If your experience as an elementary art teacher has been anything like mine, then you’ve probably never had a full elementary art curriculum at your fingertips. You’ve likely been piecing bits and bobs together scouring the internet trying to find just-right activities and crossing your fingers that it all comes together into some meaningful over-arching experience for your little artists. Sure, this freedom can be fun, but it can also be a bit daunting.
That’s exactly why I created Kids Art Projects 101. In the 20+ years I’ve been teaching elementary art, I’ve tried it all and I’ve finally fit together an elementary art curriculum sequence that I know students love and teachers enjoy teaching. A few years ago I started sharing these art lessons online, and the feedback has been amazing.
Teachers often say things like:
“This is an amazing lesson set. The slides and handouts were a perfect combination. I can’t wait to try more of their lessons. ”
“My students loved learning about this artist and completing the activities. They were engaged and were excited to complete art each week. Their final piece of art work looked amazing and reflected the the artist. Thank you”
“Great activities for my students. Super easy to follow!”
Intrigued? Let’s take a closer look. Enter your information below, and I’ll email you your own copy of the curriculum map with clickable links to each resource.
If you teach Pre-K at your school, then I do have process art focused pre-k curriculum that you can use with those children. I also use some of the process art lessons with my students who have varying exceptionalities. See the pre-k art curriculum here.
Introduce children to famous artworks and details about famous artists through an ongoing series of detailed unit plans for K-2 art teachers and homeschool families.
Inside each unit you’ll find a PDF unit guide full of information and tips for teaching the series of art lessons.
Each unit is broken down into three or four 40-minute sessions.
For each session there is a guided digital presentation that has already been prepared for you and can be used via Google Slides or PowerPoint. The presentation also introduces and guides you through completion of a studio project and follow-up activity.
While the units in the K-2 Famous Artist series can definitely be used in multiple grade levels if you prefer, I choose to divide them out into a distinct sequence as outlined and explained below.
By doing so I am able to focus on an overarching goal for each grade level and provide some continuity between projects as we progress through the year.
The complete K-2 curriculum sequence (aside from the clay units since they require access to a kiln) is available as one primary art bundle if you’d like to have them all in one set.
I’ve outlined the overarching goals for each sequence in the individual grade level sections below.
These are the lessons I typically present to kindergarten students.
The overarching goal that drives the selection of artists and studio projects in this sequence is:
Students will be able to play and experiment with mark-making and material manipulation.
While I am sharing a huge part of what I use, it is important to note that the unscripted transitions between projects are also of tremendous value to the flow of this year-long curriculum.
Before and after each unit, I revisit this overarching goal with students and reflect on the ways in which play and experimentation have influenced these artists. While we pace through example after example, I challenge the students to think critically about how the artist’s approaches are similar and different from one another. I encourage them to find examples of other artists/people playing and experimenting and am constantly on the lookout for personal or trending connections to the ideas in each unit.
Of course, I also continuously encourage the students to fully embrace play and experimentation!
HOW TO BUY THE KINDERGARTEN ART CURRICULUM: The kindergarten curriculum can be purchased as a whole or in individual units in our shop, OR you may get access to all units as a member of Kids Art Projects 101.
These are the lessons I typically present to 1 st grade students.
The overarching goal that drives the selection of artists and studio projects in this sequence is:
Students will understand that imagination is a driving force for artists.
I use these actual resources (I do!!), but it is important to note that the unscripted transitions between projects are also of tremendous value to the flow of this year-long curriculum.
Before and after each unit, I revisit this overarching goal with students and reflect on the ways in which imagination has influenced these artists. While we pace through example after example, I challenge the students to think critically about how the artist’s approaches are similar and different from one another. I encourage them to find examples of other artists/people being influenced by their imaginations and am constantly on the lookout for personal or trending connections to the ideas in each unit.
Of course, I also continuously encourage the students to fully embrace their own imaginative thinking!
HOW TO BUY THE FIRST GRADE ART CURRICULUM: The first grade curriculum can be purchased as a whole or in individual units in our shop, OR you may get access to all units as a member of Kids Art Projects 101.
These are the lessons I typically present to 2 nd grade students.
The overarching goal that drives the selection of artists and studio projects in this sequence is:
Students will understand that nature has been a captivating influence for artists throughout time and across cultures.
While I am sharing a huge part of what I use, it is important to note that the unscripted transitions between projects are also of tremendous value to the flow of this year-long curriculum.
Before and after each unit, I revisit this overarching goal with students and reflect on the ways in which nature has influenced these artists. While we pace through example after example, I challenge the students to think critically about how the artist’s approaches are similar and different from one another. I encourage them to find examples of other artists/people being influenced by nature and am constantly on the lookout for personal or trending connections to the ideas in each unit.
Of course, also continuously encourage your students to seek their own inspiration from the natural world.
HOW TO BUY THE SECOND GRADE ART CURRICULUM: The second grade curriculum can be purchased as or whole or in individual units in our shop, OR you may get access to all units when they are released as a member of Kids Art Projects 101.
The 3-5 elementary art curriculum will be released in the coming years. As I mentioned before I am actively teaching and using these lessons with my students, and I’m eager to share them with you. It just takes a bit more time than you might imagine to get them ready for you, and of course, I want them to be as close to perfect as possible.
If you become a member of Kids Art Projects 101 now, you’ll continue to receive each new lesson plan as it is release for as long as you are an active member. Click here to learn more about getting started as a member today.
These are the lessons I typically present to 3rd grade students.
Art from around the world is influenced by cultural beliefs and environmental factors. This series is a project-based approach designed to connect specific skills, techniques, and understandings to traditional crafts and cultural art forms from around the globe. The projects are designed for use with 6-8 year olds and encourages kids to think reflectively about how cultural beliefs and environmental factors might inspire their own creative expression.
HOW TO BUY THE THIRD GRADE ART CURRICULUM: New units in the third grade curriculum are being released every other month, and the full series will be finished during the 2024-2025 school year. For now individual units can be purchased in our shop, OR you may get access to all existing units and new units as they are released as a member of Kids Art Projects 101.
