1st Grade Lesson Ideas

First graders are learning new vocabulary words and art materials. They enjoy make-believe and creating objects. They are interested in art that shows familiar subjects, such as animals and family. All of these lessons are just suggestions!

Drawing Stuffed Animals

Activity: drawing, coloring with crayons, pencils or markers.

See instructions here.

Mondrian Painting

Activity: tape, painting with tempera

See instructions here.

Faith Ringold Story Quilts

Activity: drawing, coloring with crayons, pencils or markers, cutting paper.

See instructions here.

My Village

Activity: mixing paint, drawing with oil pastels

Based on Art in Action Lesson 1. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Butterfly Painting

Activity: fingerpainting

Based on Art in Action Lesson 5. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Splatter Painting

Activity: painting (best done outside)

Based on Art in Action Lesson 12. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Winter Scene

Activity: sketching, painting with oil pastels, white paint

Based on Art in Action Lesson 6. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Mask Making

Activity: drawing, cutting, glueing and arranging paper

Based on Art in Action Lesson 2. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Finger Painting

Activity: painting with Tempura paints

Based on Art in Action Lesson 3. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Monet Style Painting

Activity: sketching, painting with tempera, water

Based on Art in Action Lesson 8. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Egyptian Hieroglyphic

Activity: sketching, drawing with oil pastels

Based on Art in Action Lesson 10. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Abstract Chalk Pastels

Activity: sketching, drawing with chalk pastels

Based on Art in Action Lesson 11. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Collage Portrait

Activity: sketching, paper cutting, glueing, assembling

Based on Art in Action Lesson 9. See lesson plan, supply list and instructions in the Art in Action binders in Exploratorium

Calder Paper Sculptures

Activity: cutting, sculpting with paper, markers

See step by step instructions here.