and you’re ready to gift!
Younger kids especially love to color pretty pictures. Snag these adorable coloring books (only $1.50 for 112 pages!) and hand out pages as rewards. Or keep a supply of books on hand for special birthday gifts.
Kids can sketch whatever strikes their fancy, then swipe to erase with these mini doodle pads. Best of all, they’re less than a couple of bucks each when you buy in bulk.
Inspire future paleontologists in your class with these super-fun faux dinosaur eggs. The set even comes with excavating picks and species guides. Divvy up the set and package each egg plus supplies for 12 special rewards.
Gratitude truly is the secret to a happy life. Train your students to develop the habit by giving them a place to jot their happy thoughts and fun memories on a consistent basis.
These are so popular with kids of all ages. Your students will love choosing one, or you can choose it for them along with a special note. Consider using them as desk pets too!
Yum! These adorable little erasers in the shape of different foods will inspire your students to start a collection of their own. Consider using them in conjunction with your desk pets as well.
Choose your inexpensive gift ideas for students with learning in mind. These inflatable globes are fun to throw around but can be used for reference and exploration too.
Have you met a kid yet who doesn’t love LEGO? These mini building block kits are basically the same thing, but you can get 12 of them for less than a couple of dollars apiece.
Just knowing that their teacher sees them for who they are can make all the difference for some kids. Instead of a tangible gift, why not put your gratitude into words?
Another version of the Pop-It fidget. These colorful bumpy balls are fun to toss around and also to fidget with when your student needs to get some energy out.
Print out these free mask templates and create a little DIY kit for your students. You can also include colored paper and a pack of crayons or markers if you’d like.
Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 40 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.
1. Concrete poem
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
This clever activity is basically a “shape poem” made from words, phrases, and whole sentences found in whatever the student is reading. The words are laid out to create an image that represents something from the story. For example, if a student is reading a fairy tale about a princess, they may create a found poem using words from the story in the shape of a castle.
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2. Graphic novel
Challenge your students to reimagine something they’re reading—a scene, a chapter, or a whole book—as a graphic novel. Provide a task list for the assignment. For instance, six scenes from the story, three characters, setting details, etc. And, of course, provide detailed illustrations.
3. BookSnaps
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BookSnaps are digital, visual representations of a reader’s reflection on and insight into a book or other text. Students simply take a photo or screenshot of a page or passage, then add annotations, comments, illustrations, or other reactions. They are a great way to share personal connections and spark discussion.
4. Journal entry
Ask your students to place themselves in the shoes of one of their book’s characters and write a first-person diary entry from their perspective. Ask them to choose a critical moment in the story with plenty of interaction and emotion to talk about.
If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. On the inside of the top lid, students draw their book’s cover. On the bottom, they draw a circle and divide it into pizza slices. On each wedge, they tell a part of the story.
6. Book jacket
Challenge your students to think like a book illustrator and create a new, different book jacket for the text they’re reading. Make sure the jacket has an enticing front cover and a summary inside the front fold. On the back fold, provide a short biography of the author and on the back cover a few book reviews.
7. Rewrite the ending
Challenge students to come up with an alternate ending to the book they are reading. Write a summary of the story up to the point of the new ending, then take the story in a different direction.
8. Fictional yearbook entries
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Have your students create a yearbook entry based on the characters and setting in their book. What do the characters look like? Cut out magazine pictures to serve as their school pictures. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they belong to or lead? What awards have they won? This fun assignment is a great opportunity for your students to dig deep into the characters’ personas.
How fun is this? Instead of a food tasting (or wine tasting for us adults), students can put on a book tasting. Set a lovely table, prepare the main dish (a book report from each student), and have students circulate and sample.
Students are obsessed with stickers! In this unique activity, students will design water bottle stickers that the main character of the book would love to have, along with a short description of their choices.
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11. Sandwich book report
Yum! You’ll notice a lot of creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, different-colored paper cut into appropriately sized shapes represent parts of a sandwich. For instance, tan for the bread, pink for ham, green for lettuce, red for tomato, etc. On each part of the sandwich, students will write about a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.
12. Alphabet book
Have your students create their own alphabet book based on the book they read. After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.
Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students display details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then, they add a head and arms created from card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.
14. Act the part
Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.
15. T-shirt book report
Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint on a plain white T-shirt. Include all the pertinent book report elements and add colorful illustrations. Have all your students wear their T-shirt book reports on the same day and give them time to share with one another.
16. Bookmark
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.
17. Rays of sunshine book report
This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section would expand on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.
18. Reading lists for characters
Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.
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19. Character to-do list
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and create a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.
20. Collage
Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the internet. Glue the pictures onto a piece of poster board and add text. Display student collages around the classroom and do a gallery walk.
21. Book reports in a bag
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.
22. Timeline
Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.
23. File folder book report
Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way. Open a manila file folder flat, then fold each side into the center fold so that it looks like a French door. On each of the outside flaps and all of the inside area, have students create different boxes of information such as author, genre, setting, theme, etc. Students can use colored paper, markers, and crayons to make their report.
24. Map it
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
Create a colorful illustration map of the book’s setting and label all the important locations. This is an especially fun activity for tracking the action in mystery books.
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25. Triorama book report
Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? A triorama is a three-dimensional triangular diorama, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.
26. Character cards
Create trading cards (like baseball cards) for characters from the book. On the front side, draw an illustration of the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two. Give students time to share their cards with classmates or present them to the whole class.
27. Book report mobile
This creative project is easy to make with a wire clothes hanger, strings, and paper. Cover the body of the hanger with a paper illustration of the book cover. Then, fill out cards with key elements of the book like characters, setting, and summary, and attach them to the bottom wire of the hanger with string.
28. Top 10 fact sheet
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.
29. Create a sequel
Have you ever finished a great book and wished the story would go on? Or wondered what happened to the characters 10 or 20 years later? This fun book report idea challenges students to take up where the author left off and follow up on the action and characters on their next adventure.
30. Be a character therapist
Many book plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to make like a therapist and identify a character’s fears. Have them find two or three scenes that illustrate how this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?
31. Comic strips
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.
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32. Charm bracelet book report
What a “charming” way to write a book report! Have students trace their hand and forearm onto a piece of stiff paper and then cut it out and decorate it. Next, add a strip of paper around the wrist as a bracelet. Finally, create “charms” that capture a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail to dangle from the bracelet.
33. Letter to the author
Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.
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34. Poems
Write a poem or song lyrics about the book. Be sure to include main themes, characters, and events that tell the story.
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35. Board games
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
This is a great project to help your students develop deeper insight into what they’re reading. Check out our roundup of the best board games below and challenge students to adapt one to create an interactive book report using one of our free printable games boards.
Create a brochure advertising the book you are reading. Begin by folding an 8 x 11 piece of paper lengthwise. Illustrate all four panels with enticing information about the book to demonstrate understanding. Have students set up a library of the brochures for classmates to browse through on their next book hunt.
Food sometimes tells a story of its own, defining time, region, and history. Find or create a recipe related to the book’s setting, time period, or events, and explain its connection to the story.
38. Movie vs. book
If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.
39. Wanted poster
Donna Paul for We Are Teachers
Make an old-timey Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include an illustration of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for (with examples) as well a detailed account of where the character was last seen.
40. Wheaties box book report
Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like a classic Wheaties box that featured sports heroes. Include a main image on the front of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.
Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
In today’s climate, it can be too easy for kids to get caught up with the concerns and worries of the adult world. That’s why it’s super important to teach our students that, despite the sometimes harsh realities of today’s world, there is always much to be grateful for. Practicing an attitude of gratitude is a skill that students can be taught, and there is no better time than now to focus on gratitude. Whether you are looking for a game, activity, or a craft project, there is something for everyone on our list of meaningful gratitude activities for kids of all ages.
But first, let’s take a look at how helping your students cultivate a strong gratitude practice can benefit them in school, at home, and in their personal growth and development.
Benefits of Gratitude Activities for Kids of All Ages
Improved mental well-being: Regular gratitude practices can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, allowing students to develop a more positive and optimistic mindset.
Stronger social bonds: Gratitude activities encourage students to acknowledge and appreciate one another’s efforts, fostering stronger relationships and a sense of community in the classroom.
Increased student engagement: When students feel recognized and valued, they’re more likely to actively participate in class, which leads to greater engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
Better emotional regulation: Gratitude helps students build emotional resilience, making it easier for them to manage their feelings and stay focused during class.
Improved behavior: By promoting a culture of appreciation and respect, gratitude activities can reduce disruptive behaviors and contribute to a more positive classroom environment.
Enhanced academic performance: A positive outlook fostered by gratitude can improve concentration and motivation, which often leads to better academic results.
Development of a growth mindset: Gratitude activities shift the focus from outcomes to effort and progress, which reinforces the value of learning and self-improvement.
All in all, cultivating a gratitude practice with your students can create a more positive, supportive, and productive classroom environment, and give your students skills they can carry throughout their lifetime.
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Gratitude Activities for Kids in Elementary School
1. Gratitude scavenger hunt
Naomi Meredith at We Are Teachers
Take some time with your students to actively look for things that we can be thankful for. Create a master list of items for your scavenger hunt. Include items like something that is your favorite color, something that smells good, something that makes you smile. Or perhaps something you’ve never noticed, something that makes your life easier, or someone you really like. Get creative and prepare your own list tailored to your group of kids.
2. Gratitude videos
As always, videos are a wonderful way to engage students with a topic. We’ve compiled a list of 22 awesome videos to help kids understand what gratitude is all about. From gratitude meditations to Kid President to short stories, there’s something on the list that will help your students connect.
This simple craft is a meaningful way for kids to think about all that they are grateful for. Use a sturdy orange paper plate for the turkey’s body, and glue “feathers” cut from different-colored construction paper to the back, two-thirds of the way around. Next, on each “feather,” have students write something they are thankful for—friends, family, home, school, etc. Finally, use a toilet paper roll painted brown for the body and add eyes, a beak, a wattle, and a hat made from a small cup painted black.
4. Pickup sticks: gratitude edition
A simple yet fun variation on the classic game of pickup sticks that helps reinforce the practice of gratitude. First, create a key that corresponds to the colors of your particular set of pickup sticks. Then, to begin play, students will take turns selecting a stick, then finding the corresponding gratitude prompt on the key to share something they are thankful for. For example, the key may read “red = name a person you are grateful for,” “blue = name an activity you are grateful for,” etc.
This simple activity helps young students practice their alphabet skills, but more importantly, their gratitude skills. To start, supply each child with an ABC worksheet with each letter written in a column down the left side. On the right side of the page, provide blanks for students to fill in with a word that starts with each letter. After everyone finishes, gather them together and invite students to share.
6. Gratitude acrostics
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Grab these free printable templates for a fun Thanksgiving (or anytime!) writing assignment. Each template focuses on a different word—family, thankful, gratitude. Students think of one thing starting with each letter of that word that they are grateful for and fill in the blank.
7. Gratitude sphere
If you love rustic decor, this is the gratitude project for you and your students. Grab a grapevine sphere or wreath or a few branches from outside. Then give each student a circle cut from burlap and have them write one thing they are thankful for on it with a Sharpie. (If students would like to do more than one, feel free!) Finally, attach all your students’ sentiments to the sphere, wreath, or branches with twine so that they are charmingly dangling.
Take a few moments each day to have your students complete a different gratitude-based drawing prompt. Encourage them to get creative and draw something that is personally meaningful to them. Allow students who would like to share to do so, but if some students prefer to keep their drawings private, that’s OK too. Brainstorm a list of ideas such as: Draw someone who is important to you, draw an activity that makes you happy, draw your happy place, etc.
9. Thankfulness chain
Such a fun and simple idea—we love that all you need to do this project is some construction paper and markers. We also love the nostalgia of making paper chains leading up to holidays. First, cut construction paper in fall colors into strips and display them in a bin or basket along with a few Sharpie pens. Explain that, together, you are going to make a paper chain of things you are all grateful for. Write down three things you are personally grateful for and join the three strips together to start the chain. Throughout the week, encourage students to add a strip every time they think of something they are grateful for. Challenge them to see how long they can make the chain before Thanksgiving break.
10. M&M gratitude game
Every kid likes games that include snacks! Have students partner up and then give each pair a small bag of plain M&Ms. Display a key that includes a task for each color. For example, “red = share a place you are grateful for,” “green = share a person you are grateful for,” etc. Then have students take turns picking one M&M and sharing their answers with one another.
11. Gratitude sunflowers
Have students grow a garden of positivity and thankfulness with beautiful gratitude sunflowers. For this activity, you will need yellow, brown, and green construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers. With the brown paper, have students cut a circle for the center of the sunflower. With the yellow paper, have students cut petals, and with the green paper, a stem and leaves. On each of the yellow petals, ask students to write one thing they are thankful for. Then assemble the flowers using glue. Display your class’s sunflower garden, ideally in the hallway to share their abundant feelings of gratitude with the school.
12. Gratitude stones
This is one of the simplest gratitude activities for kids. Take a nature walk and have students gather stones. When you get back to the classroom, have students paint hearts or words like “thankful,” “gratitude,” “happiness,” or “love” on their rocks. Once they dry, encourage them to take their rocks home and distribute them around their neighborhood to spread random moments of gratitude.
13. Gratitude leaf garland
Naomi Meredith at We Are Teachers
Use colorful leaf printouts (or create your own) to challenge students to write one thing they are grateful for on as many leaves as they can. Once students complete their leaves, string them together and display the colorful gratitude garland in your classroom to remind students of all the little and big things there are to be thankful for.
FREE PRINTABLE
Our free printable bundle includes Leaf Templates in a large variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some even include writing lines!
14. Gratitude tree
Naomi Meredith for We Are Teachers
You can also have each student create their own personal gratitude tree. Students write what they’re thankful for. Then have them color the leaves and cut them out before gluing the leaves to the branches on a sheet of paper with an outline of a tree.
FREE PRINTABLE
Get your free Gratitude Tree printable to do this project with your students.
15. Thank you in any language
Teach your students to say thank you in different languages. In sign language, that means bringing your hand, with fingers together and palm facing in, to your chin and pulling your hand away in an arc. Kind of like blowing a kiss but coming from your chin instead of your lips. Other ways to say thank you: Gracias in Spanish, Merci in French, Arigato in Japanese, Danke in German, etc. An easy Google search can provide many examples. Make it a game and give students points whenever they say thank you in another language. When they reach a certain number of points, celebrate with an activity!
16. Compliment circle
This is such a great way to create a kind and inclusive classroom while also teaching students to be grateful for the things that make them and their classmates special. Have kids sit in a circle with their legs out straight, and then choose one student to begin by giving a classmate a compliment. Once a student has received a compliment, they pull their legs into crisscross applesauce so that others can see who is still left to compliment as you continue around the circle.
17. Thank-you coloring pages
Naomi Meredith at We are Teachers
It’s always a good time to show appreciation and gratitude for the helpers that make our lives better every day! Download these free coloring pages and share them with your students.
18. Gratitude spinner
For this activity, you will need a sturdy paper plate and two circles cut from card stock that fit inside of the plate. Use a pencil to divide one circle into eight equal triangular sections. In each section, have students write one thing they are thankful for. Then, have students color the other circle in any manner they’d like. Help them cut one triangular segment from the decorated circle and write in the words “I am grateful.” Finally, place the circle with words in the center of the plate with the decorated circle on top, and join the three layers together with a brad. Once they’re finished, they can spin the spinner and reflect on all the things they are grateful for.
Heart maps are a creative way to combine doodling and thoughtful reflection. Print out our free heart template and pass it out to students. Next, have them decorate the background any way they’d like. Now, ask them to think carefully about some of the things they are grateful for. Then, using whatever colors or whatever types of lettering they choose, have them fill up their heart to bursting.
FREE PRINTABLE
Use the large black-and-white printable in this Heart Template Bundle to do the heart-map project in your classroom.
20. Gratitude jar
Naomi Meredith for We Are Teachers
Everybody appreciates shout-outs. Set up a jar in your classroom and set a stack of paper slips and pens next to it. Ask your students to add to the gratitude jar whenever someone in the class (or at school) does something that they are grateful for. Once a week, read the shout-outs aloud. This activity is wonderful for reinforcing a sense of community in your classroom. You can also let students do this as an individual activity using the free printable gratitude jar worksheets below.
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Grab our free printable Gratitude Jar activity for your classroom.
21. Posters
Talk with your students about the power of positive messages. Brainstorm different ways to encourage each other to find things to be grateful for. Then, divide students into groups and have them design colorful posters with the messages to display around the classroom or school.
22. Gratitude writing prompts
Naomi Meredith at We Are Teachers
Help kids make gratitude a habit with mindful journaling. Use the free printable writing paper below or have students use the prompts to answer in their own personal journals.
FREE PRINTABLE
This bundle includes five styles of Gratitude Writing Paper with and without space for drawing plus a set of 15 gratitude writing prompts.
23. Gratitude mobiles
Gratitude activities for middle school should leave room for individuality. For this activity, provide each student with a stick (gathered from outside). Have them attach a string hanger at the top with six dangling strings hanging down. Set out a variety of craft materials—beads, wire, charms, corks, etc.—to adorn each string with. Also provide small paper tags for them to write one thing they are thankful for to attach to each string. Your students will love creating these personalized reminders of abundance in their life.
Pass out printable gratitude cards to students. There are full-color cards or a black-and-white version students can color. Tell students to find a person who fits the description on each card and present it to them. It’s a great way to encourage your students to express themselves.
FREE PRINTABLE
Our free printable Gratitude Cards are available in full-color or black-and-white.
25. Beach ball gratitude activity
Label each colored section of a blow-up beach ball with a gratitude prompt such as “What is one thing that always brings a smile to your face?” or “Name the last nice thing someone did for you,” etc. Then circle the kids up and start up some music. Have the kids toss the ball around until the music stops. Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops must answer the question that is under their left thumb. Once they answer, put on the music and continue until everyone has had a turn. If a person who has already answered gets the ball, have them choose someone who hasn’t yet answered.
26. Teacher thank-yous
Naomi Meredith at We Are Teachers
Encourage your students to draft a letter of gratitude. This powerful exercise involves kids personally thanking an educator for being in their lives. Since gratitude activities for middle school can be a little more involved, you may want to set a minimum word count. Better yet, download our free Teacher Thank-You cards and spread the love to all the staff members around your building.
27. Gratitude paper marbling
Give each student a 4-by-4-inch square of watercolor paper or white card stock. Fill a shallow rectangular foil tray about halfway up with water. Begin pouring drops of nail polish into the water, swirling gently with a chopstick or skewer. Don’t mix it too much! Then, take your paper square and place it face down in the solution. Carefully lift it out (you may want to use tongs) and place it on paper towels to dry. Each student’s creation will come out entirely different. Once each student’s square has dried, ask them to write something they are thankful for on their paper. Use a hole punch to create a hole at the top of each square. String the squares together and drape them from the ceiling of the classroom.
28. Gratitude collage or vision board
Provide students with magazines and have them cut out images that remind them of things they are grateful for or things they wish for. Then, have them glue the images together to create their own personal gratitude collage or vision board.
29. Gratitude charades
Pass out slips of paper with the sentence starter “I am thankful for …” written on them. Ask each student to write down one answer. Remind them to keep their answers clean and sincere. Then, divide up into teams and play a few rounds of charades with their responses.
Gratitude Activities for Kids in High School
30. Gratitude wall or bulletin board
Ask kids to take a moment and think of one simple thing they are thankful for at the beginning of class. Have them write it on a sticky not or index card and attach it to a bulletin board or designated space on the wall. Do this for one week and see if you can completely cover the board. Better yet, have your students from different periods compete for the biggest wall.
31. Thankfulness nature walk
Take a nature walk with your students and focus on appreciating all of the beautiful and amazing things around us that we often take for granted. Have students walk mindfully and silently in single file as they observe their surroundings. Take it a step further and have them journal about their experience when you get back to the classroom.
32. Gratitude conversation starters
It’s not always easy to dive into personally meaningful conversations. That’s why conversation starters are such a great idea. On strips of paper, write down prompts such as “Where is the place you feel happiest?”, “Who is a person that you are especially grateful for?”, or “What is one learning experience that you are grateful for?” Have students pair up and let each one choose one or two questions they are comfortable sharing.
33. Gratitude playlist
Set up good vibes in your classroom with songs that focus on gratitude. From Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson to Earth, Wind & Fire, there’s something every kid in your class will want to groove to.
34. Gratitude watercolor spiral
This might just be the prettiest gratitude project on this list. All you need is watercolor paints, brushes, paper, and Sharpie pens. Have students draw a spiral with the Sharpie on a piece of watercolor paper. Then, along the line, have them write things they are thankful for. When they are finished writing, have them trace the spiral with watercolor paints. For a beautiful effect, have them use three or four different colors.
35. Donation bin
Teaching kids the power of giving back can also help them appreciate the things they have. Regardless of whether you collect school supplies or take donations of winter hats and gloves, kids will learn how good it feels to give to those in need.
36. Family letters
It’s easy to take the people closest to us for granted. Take a moment to have students reflect on the ways in which they are thankful for their families. They can choose one person or speak to their family as a whole. Then, ask students to write a letter expressing their gratitude. Suggest that they share their letters on Thanksgiving Day.
37. Flip complaints
Flip the script with this meaningful activity. Regardless of your disposition, negative thoughts sometimes pop up. In this social-emotional learning exercise, students will write out negative thoughts and practice replacing them with more positive ones. Students can pair up or work in a small group, if that works for your community.
38. Gratitude quotes
Being thankful is scientifically proven to improve the quality of our lives, so it’s something we should definitely encourage in our classrooms year-round. Share a few of these quotes of gratitude from children’s books and famous people. Ask them to choose one as their favorite and write a journal entry about it.
FREE RESOURCE
You’ll feel good about sharing this roundup of Gratitude Quotes with your students.
39. Gratitude heroes
Ask students to think of a famous person, dead or alive, to whom they are grateful. Maybe they’ll choose Benjamin Franklin for discovering electricity. Maybe they think of the caveman who invented the wheel. Maybe they think of Michael Jordan for revolutionizing basketball. Have them write that person’s name on an index card along with three or four sentences explaining their choice.
40. Spirals
This is another one of those cool and creative gratitude activities for kids to display the things they’re thankful for. On a sheet of drawing paper, have kids draw a spiral that starts in the middle and circles outward. Next, have them fill in the entirety of the line with words or phrases that show what they are thankful for. Another fun way to do this is to cut along the lines of the spiral they drew, creating a 3D whirligig. Then, flattening the whirligig, have them fill in their words. Finally, have them poke a hole on the narrowest end of the spiral and connect a piece of yarn to hang their creation.
Autumn is in the air, and you can hardly look to the left or right without seeing an abundance of creative inspiration in the form of pumpkins, scarecrows, sunflowers, and foliage. Whether you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving, they both provide plenty of inspiration for your next art project. Jack-o’-lanterns, witches, spiders, candy corn, and turkeys are just some of our favorites. We have something for every age and in every medium in our list below. So grab your favorite art supplies and get to work on some of these awesome fall art projects!
Fantastic Fun and Learning
1. Fall Tree Sticker Scene
We love this idea because it is no-mess and low-prep. Make a tree on some white paper, then let your students go to town decorating it with a bowl full of fun fall stickers!
We love this project since it teaches an art lesson on positive and negative spaces. Use painter’s tape to put a leaf template on some black card stock, then let your students smudge chalk pastel all around it. Finally, remove the tape and admire the finished project!
Older students will surely enjoy this pumpkin doodle project. Zentangles are not only fun, they offer stress-relieving qualities for busy high schoolers!
Be sure to have some pretty scrapbooking paper on hand so students have options to personalize their scarecrows. Once they’re finished, they can put on a puppet show for you!
This sunflower collage can work for students as young as preschool or as old as high school since the size of your scraps and the detail included are up to the artist.
As far as fall art projects go, this one can be done last-minute since all you need is some construction paper, a Sharpie, glue, and some scissors. Have students create as many unique trees as they want before gluing them in the layout of their choosing.
This turkey headband is the perfect craft to do before Thanksgiving break in November. While relatively easy, you may want to have an extra set of hands around to measure little heads.
Making a puppet from a paper bag is a rite of passage for any kid, so why not have your students try their hand at this adorable scarecrow? Sit back and watch the imaginative free play once their puppet friends are finished.
No list of fall art projects would be complete without some Halloween imagery. Rather than have your old magazines end up in a landfill, why not use them to create a fun jack-o’-lantern collage?
Surprisingly simple to create, we just love these spooky black cats. This project will work on young students’ dexterity since they will need to fold their paper accordion-style.
These apples look so tasty we just want to take a bite out of them! This is simultaneously an art lesson and a science experiment since students will be mixing their own puffy paint.
While not exactly scary, these sweet witches will be sure to delight your students. Although they are cute on their own, the light-up tea-light noses really put them over the edge!
So simple and yet so adorable, we can’t get enough of these fall gnomes. Cut out a hat from some fall-themed scrapbook paper, select a fake fall leaf for a beard, then staple a nose on to tie it all together.
Bring your students outside for a fall hike, have them collect leaves of all sizes and shapes, then let them create their own unique leaf person. Have some googly eyes and markers on hand so your students can get really creative.
These paper plate candy corns are the perfect art project to do during the month of October. Grab your scissors and orange and yellow paint and get to work!
While you’ll need to check for allergies before proceeding with this craft, the end result is just too precious. Once their masterpiece is complete, let your students enjoy the extra candy.
Painting pumpkins should be included in any list of fall art projects. Q-tips make for the perfect paintbrushes for small pumpkins since you can make small, precise designs. Be sure to use non-washable paints if you want to display them outside.
This project is perfect for working on motor skills since students will need to string the beads on their pipe cleaners and twist them into shape. An added bonus is they make for the cutest table decor during Thanksgiving dinner.
This is the perfect art project to break out when you need a time filler since it can be worked on and then put away for later. The finished product will be oh-so satisfying to look at!
Finger painting is as synonymous with preschool as apple trees are with fall. This handprint/fingerprint tree will surely end up on refrigerators everywhere.
Who says coffee filters are just for coffee and window washing? Use a stencil to create a spooky tree silhouette, paint a coffee filter, then put it all together for the perfect window decoration.
We love this spider project since it is really two crafts in one. Have your students start collecting empty toilet paper rolls in the weeks before you plan to do this art project.
You can use toilet paper and paper towel rolls for the base of these wind socks, or you can choose colored card stock folded into shape. You’ll also need some fall stickers and autumn-colored crepe paper to complete this pretty decoration.
Kids can use a funnel to fill orange balloons with rice. We especially love that it helps kids develop their gross motor skills. Finally, supply kids with Sharpies and let them decorate their pumpkin’s face.
Washi tape can be a little pricey, so stock up when it’s on sale. Have kids cut pumpkin shapes out of orange construction paper, and then let them decorate their pumpkins with orange and yellow washi tape. Finally, add a stem and some leaves.
We love a good recycling project that also doubles as a cute craft. Have your students scavenge at home for puzzles that are missing pieces. Then, gather all the puzzle pieces, paint them in fall colors, and let them dry. Finally, assemble them into a wreath and add a cute fall-themed bow.
As far as fall art projects go, this is one of the tastiest we’ve ever seen. Gather all different types of candy and a cardboard wreath base. Then, get gluing all your candy down before topping it off with a bow!
Some fall art projects, like this one, are best suited for older kids and teens since they are a bit more involved. Repurpose some old books by painting the pages and creating this high-end-looking pumpkin art!
Who doesn’t love a good macaroni art project? Have your students paint macaroni in fall colors. Then, while waiting for them to dry, have them create the base for their tree. Finally, glue those wonderfully fall-themed macaroni leaves on your tree or on the ground.
Who’s ready for summer fun? If you’re looking to beat the heat or give kiddos a fun summer activity, then you need these free Ice Cream Coloring Pages. Just submit the form on this page to get five unique designs.
Fifth grade art students are starting to master more advanced skills and techniques, and the work they create is really something to be proud of. These project ideas will expose them to new artists and concepts and help them find the creative artist within!
In Art We Trust
1. Illustrate your name
This is a perfect project to kick off the school year. Kids illustrate their names with items that fit their style and personality. It will help you get to know them and assess their art skills at the same time.
We all know kids (and adults!) love LEGO. That’s what makes these portraits so cool! Kids draw themselves as minifigs, starting with basic shapes and adding details as they go.
This is one of those activities with such impressive results that you’ll be amazed it can be done by fifth grade art students! Take a look at Jasper Johns’ number paintings, then use stencils and rulers to create your own incredible designs.
The color wheel is a basic art concept your students have probably mastered by now, so take things a step further by crafting 3D color wheel spheres instead. This is an easy project that requires nothing more than paper plates, paint, and paper clips.
Picasso’s mind-bending works stimulate students to look at the world in a whole new way. This cardboard relief portrait is all about deconstructing and reassembling to find a new perspective.
Hokusai’s woodblock prints are the inspiration for these paper lanterns. Use watercolors to create soft images, then fold the paper into lanterns to hang from the ceiling.
It may look complicated, but this fifth grade art idea starts with basic concentric curved lines that any student can draw. The magic comes when you fill in with Sharpies, then shade with colored pencils.
The coiling method of ceramics is really accessible for everyone. Though it’s often used to make pots, we love how it works for these colorful coil sculptures too.
Explore the concepts of positive and negative space with this cool paper craft. Kids will have to be very careful as they cut so their reflections will be exact.
The watercolor resist method is an eternal art room favorite. It’s terrific for creating a snowy winter scene with dreamy watercolors and stark bare trees.
Zentangles have become popular in recent years as a way to relax and de-stress. Teach students how they work, building designs around the negative space of their initial.
This sculpture project requires your fifth grade art students to tap into their engineering skills too. They’ll have to figure out how to balance their letters in a way that’s pleasing to the eye but also stable enough to stay in place.
Grant Wood’s American Gothic is one of those iconic paintings everyone knows. That’s what makes this parody project a real hoot! Kids re-create the painting with a new pair of main characters, showing that art definitely has room for humor.
There are so many details in these cool bird nests that you’ll just want to stare at them for hours. Start with a painting, then add 3D elements like twigs and clay bird eggs.
This pop art project starts with a directed drawing lesson, as kids learn to create the various paintbrushes. Then they add color and paint speckles to bring the piece to life.
Review terms like horizon and background with these soft lighthouse landscapes. Use white crayon on black construction paper to add depth to the lighthouse itself.
Here’s another awesome blending activity, this time with oil pastels. Kids can draw sunflowers with true-to-life colors or use their imaginations to create any color scheme they like.
Start by mixing paint and paste to create a thick mixture to spread on paper. Then create patterns with your fingers, a fork, or any other object. Finish by cutting one page into strips and weaving it into the other.
Combine multiple art styles in one awesome project. In the center, students draw their subject realistically. On either side, they draw the same object in abstract and non-objective forms.
For kids who feel overwhelmed by drawing, try the grid method. Break a drawing into grid sections, copying each section one at a time. It makes a big project seem much more manageable.
This is part fifth grade art project, part writing project. Kids fold paper using a bookmaking technique called “squash books,” then write and illustrate the sections to tell all about themselves.
Banyan trees are works of art in themselves, so they’re sure to inspire your students to create beautiful pieces. They can show the trailing roots reflected in water or imagine them underground.
Keith Haring’s vivid graffiti style is instantly appealing to kids, so they’ll enjoy creating their own breakdancing scenes. All you really need is paper and markers for this quick project.
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama made incredible art using only dots of different sizes. Challenge your students to do the same with these clever pumpkin prints mounted on stencil-rolled backgrounds.
Elements of art are stylistic features that are included within an art piece to help the artist communicate. This creative project demonstrates all seven.
By second grade, students have a better grasp of basic art concepts and will therefore love a chance to try out new techniques and materials. That’s why they’ll embrace these imaginative projects, which use a wide variety of media to create amazing results. Whether you want to introduce a famous artist like Monet to your students or a concept like 3D sculpture, there really is something for everyone on our list. And parents will be impressed by the beautiful masterpieces their kids bring home to display!
Picklebums
1. Design with yarn art
Looking for a way to use up yarn scraps? Try this cool idea! Use pieces of clear self-adhesive shelf paper, and this second grade art project is a breeze.
String-pull painting has become a trendy craft in recent years, and second grade art students will love getting to try it. The abstract designs they’ll create will definitely wow everyone.
First have kids draw landscapes, cityscapes, or seascapes on manila paper. Then show them how to tear construction paper into pieces to fit their designs and glue into place. Finally, mount the masterpieces on large pieces of construction paper.
This is the perfect second grade art project to do in a pinch since all you will need are crayons, tape, and paper. In addition to taping crayons together and coloring with them, you can have your students experiment with crayon etchings and mixing colors by overlaying them.
Once kids learn the trick to making these 3D hot-air balloons, they’ll weave them in no time. Then, they can spend time adding details to the background, like clouds, birds, or kites flying by!
Kids start by painting an abstract background. Then they add a photo of themselves with a collage of text strips about their favorite things, dreams, and wishes.
This would be the perfect craft to do around Thanksgiving, but we think it would work anytime. Bonus: If you have a toy kitchen in your classroom, this craft can double as a toy.
Mixing and contrasting colors are key concepts for young art students to learn. These cute umbrellas are a fun way to see the color wheel in action using liquid watercolors.
Start by having second grade art students paint an oblong cardboard box with terra-cotta paint and fill it with paper shreds for soil. Then, craft paper flowers and plant a fresh display of color!
Take inspiration from artists like Kandinsky and Frank Stella and make bold geometric art pieces. Kids can trace around lids or plates to make circles or try them freehand.
This is a second grade art project that will take multiple classes to complete, but the end result will totally be worth it. Be sure to really bring it in the supply department with different-colored straws, a variety of beads and pipe cleaners, and some jingle bells.
The best art provokes a reaction—in this case, surprise! Fold the paper and sketch your figure’s face, then open it to add a gaping mouth full of teeth.
Art is all about encouraging kids to see themselves in unique new ways. Underwater self-portraits allow kids to imagine themselves enjoying life under the sea!
These sailboats are easy to replicate with just sponges, wood skewers, card stock, and glue. You can even race them in a big tub of water by having students blow air into a straw to push their boat across the water.
Tissue paper art replicates the soft lines and translucent colors of Monet’s impressionist style. Use this technique to create your own peaceful lily pond.
The soft and colorful flowers in the background contrast sharply with the patterned lines of these friendly creatures. Take the pressure off kids by letting them trace the animal shapes so they can focus on adding texture instead.
One of the best things about this second grade art project is that you can really tailor it to the seasons. In addition to spring flowers, consider fall leaves and paper acorns, or holly leaves and poinsettia flowers.
Your students will definitely be excited to bring their favorite stuffed buddy to school. They will be even more excited when they realize it is going to be the subject of their next art project!
Watch trees blowing in the breeze on a windy day. Then take a look at the work of Gustav Klimt and emulate his style for the bendy trees in this project. Let your imagination take hold and add leaning buildings too!
This is a cool project to do if your students are also studying birds in science class, but they’ll enjoy it even if they’re not. Kids can try to re-create real birds, or let their imagination fly and dream up an entirely new species.
Before beginning this project, read the book Not a Box with your students. Be sure to set aside multiple class periods to work on these since your students will likely get carried away—in a good way!
Begin by learning about the importance of totems and totem poles to First Nations people of the northwest coast. Then have kids choose symbols that are meaningful to them to create their own paper totems.
Pick up some Model Magic, then grab your markers and paint and let your students’ imaginations run wild. They will definitely get a kick out of how realistic their ice cream sundaes look!
These collages may just look like random scraps of paper, but there are actually multiple art concepts in use here. Kids should be able to identify organic vs. geometric shapes and primary vs. secondary colors.
Origami whales with curling paper water spouts add dimension and texture to these compositions. Second grade art projects that use folding and cutting give kids a chance to improve their fine motor skills too.
Second graders might be a little young to understand the “fearful symmetry” of Blake’s Tyger, but they’ll enjoy using the paint-and-print technique to make these wild faces.
Kids will be fascinated to see how wetting the bottom half of the paper changes and mutes the paint colors. Use oil pastels to add lines and water effects.
Clay can feel a little intimidating, but it’s not too difficult to roll a long “snake” and coil it up. Add a body with eyestalks, and the sculpting is done!
The watercolor wash in the background is set off by the geometric-patterned lines of the vases in the foreground. The tissue paper flowers add another bit of texture to this mixed-media project.
These unique pumpkin patches are so fun to make. Ask your students to make the pumpkins as realistic as they can. Then, they can set their imaginations free and make the rest of the composition as unrealistic as they like!
These landscape paintings help kids understand the concepts of foreground, middle ground, and background. They’ll also use techniques like wax-crayon-resist and cardboard printing.
Take a trip to a tropical isle and learn art concepts like warm colors, silhouettes, and horizon line. Each piece will be unique, but they’ll all be masterpieces!
It will be fun to see how different each of your students’ paintings come out despite starting with the same premise. We love that this second grade art project teaches about perspective as parts of the snake’s body will be visible while other parts will be hidden.
These colorful creations are so simple and fun. Made from paper plates, these crafts get their vibrant color from liquid watercolors and crayons. Kids will love to fly these birds like paper airplanes or hang them as lively decorations.
We love how incredibly versatile and beautiful these are. Use rocks, leaves, flowers, and more to create lasting markings. Kids can be involved in every step of this project, including collecting materials from nature, which can be an endless source of inspiration.
As the school year draws to a close, it’s important to plan end-of-year activities that help bring closure to your time together with students. Talk with your students about what made this year special, recall the good memories, and reflect on all you’ve learned. After all, you’ve all put in a lot of work to get to this point. Have fun with these end-of-year activities and assignments, and let the countdown begin!
1. Hold a class family circle
Life Between Summers
A family circle is a great way to wrap up a terrific year. Prepare a set of reflection questions, then allow students to take the mic and ask a friend one of the questions. Continue around the circle until every student has had a chance to answer.
Awesome for building reading comprehension skills, whodunits are also a hoot for students to solve! Students must read the clues and collaborate to solve the mystery. Try this one: Who Freed the Fish? And pretty soon your students will be tapping into their inner Sherlock.
It’s amazing what beautiful poetry can come from just about any piece of writing. All you need is a photocopied article, essay, or book excerpt and a Sharpie marker.
Learn more: Blackout Poetry at Just Add Students via YouTube
4. Let students teach
Have your students sign up to teach their classmates a 20- to 30-minute mini-lesson about something they’re passionate about. Some examples include leading the class in a game, song, or other group activity.
Kids love a little friendly competition, especially when it’s quick and easy. Sneak in rounds between activities and hold the finals on the last day of school.
Split your class into two teams facing each other. Have each student write three things about themselves and wad it into a snowball, then let the snowball fight commence! Set a time for a few minutes of “fight” time, then have students each grab a snowball and read the items listed, guessing whose paper it is.
Here’s a sweet way to celebrate the end of the year! Make paper ice cream sundaes with a different memory on each scoop. You can have kids draw these themselves or buy a printable version at the link below.
Flip is one of our favorite classroom tools, especially when it comes to end-of-year activities. Post topics like “What did you learn this year?” or “Share your favorite memory from the past year.” Kids post their video responses and check out other students’ contributions too.
10. Create a collaborative puzzle
Top Teaching Tasks
Give each student a piece of the puzzle and let them get creative! Suggest a theme such as best memory or most important thing I learned or I’ll never forget, etc. Students can write on their puzzle pieces. Once the puzzle is done, you can take a picture and make sure every student gets a copy.
Songs are like smells—just hearing one can bring back all kinds of memories. Ask students (as a class or individually) to compile a list of songs that relate to the past school year and have them write about why each tune has a place on the list. Celebrate the last day of school by listening to songs from the playlist as you reflect on the year gone by. And while you’re at it, check out 85 Awesome Songs for Your End-of-the-Year Playlist.
Give each student a brown paper bag, then ask them to decorate the front and add some reflections about the year on the other three panels. Then, each student adds 10 items from the year to their bag, with notes about why each is important. Finish up by having each kid lay out their items on their desk. Have a gallery walk around the room for everyone to see one another’s selections.
Commencement speeches aren’t only for graduations! Finish out the year by reading or watching other great commencements speeches (the web is full of them). Then challenge students to write—and deliver, if you like—their own speeches for the year they’ve just finished.
What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project. Learning virtually? Have students create a Google Slideshow instead.
This is a skill every kid should learn: writing and sending thank-you notes. So why not incorporate it into your lineup of end-of-year activities? Have kids write a note to someone who made their school year special, then seal them in envelopes, address them, and deliver them by hand or mail. And while you’re at it, why not write a thank-you note to your own class?
Ask your students to sum up their favorite school-year memory (Science fair? Field day? Creative class presentations?) in one snapshot. Younger kids can draw pictures of the event, while older kids are likely to have a photo on their phone they’d be willing to share. Assemble them on a bulletin board—real-world or digital—with a few words from each student about what made that moment so special.
Instead of counting down the days until the end, count up the days from the year behind you! Get students counting by having them use a calendar to figure out how many Mondays you’ve had this year, how many Fridays, how many P.E. days, and how many Jell-O-in-the-cafeteria days. Then work together to make a bar graph and hang it on the wall.
Take a break and let the students lead the class for a change. If you’re reviewing material for finals or another end-of-year test, have each student (or a group) lead the review session on a particular topic. You can also have your students create their own lesson on a topic they’re passionate about. Or have kids in one grade make and present lessons on what students in the grade below them can expect to learn the following year. There are a lot of options here, and all of them give you time to take a breather!
19. Talk behind each other’s backs (really!)
Have your students help tape a piece of lined paper to one another’s backs. Have each student get out a felt-tipped marker (not a Sharpie—it may bleed through). Set a timer and put on some favorite music. Let the students mix around the room and write a positive message on each student’s paper. For example, The best thing about you is …, What I appreciate most about you is …, I remember …, etc. After a set amount of time, have students stop, remove their papers from their backs, and enjoy reading the words of love from their classmates. (For a socially distanced spin, create a Google Slide or Padlet template for each student instead.)
Little ones especially have a hard time with the end of a school year. Next year lots of things will be different, and that can be a sad and even scary thought for some. Read-alouds are simple but powerful end-of-year activities. Check out these 11 End-of-Year Books To Bring Your Class Closure, like The Egg by M.P. Robertson, to spark conversations about what kids have learned and what lies ahead.
22. Dream about the summer ahead
Third Grade Love
Here’s an end-of-year assignment that includes both art and writing. Have kids draw a portrait of themselves, then use the template at the link below to cut out and decorate an enormous pair of sunglasses. On the glasses, have them write about their summer plans (or the things they’d like to do).
Students get a chance to practice public speaking in a very meaningful way with this end-of-year activity. Get a few liters of ginger ale and plastic champagne flutes from a party store, arrange your students in a circle, and have everyone say something—maybe a goal for the next school year, well-wishes for their peers, a favorite memory. After everyone has spoken, lift your glasses with a cheer and celebrate to end the school year.
24. Author a six-word memoir
Six-Word Memoirs Project
This project has taken the world by storm. In six words, can you capture the essence of your school year? Kids can spend a little or a lot of time on this one, refining their words and even illustrating them. Collect them all into a slideshow (anonymous, if kids prefer) to share on the last day.
This is one of the most exciting end-of-year activities for students. Take them to visit the classrooms they’ll be in next year. Arrange to spend some time with the teachers, talk to the students, and hear more about what they’ll be learning. This is a good way to allay fears many kids have about moving on from a classroom where they’ve been comfortable. (You can do this as a Zoom tour and meet-and-greet too.)
In this fun end-of-year activity that’s perfect for social studies, have your students design a “Great Seal” for their school. First, break them into groups to talk about what makes your school special and memorable for them. Then, have each kid (or group) create their own “seal” based on the ones used by states and cities. This project is especially meaningful for kids about to move on to another school like junior high.
Time magazine can’t have all the fun! Help your students compile a list of the “People of the Year” for your class. Include people important to your classroom (the custodian, the principal, everyone’s favorite “lunch lady”) along with classroom visitors and speakers from the year. Add in some people from current events and pop culture (the current president, a favorite musician) and even folks they studied throughout the year (Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart). Try to take or draw portraits of each, and assign each student to write a brief bio of one of the people included.
28. Write letters or tips for next year’s class
Diary of a Public School Teacher
Who better to advise next year’s class on what they’ll need to succeed than the kids who’ve just finished doing it? They can write letters on their own or work together to create a master list of what it takes to make it in the next grade.
Ask your students to create a wall-worthy piece of art that reflects something they learned in science. Did you study plants? Maybe a watercolor of flowers. Or if you studied space, a cosmic-inspired number. Send their work home to help them remember, or collect them to create a bulletin board that will inspire next year’s class about what they’ll be learning.
30. Host an open-mic night
Teaching … the Art of Possibility
Encourage kids to share the writing they’ve done in (and out of) class with an open mic event. Set up a stage complete with microphone and stool—get great tips for this at the link below—then bring kids up to tell a story or recite a poem. Overcome stage fright with a cool casual vibe and plenty of snacks. Invite friends and family to attend or watch virtually via Zoom.
Write several story titles like “The Great Summer Adventure,” “How My Teacher Lost Her Mind,” or “My Teacher, My Hero” at the top of blank pages. Then, have each student start a story and, after five minutes, pass the story to a neighbor who will continue writing. (Do this digitally on Google Docs if you’re not able to share supplies from person to person.) Continue writing round-robin style until you have several stories to read aloud to the class.
32. Publish a year-end newspaper
Teaching With a Mountain View
You can do this one as a group or individually. Create a basic newspaper template and have the class fill in the front page news. Recap the year, offer advice, illustrate favorite memories, and more. Then, pass these on to the grade below to give them an idea of what lies ahead.
33. Perform a high school (or middle or elementary school) musical number
Break your students into groups and have them create (and perform) musical numbers commemorating the year. They can write new words to existing tunes, choreograph a lip-synch performance to an inspiring or memorable song, or even come up with something entirely new. Invite parents or other classes to a final-day performance, in person or online.
34. Assemble a Book Hall of Fame
Kerri Pierce via Pinterest
Have each student write (or draw) a reflection on the best book they read during the year. Then, save their reflections and post them on a bulletin board or Padlet so that next year’s students can glean reading ideas.
Looking for game-based end-of-year activities? Play charades! Have each student write out one memorable moment from the school year on a slip of paper. Collect all the slips in a bag, hat, or the like. Divide kids into teams and have them come up one team at a time, choose a slip, and act out the memory for the group. No need to keep score—the goal is just to relive all the happy memories from the year.
36. Start a school graffiti wall
The Literacy Leader
Choose a wall in your school or classroom and encourage kids to sign their names and date with a quote or other memory. Use permanent markers or small paintbrushes. Each year, photograph the wall and then paint over it to start anew. If you have enough space, these walls can last longer and only be painted over every so many years, creating much more enduring memories. No wall room? Try a bulletin board or large sheet of paper instead.
Take a day or a week to pass on important things you want your kids to know as they move on in life without you. Share poems, songs, TED Talks, quotes, books, and tips that you think will help them along the way. Don’t forget to include simple life lessons (registering and preparing to vote, protecting yourself online, how to behave on an elevator) that school usually doesn’t teach you. Learn more about this end-of-year activity here.
38. Print up a growing tree
Martin Koprowski via Pinterest
Capture each student’s fingerprint as a tree leaf. Label them with their names, then hang them in your room from year to year so kids can see who’s come before them.
Throughout the year, have students save their best work in a folder or box. At the end of the year, each student chooses their favorite items to display in a portfolio like a binder or display board. Invite parents and friends to come to view everyone’s achievements.
40. Put together time capsules
Mrs. Richardson’s Class
Time capsules are classic end-of-year activities. Students will have so much fun assembling time capsules to be opened someday in the future. These can be as simple as a plastic water bottle filled with written memories or a shoebox stuffed with items to represent what kids did and learned over the school year.
Classroom walls can start to look empty at the end of the year as you take things down to prepare for summer. Temporarily fill in the space with a long strip of butcher paper, then have kids create a timeline of the year. Break it down by month, then ask kids what they remember. Prompt their memories by having them look over their work (what a fun way to review!), and don’t forget to include events, speakers, and holiday celebrations.
42. Fill out an end-of-year roundup
Squarehead Teachers
Sometimes you just need a quick activity that doesn’t take a lot of prep, and that’s where this free printable comes in. Personalize it by taking and printing a photo of each student, or have them draw their own portrait in the space provided.
Build in time to celebrate the end of the year with some fun outdoor activities. Rotate teams for each activity so your students get a chance to mingle with all of their classmates. Here are 25 Clever Outdoor Games to choose from.
44. Put on a show
This is a fun end-of-year activity that could be presented to parents, a younger class, your whole school, or just for your own class. Students can perform skits, dramatic readings, act out a story, showcase a talent, or read a favorite piece from a book they read.
45. Create an end-of-year ABC book
Teaching With a Mountain View
You use them for novel studies, so why not create an ABC book for highlights of the school year? For each letter, students come up with one memorable event or lesson, write a few sentences, and draw a picture. Think of it as a literacy lesson/memory book activity.
One of our favorite end-of-year activities is a book museum walk. Students choose one of their favorite books and create a poster, diorama, trifold, or even dress up as a character. They can work on their projects at home or at school, and their project should provide a sneak peek or trailer of the book. When the students are ready to present, invite another class or grade level in to view the “museum.”
End-of-year activities can help wrap up subject matters like geography. For this fun assignment, have your students research different symbols that represent something unique about your state. Each symbol they discover will become an app for their homemade iPad. Have them draw the symbols on the outside of each app, and then write a brief summary about the symbols on the inside.
Traditionally, one of the classic school end-of-year activities was field trips. But sometimes budgets don’t cooperate, so why not take it virtual? They’re fun and easy, and no permission slips, chaperones, or packed lunches are needed! Check out our favorite Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips.
49. Pump up the school spirit
We Are Teachers
From dress-up days and community-building activities to outreach and volunteer projects, Spirit Week activities are a great way to end the year on a high note. Check out our massive list of School Spirit Week Ideas.
50. Story writing
Have each student start a story and then leave it on their desk. At your signal, have students rotate to the next desk, and give them a minute to read the story there and then add to the story. Keep rotating, giving students the chance to add to as many stories as you have time for. Let students know when you’re on your last rotation so they can wrap the story up.
51. Make a wearable keepsake
Happiness Is Homemade
Mark your time together by making fun tie-dyed bandannas or decorating T-shirts with everyone’s signature or handprint. Or try making friendship bracelets or necklaces. Every time your students wear one of these items, they’ll fondly remember your year together.
Photo booths are a great way to start the school year, but they’re also terrific for the last days of the year. Help kids capture memories with their friends before they part for the summer.
Kids are already dreaming of how they’ll fill the summer hours, so this last-minute math activity will be pure fun! Give kids a budget (say, $2,500), then send them off to research whether their dream trip can be accomplished. Make sure they include airfare or gas money, lodgings, food, spending money, and all the incidentals that add up when you travel.
54. Host a book tasting
Teaching With a Mountain View
Expand your readers’ palates with a book tasting and set them up for summer reading. A book tasting gives students the opportunity to sample some juicy reads in a short period of time and come away with a wish list of titles.
Provide kids with lots of options, then have them compile their own bucket lists for the summer days ahead. In addition to fun items, encourage them to add ways to help others or learn something new too.
Add a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge to your lineup of end-of-year activities and make it all the way to the finish line with good vibes. To get started, check out Random Acts of Kindness: 30 Activities for Elementary Students from American Montessori Society
57. See who knows you best
@kinderandcactus via Instagram
Challenge your kiddos to show who knows you best. Record your students’ answers on chart paper with markers or use Google Slides. It’s amazing how much kids pick up on our likes and dislikes!
Earth Day is fast approaching (April 22), though there really is never a bad time to celebrate Mother Earth. It’s important to teach students the environmental benefits of recycling, like conserving energy and natural resources and reducing air and water pollution, all year long. While recycling breaks down old items in order to create something new, upcyling makes something new from an existing object in its current state. Challenge your students to create something unique and wonderful from preexisting items like magazines, plastic water bottles, tin cans, egg cartons, and more. Check out our list of the best recycled crafts for Earth Day or any day, and give some of them a try!
We Are Teachers
1. Make wildflower seed bombs
Give back to Mother Earth with these easy-to-make seed bombs. Blend together used scraps of construction paper, water, and wildflower seeds in a food processor, then form them into tiny muffins. Let them dry, then toss them in the ground. As the seed bombs receive sun and rain, the paper will eventually compost and the seeds will germinate.
Take your kids on a nature walk to gather interesting leaves, flowers, berries, and the like. To make the wreath forms, braid together strips of old T-shirts and form them into a circle. Then attach natural items into the crevices and secure with clear fishing line or hot glue. Attach a ribbon at the top to hang your wreath.
Create a cozy place for all the creepy-crawlies to hang out. Cut a two-liter plastic bottle into two cylinders, then stuff it with sticks, pine cones, bark, or any other natural material. Make sure to pack the organic material tightly. Then loop a piece of twine or yarn around the two cylinders and hang your bug hotel from a tree branch or fence.
Textiles make up a huge portion of municipal solid waste—over 16 million tons per year. Teach your kids to repurpose old material that would otherwise end up in the landfill by putting together a cozy quilt.
We love Earth Day crafts that result in a practical object you can use around the house. This project is best for older students who have the patience and dexterity necessary to carefully roll their magazine strips and glue them together.
Pay tribute to our lovely planet on Earth Day with these fuzzy moss balls. Kids who love getting their hands dirty will particularly love this craft. All you do is squish pre-soaked sphagnum moss into a tight ball, wrap it tightly with blue yarn or strips of discarded T-shirts, layer more moss and more yarn, etc., until you’ve created an Earth-shaped orb. Finish with a loop of yarn and hang it in a sunny window. To keep your moss ball healthy, simply spray it with water every couple of days.
Scraps of paper are the only supplies you need for this recycled-flower-garden activity and lesson. The measurement and math element is an added bonus.
Save those paper rolls so your class can customize their own binoculars! Have a variety of paints, stickers, and the like on hand so your students can really personalize their bird-watchers.
Aluminum beverage pop-tops become wearable jewelry thanks to some ninja ribbon work. Show this video on your interactive whiteboard to give your students the full 411, and then get crafting!
Go outside for a nature walk and gather sticks, weeds, and pickable blooms, then bring the treasures inside to be showcased in recycled jar lids. With some wax paper and string, your students can craft this surprisingly beautiful recycled wind chime.
Brown paper bags become eco-canvases for artwork and a perfect way to adorn fridges for Earth Day. Bonus points if you can source handled bags because the handles serve as built-in artwork hangers.
Take students outside to collect small rocks and pebbles. Have them arrange the rocks into a pattern of their choice. Get creative, and try for as many different designs as you can!
This isn’t just any recycled crayon—it’s a gorgeous Earth crayon! You can make these with your kids using a muffin tin. You just need to sort out the right colors.
Recycling projects that use objects you may have lying around your garage or shed are some of our favorites. Grab that old rope you’ve been saving and create these adorable rope worms/snakes with your students.
Herald spring with this easy crowd-pleaser: the large plastic bottle bird feeder. This short video will teach kids how to get started constructing their feeders.
Tin cans are easy to get your hands on, and they can go a long way in organizing supplies. Get your kids involved by having them help decorate the cans. They’ll really take ownership of this, which will hopefully inspire them to keep supplies more organized.
Cut off the bottoms of beverage bottles or reuse food containers and jazz them up with bright-colored paper scraps. Except for the glue, these papier-mâché planters are composed solely of recycled materials.
Kids can work together to create an aluminum-can recycling center. Watch the video to get the simple instructions and learn how your school can make recycling fun and rewarding.
Recycling projects like these are the best since kids love robots. Be sure to have an extra pair of adult hands around to help with the hot glue for these Earth Day crafts.
Are these the sweetest Earth Day crafts ever? Plastic bottles from home become homes for fairies, thanks to paint, scissors, glue, and real or faux greenery.
This is an amazing recycled wall masterpiece. You could set it up on a cardboard backing and then let students add to it, paint it, and create with it whenever they have free time throughout the day.
Use bottle caps in a game of tic-tac-toe. They can also be turned into checkers. This would be a great makerspace activity. Give your kids several upcycled items and challenge them to create games with them.
We love how this upcycled magazine cut-paper art project can be modified for primary students or used to inspire sophisticated art by high school students.
A bottle gets a second life as a museum-worthy terrarium as well as a home for an environmental science project. Be sure to add the activated charcoal and moss for plastic bottle terrariums that flourish.
Your classroom studies of plant life, photosynthesis, and water conservation will get a boost with this hands-on crafting of a self-watering planter. The base? A good ol’ large plastic bottle.
Old newspapers find their spirit animal when they become recycled newspaper owls. All you need are markers, watercolors, and paper scraps to make them come alive.
Water bottles come together, as do your kids, to make this water bottle recycling center. This project combines teamwork with respect for our environment, a double win.
Cardboard is one of the easiest, least expensive materials you can get your hands on. Grab a ton of it and challenge your kids to make awesome creations. You never know what they might come up with.
Do you have a bunch of CDs lying around that never get played anymore? How about a box or drawer of markers that barely write? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the perfect project for you.
These little ladybugs are so cute and yet so, so simple. Grab some bottle caps, paint, googly eyes, and glue and get ready to make some adorable friends!
Simple to make and beautiful to display, these coffee filter Earths are a cinch. Simply color with blue and green markers, then squirt with a water bottle.
How creative is this egg carton craft for Earth Day? All you need is egg carton sections, pipe cleaners, scissors, and craft paint, and voilà! Superhero goggles.
Salt dough crafts are so much fun to celebrate Earth Day! Make these colorful medallions, then attach string. Your kids will wear their Earth Day pride for all to see.
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Project ideas for every kid!
We Are Teachers; artwithmrsfilmore.com
Keep the fun going all year long with this roundup of creative, simple, and fun 1st grade art projects. Whether you feel like diving into painting, pattern-making, mixed media, or sculpture, there is something for everyone on this list.
We have projects that can be tackled over multiple classes as well as projects that can be completed in under an hour. Students will learn basic art concepts like color mixing while discovering famous artists. Your little artists will be proud to take their masterpieces home!
artwithmrsfilmore.com
1. Hang 3D line sculptures
Simple strips of paper become a striking display in this cool collaborative 1st grade art project. It’s a clever way to use up scraps of construction paper too.
This is a modern twist on the classic crayon resist project. After drawing a web in pencil and tracing it with a white crayon, use a pipette to transfer watercolor paint to the paper. Then use a straw to blow the paint across the paper.
Every kid will love learning to draw their own version of this beloved Australian pup! After they follow along with the video, have them fill in their own background to complete the picture.
grannygoestoschool.blogspot.com
5. Go wild for self-portraits
Start with a simple self-portrait sketch. Then let kids go wild with the hair, adding paper strips in crazy colors and patterns.
This mixed-media idea is so clever! Kids use tissue squares to create a colorful sky background, then glue cotton batting over the top to simulate skywriting from a paper plane.
Lines are an incredibly simple thing to draw, but when you use them right, they can add a real element of excitement to your work. Learn how it’s done with this helpful video.
firstpalette.com
9. Turn paper plates into aquariums
Begin by having your students paint a paper plate blue, then have them create a goldfish using craft foam. Finally, piece it all together and decorate the aquarium with colored pebbles, sand, or anything else of your choosing!
Oversize sculptures like Alexander Calder’s are accessible and fun for kids of any age. Re-create them in paper form with this engaging art project for 1st graders.
Zentangles are a combination of art and mindfulness, and you really can’t do them wrong. Learn the technique in this video, then let kids play around with patterns on their own.
newcityarts.blogspot.com
13. Print and color autumn leaves
Gather large leaves to use for this project. Kids coat them with white paint, then press them on black paper to make prints. Once the paint is dry, they add various hues using colored pencils.
Grab some markers and have your 1st grade art students write the letters of the alphabet randomly all over a piece of paper. Then, use color to fill in enclosed areas. The possibilities are endless!
Pinch pots are an easy clay project that 1st graders will love. They also make a nice gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and other special occasions.
This is such a fun spin on a traditional self-portrait. Your students will definitely get a kick out of adding their “bubblegum” to their masterpieces.
This project can be adapted for any age, but for 1st grade art students, use thick, chunky yarn and sticks with a wide “V,” along with blunt plastic darning needles. The “in and out” pattern of the yarn will help improve dexterity and fine motor skills.
Have your students paint the background using watercolor or tempera paint, then get started on the polar bear. Have students draw two ears, a round face, and the body on white paper with black marker, then cut the pieces out. Finally, let your students personalize their bears with their choice of expression or attire.
Make this easy by copying blank turtles for everyone to color. Then, have kids add a variety of textures and patterns to their turtle. Tip: Look at pictures of real turtles for potential pattern ideas.
zilkerelementaryart.blogspot.com
23. Re-create a starry skyscape
Here’s a simple but impressive project to try. Oil pastels are easy to use and make kids feel like real artists. Let them use their own techniques to re-create Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night.
Want to try a different take on the classic painting? These Van Gogh–inspired clay stars are the way to go! (They also make excellent holiday ornaments.)
Here’s one more take on Van Gogh, this time focusing on his sunflowers. Impressionism is known for textures, so this 1st grade art project uses black glue to give dimension to simple sunflowers. Kids draw the sunflowers, then outline them with glue. When the glue is dry, add soft, beautiful watercolors.
Collect plastic forks from your takeout meals, or hit the thrift store and buy a collection of metal spoons you can use again and again. Then, use them to create these simple but charming spring flowers.
preschoolmom.com
27. Chalk a fluttering butterfly
Chalk art pastels produce impressive results at any age. This 1st grade art project has a fun but simple 3D element too.
This may seem too complicated for a 1st grade art project, but you can attack it in several steps. Teach kids to draw the bowl and apples. Then, have them draw the outlines with oil pastel to create a barrier. Paint the apples red and then the background with colorful watercolors, and voilà!
Pair this cute art project with a lesson on giraffes! Read books like Giraffes Can’t Dance or watch some videos on these tall creatures before doing a guided drawing of a general giraffe shape. Once the shape is there, let your students personalize their giraffes in any way they wish.
Show kids how to carefully carve designs into foam blocks using blunt tools like a chopstick. Then, make colorful prints using their pattern blocks.
jamestownelementaryartblog.blogspot.com
31. Hop onto Monet lily pads
Monet’s lily pond paintings are among his most famous. Take a look at some of them, then have kids create their own mixed-media lily pad projects adorned with cute clay frogs!
This simple art project combines a surprising amount of concepts, including color mixing, stamping, and honing fine motor skills. And the results are pretty striking.
This yarn-weaving project produces impressive results, but it’s pretty easy to master. It’s a nice way to combine fine motor skills practice with art.
cassiestephens.blogspot.com
35. Fly some cool koinobori kites
Try an Asian-inspired art project with these colorful fish kites. May 5 is Children’s Day in Japan, and these koinobori are an important part of the celebration. Firsties in any country will love creating their own kites in springtime or anytime.
This is such a fun art project, and the technique can definitely be used for more than just Easter eggs. Use a wax crayon or oil pastel to draw the designs onto the egg, then color some of the spaces with crayon. Finally, use watercolor to paint over the whole egg with a single color. It’s so cool to watch the way the paint avoids the crayon and allows the designs to peek through.
Combine science with art in this project. First, draw snowflakes with glue and sprinkle salt over the top. After it dries, add a few drops of watercolor and watch the salt absorb it and change color like magic!
mrstsfirstgradeclass-jill.blogspot.com
38. Give colorful birds a Dalí twist
Giant birds with super-long and wiggly legs? First graders will love the silliness of this project, but it’s not all just fun and games. These watercolor birds show the differences between warm and cool colors, and the long legs are a tribute to the master of the unexpected, Salvador Dalí.
This is a unique twist on standard clay projects. The owls themselves are easy to create, and mounting them on a wood plaque really makes this 1st grade art activity stand out.
Kandinsky is known for his circles, but his other abstract work is mesmerizing too. Read the book The Noisy Paint Box to learn about the artist’s life. Then use black markers, watercolors, and cotton swabs to help achieve that muted color/haze.
This is the perfect 1st grade art project when you are short on time since it can be completed in an hour or less. Before beginning, read the book Mix It Up! with your students to introduce the concept of color mixing.
Learn about Paul Klee’s cubist paintings, then have kids create their own with oil pastels and watercolors. These vibrant pieces are sure to brighten your classroom walls.
Introduce kids to origami with this really easy folding project. After they make their paper pup, they can add details like facial features, patterns, and colors.
kitchentableclassroom.com
48. Blend colors using coffee filters
There’s a reason this project is so popular: It’s mesmerizing to watch colors bleed together and create a rainbow of new colors and patterns. All you need are color filters, washable markers, a spray bottle of water, and newspaper or paper towels.
This 1st grade art project is part treasure hunt and part art lesson. Pull out your box of scrap paper and have students dig through to find the pieces they need to complete a color wheel daisy. You’ll wind up with a whole garden!
The personal aspect of this mixed-media hot-air balloon collage is what really makes it stand out. (Tip: Trim the student pictures yourself since the detailed cuts may be too much for little fingers.)
There are no major weaving skills required for these wacky baskets. Simply dip strips of yarn into glue and lay over an upside-down paper cup or bowl. When the glue dries, remove the paper cup, and you’ve got a basket!
Learning color theory at an early age will help kids develop their artistic instincts. Draw simple patterns and fill them with complementary colors to explore this concept.
deepspacesparkle.com
53. Drip like Pollock
Here’s a great use for yarn scraps. Kids dip yarn into tempera paint, then drip or drag it over the paper to create abstract designs reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. (Tip: Read Action Jackson first for inspiration.)
Combine art and science with a lesson about camouflage. Then challenge your students to create a patterned background for a paper lizard to blend into.
Paper weaving is a fun and simple craft that opens up lots of possibilities. Firsties will enjoy making these pretty rainbows; you could even tie it in with a lesson about weather!
Swap out brushes for cotton swabs and try basic pointillism with your firsties. This art technique is very simple, but it can be used to create incredible masterpieces.
artisbasic.com
57. Fill in letter outlines
This is a fun way to have the class work on a group project since each kid can take a different letter that can be used to spell something out on a bulletin board, etc. Print the outline of the letters, then let your students create patterns inside them with crayons or other media.
When the leaves start to change color, try this pretty project using the watercolor-resist method. Students can really let their imaginations run wild with the pattern designs and color choices.
First graders are just starting to move away from stick figures and into more advanced drawing. Hit the link for a step-by-step tutorial that even little ones can follow with oil pastels.
This is a neat way to learn about color blends. Imagine the bottles lined up in a sunny window and use markers, paints, or crayons to fill in the colors you’d see.
Kids will be amazed when they learn to draw this simple bird starting with an arrow. They’ll also love designing birdhouses for their avian friends, which culminates in a fantastic classroom display that’s perfect for spring.
After painting a vivid background of sky and fields, students root through the scrap paper bin to assemble colorful scarecrows for the finishing touch. (Tip: Create templates to make it easier for them to cut out the pants, shirt, and hat.)
Start with a sheet of circles (pre-printed, or have kids trace them from templates). Then have firsties add bold lines to design a variety of faces. This quick and simple activity is lots of fun and really sets their creativity free.
Yup, this is really a 1st grade art project! Kids practice their letters and learn about mixed media, tackling the activities in steps. The plastic spoons with alphabet letters added at the end really make the pieces pop!
Learn about architecture styles and skills, then design paper-bag houses. Encourage students to add plenty of personal details to make the designs their own.
Learn about realism in art, and take a look at Wayne Thiebaud’s colorful paintings of pastries for inspiration. Then make your own patterned cupcakes with torn-paper frosting. Yum!
Despite being published over 50 years ago, Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar still resonates with kids today. It is so beloved that there is even a special day dedicated to this favorite book: March 20 is known as Very Hungry Caterpillar Day around the world. Some even celebrate author Eric Carle’s birthday on June 25. Whether you are in the mood for a good art project, science lesson, or even a healthy snack, the possibilities for classroom activities, art projects, and crafts based on this beloved tale are endless. Check out our favorite Very Hungry Caterpillar activities that celebrate this classic children’s book.
Being able to recognize the similarities and differences between letters is an important skill for early readers and writers. With this fun activity, kids build caterpillars letter by letter by sorting them into curves and straights.
This activity is a fun way to work on another important literacy skill: sequencing. After reading the story together, students can retell it in order by clipping the story sequence circles (download here) onto the caterpillar body.
These simple, colorful word puzzles are a novel way to practice letter sounds, shape recognition, word building, and fine motor skills. Download templates here.
Speaking of fine motor skills, kids will love this activity. They will chomp and munch through the fruit shapes using a caterpillar hole punch. Have them retell the story as they munch so you can check for comprehension.
Get your hands dirty and give a little nature lesson while celebrating The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This blog gives you step-by-step directions (scroll down to Thursday’s entry) for creating your own project.
Read the story to your students, then create the life cycle of a butterfly. We love Very Hungry Caterpillar activities that can be re-created using items you likely already have at home or can gather during a nature walk.
Looking for Very Hungry Caterpillar activities that combine art and math? These free fingerprint counting printables make learning number sense fun while giving your kids a chance to get their hands messy. Also, check out Totschooling’s free dot-paint packet, which includes tons of activities to help kids work on fine motor skills, counting skills, prereading and prewriting skills, and more.
Use this fun basket when reading the story with your class, then have it available afterward for kids to enjoy in a choice center. Include the book, a caterpillar, a butterfly, and plastic foods for the caterpillar to munch on.
Have each student paint a green circle on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of white card stock. If you have time to take and print photos of each child, have them glue their photo inside of their circle. If not, ask each student to draw a self-portrait. Join the children’s pages together with staples or tape and add the caterpillar’s head (see photo for sample). Hang your class caterpillar in the hall outside your classroom or on your door to share with your school.
Use the Very Hungry Caterpillar story as a jumping-off point for a discussion about healthy eating, then have your students create this adorable snack. Be sure to check for allergies before creating this tasty little guy with your little chefs.
Use this free printable to create fruit, caterpillar, leaf, and butterfly pieces, then spread them out on a large white sheet on the floor. Test your students’ recollection skills as they act out the events in the story.
Sensory bins are a great way for young kids to learn through tactile play. This adorable Very Hungry Caterpillar–inspired sensory bin is made up of dried chickpeas, dried peas, dried lentils, and some liquid watercolors. Kids will have fun creating the main character of this beloved children’s classic.
If you’re short on time, a store-bought activity might just be the way to go. With nearly five stars and over 1,500 reviews on Amazon, we think this game is a real winner!
This video starring a puppet of none other than the Very Hungry Caterpillar will be sure to captivate your students. It may even inspire your students to act out their new favorite story!
Amazon
17. Hatch Butterflies
Growing and hatching actual butterflies is a magical experience even for adults. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the perfect book to tie together ELA and STEM lessons. The sweet story is a good introduction to the life cycle of a caterpillar. We love that this kit comes with a journal to record student observations during the process. Finally, release those beautiful butterflies outside as a class.
These adorable handmade story stones make the perfect addition to any classroom. Students can follow along with the story as they string together these discs. They can also lay them out on a rug or floor and work together to find the right stone for each part of the story.
This caterpillar necklace is a fantastic way to get kids’ imaginations going and support fine motor skills. This simple activity involves threading dyed penne noodles and paper discs cut from construction paper onto a piece of yarn. Tie off the ends, and your kids will have a fancy necklace to share with their families.
This colorful craft is as fun as it is pretty! Children tear squares from thick sheets of tissue paper and glue them onto a pre-cut card-stock butterfly to replicate the one at the end of the book.
This activity will be sure to delight your students since young kids love to play with play dough. Provide them with a rainbow of colors, then watch as they re-create scenes from the beloved story.
Kids (and adults) love painting rocks so what better way to bring this famous story to life? It’s hard to get details with paintbrushes so grab some paint markers before working on this project.
This simple craft works on fine motor skills since kids will have to work on bending pipe cleaners around Popsicle sticks. The end product will be an oh-so adorable new caterpillar that can double as a desk buddy!
No activity roundup for The Very Hungry Caterpillar would be complete without the classic egg carton caterpillar. Yes, it’s been done before, but it’s one of those memorable activities (and keepsakes) that every kid loves.
We love how simple this project is, since all you will need are some pipe cleaners and beads and maybe some green card stock. Kids will be working on their fine motor control while getting creative.
Printmaking but for the pre-K crowd! This is so easy to do: Just put some green, yellow, and red paint on a paper plate, hand the kiddos some balloons, and watch them create. Just be warned, however, things could get messy!
What better way to bring The Very Hungry Caterpillar book to life than by dressing the part? This adorable mask can be made using art materials you probably already have lying around. You may just need to buy a pack of sturdy paper plates and a roll of elastic.
In the Playroom
29. Cupcake Liner Caterpillars
Flatten some green and red cupcake liners, add googly eyes and sequins, then create this adorable caterpillar. You can get other colored cupcake liners as well so you can create the butterfly at the end of the book too!
This adorable book features a little caterpillar lying on a leaf on the cover, his cozy cocoon on the back, and the butterfly he becomes in the middle. Hang these books from your classroom ceiling for a colorful display.
While crafts are great for working our little ones’ creative minds, we love that this project works on letter recognition, name building, and pattern creation as well.
Download the free printable or create your own puppets based on the story. Regardless of whether kids want to re-create the story from memory or create their own, fun is sure to be had!
Use pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes to create these adorable caterpillars. Cut out some fresh green leaves, pop them into a mason jar, and give your students their very own lovable pet.
This project might be too detailed to do with little students, but you can create it yourself for use in your classroom. You could also have the kids help with some of the easier parts. Then, when working on some Very Hungry Caterpillar activities, your students can store their markers inside their new favorite character.
Reaching the 100th day of school is a milestone that should be celebrated! Although dressing as a 100-year-old is a popular way to celebrate, so is designing or donning a shirt for this special occasion. Regardless of whether you’re a crafty do-it-yourself type or an add-to-cart type, we have you covered. While DIY options can be intricate enough to break out the old Cricut, some can be as simple as adhering stickers on an old T-shirt. The store-bought options are great too since they come in a huge range of styles and sizes. Check out our list below of the best 100 days of school shirt ideas!
Easy DIY 100 Days Shirt Ideas
1. 100 Hearts for 100 Days
Nanny to Mommy
This shirt is so simple to create. Just grab some foam heart stickers, a permanent marker, and your favorite-color tee. Once your stickers are in place, just swap out kindergarten for any grade or keep it simple and just say “Loved 100 days of school”!
Grab a package of bright-colored buttons or just grab some from a button jar at home. Then get to work gluing them all over a simple white tee. The design for the text on this funny shirt is available in the “school days printables” section on the Just Add Confetti site.
Kids will get a kick out of helping you select and count 100 pom-poms for this adorable 100th day of school shirt.
4. Fly Away With This Cute Idea
Glued to My Crafts
100th day of school shirt ideas should be equally clever and affordable like this one! All you will need to re-create this shirt are some foam stickers, feathers, and, of course, your trusty glue gun.
If the little one in your life is a music lover, this is the shirt for them. Glue a bunch of fun guitar picks to a tee, then get as fancy or as simple as you want with the lettering.
This shirt is for the craftiest among us since you will need a Cricut and some vinyl to create the superhero logos. We definitely think the end result is worth the effort!
Just draw a monster outline with puffy paint, then count out 100 googly eyes of your choosing (they come in fun sizes and colors) to glue onto the shirt.
Generally, we think 100th day of school shirt ideas should include things kids love, like LEGO! Grab some spare LEGO bricks and your glue gun, then get to work re-creating this quirky shirt!
Use a paper plate to trace the circle, then let your little one use finger paint to create the 100 gumballs. Finally, cut and glue some felt onto the shirt to create the base of the machine.
If you have a budding entomologist in your life, this shirt is sure to make them smile. Bring them to your local dollar store and let them pick out some plastic bugs to adhere to an old shirt. We think the punny play on words will also bring a smile to your favorite teacher’s face!
Making this 100 days of school shirt isn’t for the faint of heart, but the results are well worth it. Your kiddo will get a kick out of seeing their face on their shirt. We especially love the multi-colored pom-pom hair!
This unique idea is perfect for the little gamer in your life. We love the way Mario is popping out of the number one. Have your little one help you count out 100 gold coins so they are involved in the crafting too!
17. Sprinkle a Little Fun on Your 100th Day Celebration
Etsy
This undeniably sweet 100 days of school shirt celebrates 100 days with a tasty treat. We also love that it comes in sizes ranging from toddler to adult double XL.
This play on the word “crayon” was too cute to leave off this list of the best 100th day of school shirt ideas. We especially love that it comes in a variety of styles including tank tops, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.
Bubble-popper fidget toys are all the rage so why not include them on your 100th day shirts? We also love the eye-catching rainbow colors on this shirt.
Teach your students to count by fives while delighting them with this cool T-rex shirt! There is an option for every taste since it comes in more than 10 different color combinations. Best of all? It’s under $20!
While some 100th day of school shirt ideas focus on punny or quippy messages, we love the sweet sentiment of this shirt. This very well-rated shirt is affordable and also comes in a variety of styles.
The funny play on the word “homies” coupled with the adorable gnomes on this 100 days of school shirt make for a sweet option for the 100th day of school. Also, the price is right and the sizes go all the way from newborn to 4XL.
Any list of 100th day of school shirt ideas should include some that can be personalized. Your student will be excited to wear their very own Army-themed shirt with their name emblazoned on it!
Need a shirt for the 100th day of school but don’t have a lot of time or money to spend on it? Grab this one from Amazon for the sports lover in your life!
If you’re a Swiftie (or you just want to prove you’re hip by using some of the latest slang), then this is the sweatshirt for you! Regardless of whether you buy it for yourself or your child (it comes in kids and adult sizes), you’ll be in your cool era in this shirt.
Let kids show off the math skills they’ve worked so hard to acquire in the last 100 days with this fun shirt. If you’re a math teacher, you can give out bonus points to the first student to figure out the equation.
Pipe cleaners have long been a staple classroom supply. They’re colorful, inexpensive, and have so many uses. Try out one of these pipe cleaner crafts with your students to add a vibrant, colorful effect to your classroom, and have some fun in the process! Check out this list of 50 of our favorite pipe cleaner crafts.
Before getting started, round up colorful pipe cleaners and beads to match. Twist the pipe cleaners into a tree shape, then let kids string the matching beads to the right branches for some color-recognition practice.
Kids often get bored while learning letters, so take a break from writing and try twisting pipe cleaners into letters instead. Then, use those letters for fun spelling practice.
Use star-shaped beads along with pipe cleaners to map out the constellations of the night sky. Bonus tip: Hang them from the ceiling for cool classroom or bedroom decor!
Make simple but effective math manipulatives to help kids see addition and subtraction in action. These are great in the classroom and also for extra practice at home.
Sure, you could just use the wands that come with bubble solution, but these are so much cooler! Experiment with different shapes while also personalizing your own wand with colorful bead patterns.
Give a toddler some pipe cleaners and a colander and you’ll keep them busy for hours. Not only will it buy you some much-needed quiet time, but it will also give them excellent fine motor skills practice.
Thread pipe cleaners through straws and use them to create a wide variety of 3D shapes. This is good for geometry review, but they make fun building toys.
Learn more: Platonic Solid at The Map Is Not the Territory
You may be surprised to find this out, but pipe cleaners are the perfect medium for growing crystals in supersaturated solutions made with borax. This is one of those pipe cleaner activities that never fails to amaze.
Like the pipe cleaner letters above, this activity gives kids fine motor skills practice while teaching them their numbers. You can also string beads onto the letters for more counting practice.
Here’s a fun way to work on physical fitness. Have kids bend pipe cleaners to represent their favorite yoga positions and then have them explain how the pose makes them feel.
How cute are these floating jellyfish decorations? Using multiple colors for the tentacles creates such a vibrant look. We especially love pipe cleaner crafts that double as classroom decor!
Grab some alphabet beads and then get to work on sight words, CVC words, or whatever’s on the spelling list this week. The hands-on component encourages whole-brain learning since it engages all the senses.
Once you’re done crafting, you can hang a host of sparkling dragonflies by the window to catch the light! Learn how to make these pipe cleaner crafts at the link.
Fidget toys are a terrific way to help kids work off some physical energy while staying focused on the subject at hand. These DIY pipe cleaner fidget sticks are easy and inexpensive enough to make a batch for the whole class.
Send a message of love with this easy-to-make pipe cleaner garland. Once you’re done crafting, you can hang them to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any day.
Kids love superheroes so we have no doubt that your students will adore these little crime-fighting crafts. After your class is done making their superheroes, you can spark a fun debate by asking them their favorite superpowers.
Create a buzz with these adorable little bees. Wrap the pipe cleaners around a wooden clothespin and add some googly eyes for an un-bee-lievable craft.
Twist up some holiday spirit with these holiday trees that are both easy and attractive. Just shape your green pipe cleaners into a tree shape and then glue pom-poms throughout.
These alien pipe cleaner friends are so cute and so easy to make.
43. Create some creepy crawlers
These spiders may not be the easiest craft on our list, but they might be the coolest! Choose your secondary color of pipe cleaners and beads and then follow along with the video. Finally, add some googly eyes and enjoy your new creepy-crawly bestie.
44. Spin a spider web
Once you’ve made your spiders in the craft above, you’ll need a home for them! This web is a perfect project to further hand-eye coordination while having fun!
With the cost of glasses being what it is, who wouldn’t want to make their own pair (wink, wink)? While they may not help you see any better, they sure do look cute!
Select your color snake and then create the three body sections by coiling them around a pencil. Then, thread a red pipe cleaner throughout to act as that hissing tongue. Finally, glue on a pair of a googly eyes and name your new slithery friend.
Grab some crafting foam blocks, a large supply of pipe cleaners, and all your crafting odds and ends, and then get to work sculpting. Kids will love personalizing their sculptures with beads, tape, and more!
Since headbands are a great way to look stylish in a pinch, the more the merrier! We love the idea of buying a few plain ones and then jazzing them up with pipe cleaners and pom-poms. Be sure to have an adult assist with the hot-glue gun!
49. Crown someone king or queen
Odds are that the little ones in your life love to play dress-up and love to craft, so why not combine those things? These pipe cleaner crowns are oh-so adorable and can be embellished with beads and other supplies.
Wooden peg people are one of the best crafting materials to buy in bulk since the possibilities are endless. We especially love the idea of using some glitter and pipe cleaners to transform them into magical fairies.
