Art teachers constantly look for innovative methods to impart the basic principles of art and creation to their students. The right projects are very important to instill art appreciation in young minds and give them an outlet for self-expression. Additionally, art can teach students practical knowledge with regards to shapes and perspective.
The following are some good elementary art lessons that allow student’s imagination to run free:
Monotype: Mediums and Methods for Painterly Printmaking: A wonderful elementary art lesson for students to learn about the history of printmaking and the artists who developed the processes. The book details every aspect of the elementary art lesson from the tools to the ink or paint to be used. Moreover, the procedures are expertly explained with illustrations and steps for simple understanding.
The Art of Carving Netsuke: An elementary art lesson with a larger cultural purpose. Students will be introduced to Japanese culture through the art of carving miniature sculptures that were important in 17th-century Japan. Nine projects are featured in the book, accompanied by detailed instructions. Following these simple guidelines will facilitate the creation of realistic impressions of feather, fur and more. Instead of wood, students can use clay, clay tools and glaze, and there is no danger of them hurting themselves this way.
Radial Name Design: An elementary art lesson that makes use of the concepts of radial design and balance. The project focuses on lettering, design elements and promoting a positive self-image. The lesson can applicable to demonstrate various line designs; rather than enter names/words students can study different line patterns. This is one elementary lesson pattern that can be molded depending on what the teacher wants to emphasize.
Glue Pastel Fish: With this elementary lesson plan, students will learn about chalk pastels, sea animals, art of gluing and how to make fish. The lesson plan is easy to follow and will encourage students to learn more about fishes and their environment. Moreover, the variety of fishes that students can create renders this an exercise of artistic merit.
Egyptian Mummy Case: With the help of visual aids and other resources, teachers can encourage students to create their own drawings of a mummy case. This elementary art lesson plan is geared toward helping students understand the Egyptian culture; symbols, design and representations. Moreover, color, unique patterns, symmetry and Egyptian facial features are other aspects of the project to assist in the students’ artistic growth. The materials are easy to acquire and the end result will demonstrate the creativity of the students.
Crime Scene Tracing Picture: Perfect elementary art lesson to expose students to contour line drawings and get them to work as a team. Once the body outline has been done, students can fill the figure with any number of patterns: lines, forms, colors, objects etc. The project offers numerous opportunities for students to explore the many connotations of art.
These elementary art projects will allow students to flex their imagination and be interested in the subject. They are designed to impress on students the beauty and dimensions of art.

