Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
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!
