Art projects for middle school

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Make a Mark Studios

middle school art projects

My Favorite Middle School Art Projects

After a decade of teaching high school art, I’ve recently moved to teaching middle school art. It’s a blast and there is truly NEVER a dull moment. Through some trial and error, I’ve learned that some projects are more engaging than others. Below are some of my favorite middle school art projects that have yielded engagement and great visual end products! The ideas below use a variety of art media and include a range of 2d and 3d art projects. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment below if you’d like to share some of your personal idea for successful middle school art projects.

#1- 3D Shadowbox Collages

Student goal: Use found collage images to create layers of depth inside a 3D foam core shadowbox. Click here for the full lesson of this 3d shadowbox collage project.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#2- Colored Light Self Portraits

Student goal: Use colored pencils on toned paper to draw a self portrait of yourself photographed with a colored light source (we used 3 light sources- red, blue and green bulbs). Click here for more information about this lesson using colored light sources.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

A variation with a cropped composition on expressive eyes.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#3- Vortex Drawings

Student goal: Use a media of your choice to draw a vortex that shows depth, rhythm and movement. Click here for a full lesson on how to draw a variety of vortexes.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#4- Alien Point of View Perspective Drawings

Student goal: Use paint stix, oil pastels, or colored pencils to render an exaggerated “alien’s point of view” space drawing. Click here for free lesson a guided worksheet of this fun, alien perspective drawing.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#5- 1/2 Cartoon Face Digital Portraits

Student goal: With a photographed portrait, creatively divide the face in half and use digital drawing methods to stylize one side as a cartoon. Click here for free guided steps on how to do the 1/2 cartoon face portrait.

*This project was inspired by a viral challenge called #cartoonme. Lots of cool inspiration photos online!

half cartoon portrait

#6- Plaster Masks

Student goal: Using plaster strips upon a cardboard armature, create a wearable 3d mask. **In my class, we connected this to Hispanic heritage month and created Sugar Skull and Alebrije masks. We used this free template to create the armature for the mask.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#7- Elements of Art Project

Student goal: Divide one subject into seven sections. In each section, illustrate each of the elements of art using a variety of materials. For more information on this lesson including step by step directions, click here.

elements of art review project

#8- Monochromatic Posterized Portrait Paintings

Student goal: Using a portrait of your choice, create a monochromatic, posterized portrait. **We used this method (with the free webpased program Pixlr) to digitally posterize our photo references prior to drawing and painting them on canvas.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#9 Limited Color Scheme Landscapes

Student goal: Using a random color scheme of only 5 colors, create a composition of a landscape that shows a sense of space with foreground, mid ground and background. ** Click here to check out how I randomly assign students their 5 colors and their landscape setting. There is also a free guided video to show students how to begin this project.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#10 Surreal Collage Perspective Rooms

Student goal: Draw a room with accurate 1 point perspective techniques and add color to all sides of the room. Then, creatively incorporate surreal collage images into the room. Click here to check out my FREE guided step by step instructions on how to draw a 1 point perspective room interior.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#11- Open ended art challenges

Student goal: Using a random art challenge prompt (such as the #blendartchallenge) , artists will use a style and medium of their choice to compose a solution.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#12-Monster Dolls (inspired by kid drawings)

Student goal: Using a drawing of a monster from a young child for inspiration, create a hand sewn stuffed animal. Use a variety of materials including felt, cloth, yarn, buttons, and more!

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#13- Wire Stocking Sculptures

Student goal: Using a block of wood as your base and a nylon stocking stretched over a manipulated wire hanger, create an interesting 3d form. Use acrylic paint to create a gradient of at least 3 colors.

This is a really popular project, if you are looking for step by step directions a quick google search of ‘wire stocking sculptures’ should get ya there!

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#14- Dictionary Page Drawings

Student goal: Given a random dictionary page, find at last one word on the page to illustrate visually. Use a variety of art media to contrast your drawn image with the busy background. ** For more info on this lesson, check out this link here.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#15- Geometric Creatures

Student goal : On a watercolor wash background, draw a silhouette of a creature. Break your creature into polygonal shapes and add color with marker.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#16- Collaborative School Logo “Quilt” Drawings

Student goal: Create a quilted tile section of the school logo. Use a material of your choice and a style of your choice to show your individual personality. **Note, the entire logo is visually connected by the black lines.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#17- Faux Lined Paper Illusion Drawings

Student goal: On a white piece of paper, create a “faux” lined piece of paper with bending blue lines over a shaded pencil drawing. **My students used this awesome website by Julianna Kunstler to aid in our drawings. It was very helpful.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#19 Linoleum block printing

Student goal: Create high contrast prints using a hand carved linoleum block.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#20-Oil Pastel Dragon Eyes

Student goal: Use oil pastels to create a colorful drawing of dragon eye. Imply the texture of the scales through use of blending gradients. **Note- I am definitely not the teacher who created this idea, it’s pretty popular and oh-so-fun! I would love to credit whoever originally got this going, so let me know! My students used t his resource by Art by Ro to help us draw the dragon eyes.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#21- Line Drawing Landscapes-in-a-shape

Student goal: Create a landscape in a shape that shows a sense of depth. Explore a variety of line drawing techniques such as hatching and stippling to add texture and value. **Note, this lesson comes from this post from Cassie Stephens who was inspired by an artist named Jen Aranyi.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#22- ANYTHING op art!

Student goal: Choose from a choice board (I gave them lots of choices!), create an original op art drawing! **If you are interested in a fun op art drawing from Make a Mark Studios, check it out here! 🙂

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#23 Art History Reproductions

Student goal: Analyzing the brushstrokes, colors, and composition, recreate a famous artwork. **We created ours on our ceiling tiles as our 8th grade legacy works. C lick here for tips we learned along the way for painting on ceiling tiles.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#24 Non Objective Abstract Art

Student goal: Use sharpie to draw a non objective abstract artwork with a variety of lines and shapes. Using oil pastels, color in the composition fully.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#25 3D Creature Heads

Student goal: Use recyclables to build an armature of a 3d fictional creature head of your own imagination. Use paper mache or plaster strips to finalize your head . For full lesson on how to do this, check out my blog post here—

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#26 Glowing Light Bulb Drawing

Student goal: Use colored pencils on black paper to create the illusion of a glowing light bulb. For step by step guided tutorial and video, check out my full post here.

light bulb drawing

#27 Watercolor Mosaic

Student goal: Create a mosaic using cut tiles from a painted watercolor background. Explore either random polygonal tile shapes or a geometric repeated shape. For full lesson, check out my blog post here.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#28 2 point perspective graffiti wall

Student goal: Create a personalized graffiti tag on an illustrated 2 point perspective brick wall. For a FREE full guided drawing lesson of how to do this, check out my blog post here.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#27 Bauhaus Geometric Shape Paper Collages

Student goal: Create an asymmetrically balanced, geometric Bauhaus-inspired paper collage. For more info on this creative shape challenge, check out my blog post here.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#28 Mixed Media Abstract Art with EMPHASIS

Student goal: Create a mixed media abstract artwork that employs the principle of design EMPHASIS to create a defined focal point. For more info on this lesson, c heck out my blog post here.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#29 Hand Sewn Pop Tart Plushies!!

Student goal: Hand sew a pop art plushie inspired by contemporary felt artist, Lucy Sparrow! Step by step tutorial for how to sew a pop tart can be found here!

hand sewn pop tart

#30- Primary color, Pop Art Inspired Onomatopoeia Compositions!

Student goal: Create a composition of an onomatopoeia inspired by the pop artists using techniques such as ben day dots, primary color schemes, bold outlines, and more! Click here for the lesson on how to complete this Pop art project..

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

#31- Color wheel in an Eye

Student goal: Using only 3 primary colors of paint, create a color of 12 analogous colors in an iris of an eye. Click here for a step by step tutorial of how to create a color wheel in an eye.

color wheel eye

Thanks for checking out this blog post! Please  follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook  to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!

-Stephanie Villiotis , creator of Make a Mark Studios

Share this:

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

  • Classroom Ideas
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • Privacy Policy

47 Inspiring Art Activities For Middle School Students

October 19, 2023 //  by  Eisha Mohsin

There’s nothing quite like creative art projects to break the monotonous routine of middle school students. Contrary to popular opinion, artistic ability is not an innate skill, but rather something that can be honed and developed with practice but finding art projects that are engaging and immersive can be tricky. Look no further- we’ve gathered a list of 47 art projects for middle school that your kiddos will love. Which one will you get them started on first?

1. 3D Snowflakes

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This craft project is bound to be a big hit with your kiddos, especially around wintertime. All you’ll need is a few sheets of paper, ideally in varying shades of blue. Print out the snowflake template from the link above, and have them cut and stack the snowflakes onto each other for a 3D effect. Optional: decorate with glitter!

Learn More: Kids’ Craft Room

2. Line Practice

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

No art lesson is complete without line practice . Have your kiddies dedicate an entire lesson to just lines since this will come in handy when they’re sketching. If they need inspiration, you can us print out this handy and ask them to copy the patterns to the best of their ability.

Learn More: Kitchen Table Classroom

3. Thumbprint Art

LkHXcnymRDqtqw2AnmtB

This is a fun and versatile idea that can be tailored to suit any age group. All you’ll need is a piece of paper and some basic supplies like paints and markers. Your kiddos will love how hands-on this activity is! They get to paint with their own thumbs and be as creative as they want to with the art that they create- what’s not to love?

Learn More: Hello, Wonderful

4. Collaborative Mural

1Eia9eaERlu8HUVFZHbx

This art project idea involves giving your students large pieces of paper and acrylic paints in a vast array of colors. Divide the class into groups and let them work on this project over the course of a few lessons. Give each group full creative freedom regarding their section of the wall and watch them create a unique mural.

Learn More: What Have I Learned

5. Self-Portrait

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This is an amazing activity to try with older middle schoolers. If there’s one thing most famous artists have in common, it’s that they all painted self-portraits! Examine a few famous self-portraits with your kiddos and discuss what they give away about the artist. Now, ask them to create their own self-portrait and reflect on what it reveals about them.

Learn More: Hi Mama

6. Faux Stained Glass Painting

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This activity requires a slightly higher skill level than the rest but is still kid-friendly. Get a dollar store picture frame and put a printed outline of choice inside the frame to use as a template. Have your little artists paint the glass with a mix of paint and glue, then once dry, finish the piece by outlining shapes with a black permanent marker for a gorgeous stained glass effect!

Learn More: Fabulessly Frugal

7. Chalk Art Projects

summer-sidewalk-chalk-art-collage-1-this-tiny-blue-house.png?w=800&ssl=1

Create a fun game out of this idea which only requires colored chalk. Take your kiddies out to a paved surface where they can easily draw with chalk. Give them prompts to draw, for example, their favorite food, flower, or article of clothing within a set time. Let their creativity flow! 

Learn More: Tiny Blue House

8. Grid Drawing

ZJ5U8RpVR9u30KaAi9Jx

Get your kiddos on the grid! Teach them how to perfect more complicated art projects by drawing onto a grid. Encourage them to take the piece one square at a time, and this will help them to balance proportions in their artwork. You can make the grids bigger or smaller depending on what level of detail you’d like them to achieve. 

Learn More: Pinterest

9. Geometric Shape Drawing

qV1m50GSFCSQhw4AaMOk

This colorful project challenges your kids to draw and paint an animal, only using geometric shapes. Although this may initially seem challenging, there are several animal forms that can be artistically replicated using shapes only! What animals will they come up with?

Learn More: Tree Valley Academy

10. Halloween Pebble Paperweights

OpxBV2I7TKO6o2pXUZpk

This is a super fun art project to do around Halloween time. Have your kiddos collect a pebble from outside, then paint their favorite Halloween character onto it. The best few pieces can be displayed around the class during Halloween week for an extra spooky feel.

11. Fibonacci Circles

fibonacci-art-journal-pages.jpg

This is an art and math lesson all rolled together in one! Have your learners draw and cut out circles with diameters that correspond to the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence, then let them each arrange them into a colorful piece of art! Marvel at the different layouts and combinations that they come up with!

Learn More: W h at Do We Do All Day

12. Sculpture Art

55120295adc7248a57f41df2d9a7c6ac.jpg

This cool project involves taking a rather complex art form and making it simple and accessible to middle schoolers. Instead of using cement, have your kiddies use packaging tape to create a 3D sculpture of a person. You’ll be surprised to see how realistic the final result is!

Learn More: Look Between the Lines

13. Bubble Wrap Art

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Repurpose any bubble wrap you have lying around for your kiddos to create a beautiful painting. Take some black paper and a few neon-colored paints. Start by cutting the bubble wrap in circles, then paint the bubble wrap with neon-colored paints. Before the paint dries have them imprint it on a sheet of paper and add details to create these interesting pieces of artwork.

14. Thumbprint Biography

H1cb4huWQQyjEZLusPfl

A project that’s truly as unique as your kids are! Use the photocopier to blow up each of your kiddies’ fingerprints then use the printed result as a template for them to write their biography on. Encourage them to make it as colorful as possible. It’ll be a little labor-intensive, but the results are well worth the effort!

Learn More: Julie Ballew

15. Create a Comic Strip

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Does your class love comic books ? Get them to practice their storytelling skills and display their artistic prowess at the same time by downloading a comic strip stencil like this one. Challenge them to come up with a short but effective comic strip that links to your class topic, or give them free rein to create a story of their own. The possibilities are endless!

Learn More: Really Good Designs

24d33fb25c3ed3089ef04f2ab60d983d.jpg

Use up your scrap paper for this next project. Start by cutting up any spare pieces of craft paper you have into different-sized and shaped pieces. Then, let your kiddos use these pieces to create their own masterpieces! These pieces will look great displayed on the walls of your classroom. 

Learn More: Art with Mr. Hall

17. Metal Foil Art

f3b605c51c7f81beb176981c4d31a0f4.jpg

Explore texture with this next idea. Have your students create this stunning effect by drawing their design onto some metal foil with an embossing pen. Flip the foil over then use paints or markers to add color. The raised, metallic effect is the perfect way to create a spooky atmosphere in this winter-themed craft!

Learn More: Sebenta Marta

18. Easter Egg Painting

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Get egg-cited for this Easter craft! Grab a bunch of eggs and go through the process of dyeing them in pastel colors with your class. Once they’re dry, have each kiddie decorate one each! Add even more fun by awarding a prize for the best decorated egg or you could even consider hosting a classroom-wide easter egg hunt once everybody is done!

Learn More: Active Littles

19. Origami Art Installation

Origami is like magic – just when you think a piece of paper is all folded up, it unfolds into something incredible! Let your kiddos relax with the calming art of origami and together your class can create an amazing art installation. Show them how to create the pieces you need then let them have a go. The end result will be an impressive display!

Learn More: YouTube

20. Resin Art

pybnj2YLQfSRO0uWGjqk

Resin art is all the rage at the moment! From creating bookmarks to art pieces to coasters- the options are endless. Have your kiddies forage for some leaves and flowers to use in their art then help them mix and pour the resin. The best part is that if done right, the final product looks absolutely mesmerizing and makes for a great handmade gift for them to take home as well!

Learn More: Art in Context

21. Dream Catcher Creation

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Dive into the mystical by guiding your kids to create their own dream catchers . You can discuss the Native American origins and the cultural significance, then provide hoops, threads, beads, and feathers for a hands-on exploration of art and history.

Learn More: Crafts by Courtney

22. Nature Scavenger Hunt Art

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This one’s for the nature lovers! Organize a nature scavenger hunt where your kiddos can gather leaves, twigs, flowers, and more natural materials. Post-hunt, they can use these materials to create unique nature-inspired art pieces. What a super creative way to foster an appreciation for nature and the outdoors!

Learn More: Green Child Magazine

23. Art from Recyclables

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Reduce, reuse, create! Spark creativity and environmental awareness by encouraging your learners to create art from recycled materials. Give them a variety of recyclables like cardboard, plastic bottles, and old newspapers, then watch as they transform trash into treasure.

Learn More: Clean River

24. Puppetry Arts

Combine drama and art with this fun idea! Introduce your kiddos to puppet-making, and have them create their very own characters. Once they’re happy with their puppets, get them into groups and have them script and perform short puppet shows for the rest of the class. This is the perfect way to foster storytelling skills alongside crafting abilities.

25. Clay Sculpting

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Clay sculpting is the art of making something out of almost nothing – all it takes is a bit of imagination and a lot of squishing! Give your little sculptors clay to create various objects, animals, or figures. This tactile activity encourages creativity and can be a calming sensory experience for them. 

Learn More: Craft in America

26. Wearable Art

Inspire your kiddies to make some art that they can actually wear! Let them design and create their very own jewelry with this paper mache bracelet craft. This hands-on project is a fantastic avenue for self-expression and exploring the fusion of functionality and aesthetics in art. By the end of the day, you’ll have a bunch of totally unique designs for them to wear home!

27. Historical Art Re-creation

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

From Monet to Picasso, the history of art is varied and full of inspiration! Choose a period in art history to study with your kiddos and teach them about its characteristics. Next, let them get hands-on and recreate or reimagine artworks in that style. They’ll love this engaging way to combine art practice with historical learning!

Learn More: Teach Starter

28. Photography Challenge

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Say cheese! Equip your kiddos with cameras or iPads, and set them on a photography challenge around school grounds! You can assign themes or subjects to capture, and encourage them to gain a new perspective and appreciation for their everyday surroundings. 

Learn More: Capture 24

29. Mixed Media Collage

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Let chaos and creativity collide in a beautiful, artsy explosion! Give your kids the chance to explore mixed media by creating fantastic collages. Provide an assortment of different materials – fabric, magazine clippings, paints, markers, and more, and let their imaginations run wild. You can make this activity more challenging for middle schoolers by giving them a specific theme!

Learn More: The Artful Parent

30. Artistic Story Stones

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Challenge your kiddos with this creative storytelling craft! Let them paint or draw on stones to create story stones, where each stone represents a different item, character, or emotion in the story. You can follow this activity up nicely with a creative writing lesson where they can then use their story stones to craft and share their imaginative narrative!

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

31. Wind Chime Crafting

Get creative with a range of different materials with this idea. Guide your kiddies to craft their own wind chimes using materials like clay, metal, or wood to explore the different materials and discover varied sounds and musical notes they make! Once they’re finished, why not hang your wind chimes in an outdoor learning space so they can be enjoyed by the whole school?

32. Found Object Sculptures

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Wacky meets wonderful in this found object sculpture craft! Challenge your little artists to create sculptures from some cardboard and random objects like bottle tops, cutlery, pieces of plastic – anything they find lying around! You’re not just teaching art, you’re teaching them to see the potential and beauty in everyday items.

Learn More: The Art Teacher

33. Shadow Art

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This idea explores the playful side of light and shadow. Give your kiddos some cardboard and colored cellophane and see how creative they can be! Guide them to sketch, then cut out their design, before gluing the colored pieces of cellophane down. All that’s left is to wait for the sun to come out and head outside!

Learn More: The Best Ideas for Kids

34. Kinetic Sand Art

Who doesn’t love kinetic sand? Give your kids some kinetic sand and let them shape and mold to create magnificent structures or crazy landscapes. Your class will love this calming sensory activity that fosters creativity and encourages them to experiment!

35.  Mind Maps Art

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Blend visual art with brainstorming by creating colorful mind maps. This is a super way to introduce a new topic or subject to your learners, or it could map out a project. Logical thinking meets creative expression!

Learn More: Edrawmind

36. Poetry Illustration

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Bring visualizations to life! Have your kiddos select their favorite poem and get them to create an illustration or artwork inspired by it. This activity fuses literary and visual arts, enriching your class’ understanding of both.

Learn More: The Art of Education

37. Mask Making

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

What’s behind the mask? Exploring cultural or theatrical masks can be both educational and creative! Let your kiddies design and craft masks of their own using paper, cardboard, feathers, and more, to reflect different cultural, historical, or imaginative themes. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with!

38. Watercolor Exploration

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Watercolors teach the art of going with the flow, one delicate stroke at a time! Set your kids up with some watercolor paints and let them have fun exploring this unique medium. Through experimenting with different techniques, they learn about color blending and layering to create a range of different effects. 

Learn More: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

39. Mindful Doodling

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Why not practice some mindfulness with your kiddos? Encourage mindful doodling or Zentangle art to promote relaxation and creativity. Give them some markers and a blank page and let them doodle as their minds wander. This meditative activity is the perfect way to boost focus and artistic expression while keeping your classroom calm.

Learn More: Lightly Sketched

40. DIY Musical Instruments

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

This idea is a super way to repurpose and recycle items like old coffee cans or plastic bottles. Crafting simple musical instruments from these everyday materials not only teaches your kiddies about music and sound but also opens doors for a homemade orchestra and creative musical exploration. Let’s make some noise!

Learn More: Music In Our Homeschool

41. Urban Sketching Adventure

Take art outside! Lead your kiddos on an urban sketching adventure around the school or local area, encouraging them to sketch scenes or objects they find interesting, honing observation and drawing skills. They’ll gain a whole new appreciation for their local area and improve their artistic skills in the process!

42. Silk Painting

Explore the unique medium of silk painting. Using specialized silk paint, your little artists can create beautiful, vibrant artwork on silk fabric. This project gives them a chance to try out this amazing traditional art form and requires them to have patience, attention to detail, and a steady hand! The end results will be beautiful!

Learn More: Gathered

43. Community Art Project

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Make art a community endeavor! Engage your kids in a community art project, like painting a mural in the school or crafting art for a local nursing home. It’s a wonderful way to instill a sense of community and the positive impact of art. What a super way to bring everyone together!

Learn More: Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

44. Yarn Bombing School

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Weave some fun around your school with this craft project! Introduce your kiddos to the wacky world of yarn bombing by decorating a part of the school with colorful knitted, or crocheted yarn! It’s a cozy way to explore public art and crafting.

Learn More: Twinkl

45. Zen Garden Creation

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

In the chaos of school, a zen garden could be a welcome moment of calm! Guide your students to create miniature Zen gardens, discussing the principles of Zen and the calming nature of raking sand and arranging the stones. It’s a peaceful activity that also introduces cultural appreciation to your class.

Learn More: Guidepost Montessori

46. Performance Art Exploration

Drama meets art in this next idea! Challenge your kiddos to create and perform short performance art pieces. Encourage them to use their bodies as part of their art as they learn about how this modern art form pushes boundaries. With no limit on creativity, the results are sure to be out of this world!

47. Animation Basics

Action! Introduce your learners to basic animation techniques through a stop-motion animation project. Have them create their own short animations, using modeling clay, paper pieces, or even LEGOS to learn about and have a go at this exciting and modern art form. They’ll love creating their animations and playing them back to the rest of the class!

5 Successful One-Day Art Lessons for the Middle School Classroom

suminagashi setup

We’ve all been there. You start your day with grand intentions for a stellar lesson. Still, your plans are interrupted for whatever reason, and you can’t quite pull it together. Maybe too many students are absent, you have less of an essential supply than you remembered, or a pep rally is cutting your class twenty minutes short. Don’t feel guilty! It happens to the most organized of us. Whether you need a lesson in a pinch or want to plan ahead to teach a quick technique, one-day lessons make great tools to fill your toolbox.

The right one-day lesson does more than just fill time. These quick activities can also be highly engaging! Creating a project from start to finish in one sitting provides immediate satisfaction for students while giving them an opportunity for valuable skill-building. One-day lessons can also introduce larger concepts in a simple way before jumping into a bigger unit. By selecting smaller paper sizes, simplifying materials, and using basic art tools, you will be well on your way to implementing one-day lessons in no time!

The best one-day lessons have built-in potential for success.

Highly successful lessons are enjoyable and engaging. A few other things they have in common include:

  • Clear and limited steps.
  • Completion in one class period.
  • Student autonomy (in material choice, design, color, etc.).
  • Scaffolding for future skills and techniques.
  • Easy clean-up.

Here are five simple, one-day art lessons that will keep your middle schoolers engaged.

1. crumpled paper “stained glass”.

stained glass example

It doesn’t get much easier than this! Show students a completed version and connect it to patterns found in stained glass windows. Use this History of Stained Glass download below. You can find this resource in the Nature’s Stained Glass Lesson to help you introduce historical connections. Find this lesson and many others in FLEX Curriculum.

downloadable resource

Students will have so much fun fracturing and coloring in their paper by following these steps:

  • Crumple a half sheet of paper. After re-opening the paper, examine the tons of tiny, fractured shapes and folds.
  • Create a “stained glass” look using a pencil or ultra-fine permanent marker to outline every shape. It’s fun to see the look on students’ faces when you casually mention this!
  • Color in each shape, using colored pencils for a soft look or markers for a bold one. Alternate colors so that no two shapes with the same color are touching.

This wonderfully simple lesson subtly requires persistence to complete and encourages thoughtful decision-making in the color arrangement. If papers are well-crumpled and students take their time applying color, this project can quickly fill an average class period and is sure to leave students feeling satisfied.

Do you want to extend your lesson?

Try the Lesson, Radial Stained Glass , to continue building the skills from this exercise. This lesson can be found in FLEX Curriculum .

2. Abstract Papercutting

students making paper cutouts

It pays to maintain color-separated boxes of scrap paper throughout the school year for projects like this! Whether you need to reduce the amount you have accumulated or want a fast project to practice color theory, cutting skills, and composition, this one’s for you. Your artists can practice warm and cool or complementary colors depending on your curriculum goals. They can also demonstrate more advanced cutting techniques such as overlapping, layering, and emphasis.

colored scrap bins

Students begin abstract papercutting by following these steps:

  • Select a large piece of colorful construction paper as a base.
  • Cut organic shapes from contrasting colored pieces of scrap paper using scissors.
  • Apply glue to the back of each organic shape.
  • Arrange the organic shapes on the base construction paper to create an exciting composition.

You can seamlessly connect this activity to a unit about Henri Matisse’s cut-outs or an intermediate-level lesson to create a Recycled Paper Abstract Collage . Find this collage lesson and many others in our FLEX Curriculum .

3. Suminagashi Paper Marbling

Suminagashi paper marbling is a little-known, magical activity that wins students over every time . The process utterly mesmerizes students and teaches them how to experiment with patterns and color. As a bonus, students will generate multiple sheets of decorative paper for use in future projects. Suminagashi is so fun that students will even enjoy watching others do it!

suminagashi setup

Pre-packaged kits make a suminagashi lesson easy, or you can purchase a few bulk materials to have on hand.

Here’s how to get started:

  • Fill shallow trays with water.
  • Drop the paper dot that comes with the kits into the water.
  • Squeeze a drop of the suminagashi ink onto the dot and watch as it magically pushes the dot through the water!
  • Add several subsequent drops in varying colors to create patterns.
  • Manipulate the dot and influence the ink’s pattern on the water’s surface using a paintbrush or chopstick. Students will enjoy experimenting with different techniques, such as blowing the water or gently tilting the tray to see how their patterns change. Be careful not to “overmix” the ink, or colors and patterns may become muddy.
  • Gently lay a piece of paper on the water’s surface for a few seconds.
  • Starting from one corner, lift the paper in one smooth motion to reveal the ink design adhered to the paper.
  • Allow the paper to dry.

After an experiment or two, students will learn which colors and techniques produce their desired results. Make sure you have enough kits for each station or table group in your classroom so students can try creating several papers.

Once the papers have dried, you can incorporate them in future lessons about bookbinding, visual journaling, or collage. Try using the paper as a background in the lesson, Watercolor Coral Collage, or integrate it into a Painted Paper Weaving artwork. Find both of these lessons in FLEX Curriculum . No matter how you choose to connect this activity to your lessons, students are sure to love this intriguing process.

4. Watercolor and Salt Paintings

A fun way to scaffold watercolor projects and talk about science is by experimenting with watercolor and salt. Salt absorbs water through the process of osmosis. Students investigate color mixing by allowing painted areas to bleed into one another. Encourage them to observe how varying amounts of water and salt types in different areas correlate to the final, dried result.

watercolor and salt closeup

This low-stakes exercise allows students to test out hypotheses about salt’s effect on watercolor paint by following these steps:

  • Apply watercolor paint to watercolor paper using the wet-on-dry method.
  • Sprinkle salt over the watercolor paint.
  • Wet dry areas of the paper with water and then apply watercolor paint using the wet-on-wet method. Allow the paint to pool, and sprinkle salt into the pools.
  • Allow areas of watercolor paints to mix, and apply salt.
  • After the paper has thoroughly dried, brush the salt off the paper over a trash can and observe the effect it has created.

Once students understand how salt applications affect watercolor paint, they can try  Hide/Seek: The Art of Camouflage. In this lesson, students approach science from a different angle and practice more control of their salt application to create their desired outcome. Look for this lesson in FLEX Curriculum .

5. Value Scale Water Droplet

This small but mighty pencil and paper assignment is a tried and true plan for working with the most limited materials to generate the most significant impact. Students will be delighted as they work to create the illusion of a water droplet on paper. Plus, it’s easier than it looks!

water droplet drawing

With a piece of paper, pencil, and eraser at the ready, start creating droplets by following these steps:

  • Draw one to three circles on your paper.
  • Select which angle you will have a light source coming from. The example above shows the light source shining from the upper left corner of the paper.
  • Sketch a crescent moon shape on the light source’s side of the circle and shade it with a medium to light gradation.
  • At the outer edge of the crescent, the circle’s outline will have the deepest shaded value. It should lighten and fade toward the center of the circle. The lightest value should be at the circle’s center and out toward the opposite side. Students may want to use their erasers during the blending process.
  • Add “shine” highlights on the crescent by creating rounded rectangular shapes.
  • Complete the effect with the shadow cast on the side farthest from the light source by shading it with the deepest value.

Students will be thrilled to try their hand at these four additional value scale activities .

Let your one-day lessons do double duty.

There are many different times when a one-class lesson makes the most sense to implement. First, consider which skills you want your students to practice and how to maximize their learning. Is your goal to introduce a larger unit later or to briefly reinforce existing skills? Then, use one of these quick-to-organize lessons to create fun and satisfying masterpieces. You will be amazed at how engaging one-class projects can be and how prepared your students will feel to level up to the next assignment. Give yourself some breathing room, and then get back to your regularly-scheduled plans without guilt.

What are your most effective one-day art lesson ideas for middle school?

How do you use one-day lessons to scaffold larger units?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Andrea Wlodarczyk

Andrea Wlodarczyk, a former middle school art educator, is a former AOEU Writer. She is a deep believer that the art room can be a brave space for students to collaborate across cultures, languages, academics, and socioeconomics and celebrate self-expression and diversity through community.

cake sculpture

Art and Appetite: 7 Ways to Explore the Significance of Food in the Art Room

playing cards

7 Engaging Ways to Teach the Elements and Principles of Art and 3 Fun Ways to Review Them

3 emotional student artworks

10 Easy Strategies to Apply Brain-Based Learning in the Art Room

curriculum binders

7 Common Misconceptions When Approaching Your Art Curriculum This Year

CTCMath Banner

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Honest. Quirky. Real. Stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

100+ Awesome Hands-On Activities for Middle School and High School

Did you like this article? If so, please help by sharing it!

  • Facebook 2.7K
  • Pinterest 6.6K

Hands-on learning activities aren't just for kids. These 100 hands-on activities for middle school and high school students will keep older students actively learning and engaged in their education. There are activities for math, science, history, geography, and electives! #homeschool #homeschooling #highschool #middleschool

Engage your teens with this list of more than 100 hands-on activities for middle school and high school students!

Hands-on learning is the best kind of learning. There are limitless ideas for hands-on activities for preschool and elementary-aged students. Unfortunately, as kids get older, the ideas for hands-on projects seem to dwindle in favor of more traditional textbook-style learning.

However, teens learn just as much from hands-on activities as young kids do, and almost anything can be educational: acting in a play , running a lawn-care business , creating pieces of art , cooking, baking , and even babysitting ! Because it helps to start with a list to get your own ideas flowing, I’m sharing more than 100 hands-on activities for middle school and high school students ! 

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

How to Modify Hands-on Activities for Teens

I do want to include one caveat – not all of these activities are specifically geared toward older students. But activities for younger kids are beneficial to older students with some modifications .

To make hands-on activities more challenging for older students:

  • Turn all the planning and execution of the project over to the student.
  • Require more detail. (Simplified example: a young student might label only the basic parts of a flower such as stem, petal, and leaves, while an older student would be expected to include anthers, stamen, ovaries, etc.)
  • Use more complex materials. (For example: a younger student might make a cardboard rainstick while an older student would use bamboo and nails.)
  • Ask your teens to explain what they did, how they did it, why it works, and what it represents. (Younger kids should be able to do this, too, but older kids should be more detailed in their narrative.)

I hope you find this list helpful! Be sure to bookmark it so you can return to it later when you need more ideas and inspiration! Please leave  a comment if you have more ideas for me to add to this article. 

This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure policy for more details.

Hands-On Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Andy Warhol Art Project – A Warhol-inspired project using a template or your own photo.

Mary Cassatt Hats – Make paper mache hats as you learn about American artist, Mary Cassatt.

Mary Cassatt Hats

Zentangle Dragonfly – Stretch the imagination and create Zentangle Dragonfly Art.

Marbled Clay Ring Dish – Beautiful clay dishes you can make at home.

Shibori Dyeing Technique – Create art you can wear with this Japanese tie-dyeing technique using indigo dye .

Aluminum Foil Stained Glass Art – Recreate any picture using aluminum foil and Sharpie markers.

Free Art Lessons and Tutorials – An entire Pinterest page of art tutorials.

Paper Jungle – A paper art project inspired by the works of Henri Rousseau.

Self-Portrait Collage – Some art projects should require endurance. This one will have to be completed in several steps over time.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Getting Started in Chalk Pastel – A free e-book full of art tutorials using chalk pastels.

Jackson Pollock Inspired Abstract Art – Experiment with splatter and drip painting.

How to Make an Edible Cell Mode l – This was probably one of the most fun projects we’ve ever done. It’s definitely one of the most popular on the blog. We did an animal cell, but it could easily be adapted to a plant cell.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Hands-on Genetics Study for Kids – An excellent resource for studying Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics. This site includes a free, printable download and activity and resource suggestions.

Build a DNA Model – Use Twizzlers and gumdrops for a tasty, hands-on experiment with DNA.

Candy Math and Science – Create bar graphs and practice taxonomy with candy.

Human Body Systems – Hands-on activities for studying human anatomy.

Bean Classification – Who says taxonomy has to be boring?

Edible Skin Layers Cake – Make a model of human skin using some sweet treats.

Articulated Hand – Make a model of the hand that actually moves like a human hand.

Functioning Heart Mode l – This is a cool project that uses household items to make a functioning heart model.

Anatomy of the Eye – Study the anatomy of the eyeball with a cake pop.

Another Edible Cell – Prefer cookies over cake? Try this edible cell!

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Extracting DNA From Strawberries Experiment – This one looks almost as much fun as the time the kids and I extracted our own DNA.

Project-Based Learning: Microbes – Bacteria – I love this tutorial for building a model of a bacteria cell.

The Lab Report – Flower Dissection – Includes video, resource links, and a free download.

Earth Science

Ocean Zones in a Jar – Learn about ocean zones and liquid density by making these hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

Metamorphic Edible Rocks – This hands-on metamorphic rock activity will have you learning about earth science with food.

Make a Lava Lamp – A simple tutorial for making a lava lamp with information on why it works.

three lava lamps - hands-on activities for middle school and high school students

The Lab Report – Enzyme Experiment – See enzymes in action and discover an experiment challenge for you to do on your own.

Let’s Make A Mold Terrarium! – Because, really, who doesn’t want to grow mold?

Learning Summer Constellations – Do you and your kids love constellations as much as I do? Capitalize on that with these great study tips and activity ideas.

Baking Soda Stalactites & Stalagmites – Watch crystals grow each day as engaging hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

Volcano in a Cup – There are many great hands-on volcano activities other than the traditional baking soda-and-vinegar stand-by. (Although that one never gets old!) So, check out this idea for a change of pace.

Charcoal Water Purifying Experiment – Can charcoal purify water? Experiment and find out!

Using Clouds To Predict The Weather – Turn your kids into weather forecasters! Teach them to recognize the types of clouds and what they tell us about the weather.

Compost Cups Science Projects – Learn about decomposition and composting.

The Lab Report – Air Pressure – Learn about air pressure in this video presented by the student herself.

Acid or Base Experiment – Simple, but effective experiments that illustrate the acidity of household products.

Red Cabbage Litmus Experiment – Use red cabbage to determine which foods and beverages are acids and which are bases.

Periodic Table of Elements Cookies – Learn the elements and their chemical symbols by making and decorating cookies.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Testing The Properties Of Water – Experiments for learning about surface tension and cohesion.

Oxygen and Fire Experiment – Test the relationship between oxygen and fire with this simple, but fun experiment, and learn why the experiment works.

Atomic Cookie Skillet Model – The best hands-on activities for kids are the edible ones and this atom model is no exception!

STEM and More hands-on activities for middle school and high school

Steel Wool and a 9-Volt Battery Experiment – You shouldn’t play with fire – unless, of course, it’s this really cool experiment. Check out the video!

Polishing Pennies Experiment – Learn about oxidation. Includes a free printable.

Squishy Science Experiment With Warblettes – What are Warblettes, you ask? They are nifty little water-absorbing polymers.

BioFilm Experiment – Make the study of microbiology a bit more interesting with this experiment. Includes free printable.

How to Make Plastic – Make your own gelatin bioplastic.

10 Hands-On Science Activities for Kids – These 10 generic hands-on activities for middle school and high school students are easily adaptable for a wide variety of projects and age ranges.

Circuit Bugs – Use circuits and batteries to bring these bugs to life.

5 Easy Beach STEM Activities – Heading to the beach? Try some of these activities with your middle schoolers.

Invisible Ink – Unlock the secrets of invisible ink with this activity.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

How to Make a Paper Mache Earth Model – Another one of our all-time favorite hands-on projects, this model is suitable for middle school and easily adaptable for high school.

Pumpkin School – Bookmark this one for fall so you’ll be ready to learn about pumpkin pi. (Do you see what I did there?)

How to Record an Experiment – It’s crucial that middle and high school students know how to properly record science experiments.

Make an Ancient Egyptian dress – Sew an ancient Egyptian dress for an 18″ doll.

How to Mummify a Chicken – Is it possible to study ancient Egypt without mummifying a chicken?

Middle Ages Unit Study for Middle School – Living book suggestions along with resources and activity ideas.

Greek Mythology Character Cubes – Illustrate Greek myths with this 3-D display.

Slavery and Civil War Unit Study – A literature- and project-based unit study.

History Quest: Civil War Uniforms – A tutorial for creating an authentic-looking Civil War uniform.

George Washington’s Camp – Recreate George Washington’s camp out of paper.

Settling the New World: Colonial History Unit Study – A unit study for upper-elementary and middle school ages.

Timeline Accordion Book – Record any time period with this accordion book.

Underground Railroad Quilt Code Game – Learn more about the Underground Railroad with this game.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

How to Make Berry Ink – Step back in time and make your own ink.

13 Colonies Map Puzzle Activity – You’ll find the directions for making your own 13 Colonies puzzle map at the end of this post.

Maple Syrup Snow Candy – If you’re studying pioneer life, this is a yummy treat to make in the winter and is one of the best hands-on activities for middle school and high school students for the colder seasons.

Ben Franklin & Electricity – Ben Franklin had many roles that included statesman, writer, scientist, and inventor. Explore static electricity with this experiment. You can also try your hand at replicating some of his inventions with the resource, Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions You Can Build Yourself .

10 Hands-On History and Geography Activities for Kids – A list of generic, versatile ideas for all ages.

Create a Biographical Trailer – Use iMovie or another tool to create a trailer about a historical biography.

Paper Art Landforms – Make learning about landforms fun with this paper art project.

Making an Edible Map – This edible map tutorial uses cookie dough as the base with icing to represent lakes. Adding other candies to represent various landforms and landmarks would expand this project easily for older students.

Making a Paper Mache Map – Tutorial for making a topographical map from paper mache.

Salt Dough Map

How to Make a Salt Dough Map – Salt dough maps are a family favorite and easily adaptable to a wide student age range, which is why they make great hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

How to Make a Compass – A tutorial for making a homemade compass and determining magnetic north using the completed project.

Plate Tectonics – A tasty way to learn about continental drift and plate tectonics.

Model of the Earth’s Layers in a Jar – A simple, but fun and effective way to represent the layers of the Earth in a colorful spice jar!

Soil Layers with LEGO – Use LEGO brick to build a model representing the soil layers of the Earth.

U.S. Geography Scavenger Hunt – Make learning to use an atlas fun with these ideas. Includes a free printable.

Paper Airplane Math – Practice graphing the fun way – with paper airplanes!

100+ Living Math Activities & Link-Up – Activities are broken down by grade level and include those for middle school and high school.

Graphing Facebook Birthdays – If paper airplanes aren’t your style, try your hand at graphing your Facebook friends’ birthdays instead.

M&M Math – M&Ms are more than just counters for young children learning basic math. Older kids can practice fractions with M&Ms ; mean, median, and mode; and graphing.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Cost of a Pumpkin Algebra Lesson – Bring algebraic equations to life with this activity.

Hands-on Geometry – Math is always more meaningful when kids can see real-life applications, so try these hands-on geometry ideas.

Gumdrop Structures Engineering Challenge – A fantastic STEM activity that can be made more or less difficult based on the parameters you decide to set.

Pythagorean Theorem Lego Proof – Help students visualize the Pythagorean Theorem using LEGO bricks .

Interactive Notebook Entry: Graphing Using Slope-Intercept Form – Templates and instructions for creating an interactive notebooking page for graphing using slope-intercept.

Language Arts

The Phantom Tollbooth Activities – Journey through The Phantom Tollbooth with these hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

Calpurnia Tate Book Activities – Get hands-on with the popular book, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate , and its sequel, The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate .

The Secret Garden Activities – These fun learning activities will help bring The Secret Garden to life.

Around the World in 80 Days Activities – These free printables are geared to younger students, but there are lots of great activities to do with tweens and teens.

5 Ways to Bring Any Book to Life – These are some of our favorite ways to bring books to life for children of all ages.

Shakespeare Activities – Thirty hands-on activities for a variety of the Bard’s works .

Library Scavenger Hunt – Teach your student about literary genres with this scavenger hunt.

Fun Activities for Subject-Verb Agreement in High School Classes – This is intended for a classroom but could be adapted for homeschool use.

A Nature Study Photography Project for Any Age – Photography makes a fantastic high school elective, so use these tips to combine it with nature study.

Home Economics: Budgeting – No homeschooled student should graduate without learning this vital life skill.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Beginner Sewing Projects & Project Resources – This would make a great addition to a home ec course.

Experimenting with Flexibility – Add this resource to your health class notes.

How to Use Current Events in Your Homeschool – Current events can provide a springboard for some great hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

Stop Action: {Easy} Movie Making with LEGOs – If you’ve got a LEGO lover, stop-action movie making could be a great digital technology course.

We hope these awesome hands-on activities for middle school and high school students will help your children engage more with their lessons and actually enjoy the subject! Learning can be fun!

You Might Also Like

  • How to Be Your Teen’s High School Guidance Counselor
  • 10 Tips to Help Easily Distractible Teens Focus
  • Tips for Allowing Homeschooled Teens to Make Their Own Schedules
  • How to Plan a Homeschool Valentine's Day Party
  • 20 Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas for the Mom Who Has Everything
  • 10 Insanely Easy Ways to Homeschool During the Holidays
  • 25 Ways to Show Your Teens You Love Them

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Trish Corlew

Trish is one of the owners of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers, Hip Homeschool Moms, Homeschool Road Trips and Only Passionate Curiosity. Trish is from the coast of North Carolina, but they now live in rural West Tennessee on a 40+ acre farm. She has been married to her best friend, David, for 23 years and they have three sons (ages 20, 18 and 16). She has been homeschooling since 2009 and her homeschool style leans towards a Montessori approach with a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning. Trish’s family is Messianic and they love studying the Scriptures and growing in their faith. In her spare time, Trish loves to travel, work in their garden, work puzzles, and play games with the family.

  • Trish Corlew https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/author/trish/ 10 Reasons You Should Definitely NOT Homeschool
  • Trish Corlew https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/author/trish/ Weekly Homeschool Resources - November 1st
  • Trish Corlew https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/author/trish/ Weekly Homeschool Resources Wrap Up – Skipping the Birthday Party
  • Trish Corlew https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/author/trish/ Weekly Homeschool Resources Wrap Up - Being Part of a Weird Community

19 Comments

What a wonderful resource for middle school and high school students! We love hands-on activities at our house!

Love the roundup!!

For sure we need way more ideas to keep the middle school years fun and hands-on.

Love your list!!

Wow! This is an amazing resource! Thanks so much for assembling this list 🙂

Oh, you don’t know how much I needed this post right now! Thank you!

What a great list of activities! I can’t wait to dig in. Maybe the kids will want to do some with me:)

I liked so much all these activities. Thanks a lot.

Just came across this … exactly what I need to start the new year – thank you!

Great ideas for my stem aftershool middle schoolers!

I think I’ve read this post a bunch of times but I keep coming back to it over and over again. Such great ideas.

Love this roundup! Definitely one of the most helpful blog posts out there on the topic of middle school!

Thank you for the chance to win and for blessing homeschool families! And thanks for sharing these hands-on ideas for older students!

Thank you for this amazing list of middle/high school hands on activities.

I forget to offer hands-on activities for my big children. And they need the time to do these things too. Bookmarking this list.

Looking forward to trying some of these with my junior this year!

Excited to use some of these, even though my kids are 4th and 5th grades this year, but many of these are adaptable, and others I’ll tuck away in my digital “treasure room” for future use! The DIY Berry Ink, Secret Garden activities, salt dough relief maps, and predicting the weather with clouds stand out as ones we’ll definitely investigate and attempt this fall. Thank you!

After 20 years of homeschooling and graduating three students, I am down to just one this year. She will be starting high school and I want it to be fun for her. She still enjoys the fun and simple things mentioned in this post.

Lots of great ideas! I pinned to look at it later more thoroughly.

100+ Hands-On Activities for Middle School and High School is an excellent article! The information is very helpful!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Look between the lines

  • Education Resources
  • Art + Merch

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Middle School Art Project Ideas

Middle school art project ideas thumbnail

As we round the corner to back to school check out middle school art project ideas and how to handle the first days of school. Middle school art is all about building off the basics taught in elementary school and allowing students the space to explore subject matter and styles that interest them. They still need a lot of scaffolding and structure, but you can begin to give them some freedom to express themselves.

I love focusing on projects that teach important techniques while providing enough wiggle room for students to make unique works of art. This can be hard to do, they still need the structure to feel successful but you want to avoid cookie-cutter projects. I often use the elements of art and principles of design as a way to guide my curriculum while still including a wide range of materials and subjects.

Recent Middle School Art Projects

  • Clay Bell Project
  • 90 Sketchbook Prompts (Shop my TPT , shop my website )
  • Tar Paper Painting (Shop my TPT , shop my website )
  • Packaging Tape Transfer (Shop my TPT, shop my website )

Middle School Art Project Ideas-First Day of School

Middle school art project ideas-marker image

The first day of school can be chaotic. There are several administrative tasks that need to be completed, and it can be hard for wiggly middle schoolers to sit still and listen. I like to give them an activity, such as a get-to-know-you handout, to start on while I get everyone settled in their assigned seats. Once everyone is settled I go over the syllabus and we start a quick first-day activity.

The first day is all about keeping things moving and kids engaged. I don’t start longer projects until the second or third day of school. My go-to first-day projects are decorating portfolios (staple two pieces of posterboard together, and decorate with markers) or working on elements of art handouts.

First-Day Checklist

  • Assign seats before students arrive.
  • Pass out get-to-know-you handouts for students to fill out.
  • Pass out and review the course syllabus and class rules.
  • Decorate portfolios to use for the duration of the course.

Middle School Art Project Ideas-Popular Resources

Last summer I completed my first full year middle school curriculum. Over the course of the year, students are taught drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques. Each project focuses on an element of art or principles of design. This has become one of my most popular middle school items. Check out that pack as well as my other popular items below.

  • Full Year Middle School Art Curriculum (Shop my TP T , shop my w ebsite )
  • Zendoodle Activity Pack (Shop my TP T , shop my w ebsite )
  • Graphic Design Movie Poster Project (Shop my TPT, shop my website )

Thanks for stopping by, don’t forget to follow me on  Instagram  and  TikTok  for weekly visual journal demos. Until next time!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Posts

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Recent Posts

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Another awesome resource from one of my favorite creators! I used this with both in person and virtual students. All were engaged and enjoyed learning." -Buyer, Photoshop Basics Packet

Give us a Follow

Get a free set of 8 elements of art posters when you subscribe!

KinderArt

*Grades 6-8

We’ve listed all of our Middle School art lesson plans here. These activities are best suited for Grades 6-8 – or – ages 11-14 years. Grade levels are given as a guideline only.

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Oil Pastel Hearts

K-2, Grades 3-5, Middle School

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Black Capped Chickadees

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Snacking Cardinals

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Charley Harper was an incredible artist and illustrator who is best known for his stylized, simplified interpretations of nature and wildlife. Students will learn about Charley as …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Mandalas help to bring balance, peace and calm. This makes creating them a perfect activity for children (and adults) of all ages. This lesson uses readily available …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Getting to Know You

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The first days and weeks of school can be exciting and terrifying, all at once. Arming yourself with a few “getting to know” you exercises can help …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Design Your Own Nutcracker

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Nutcracker dolls symbolize good luck in German tradition, but where did they come from? This drawing lesson will teach children the answer to this question, and more. …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Drawing with Glue

by Andrea Mulder-Slater If you are looking for a sure fire way to get a great response from your students, walk into the art room and tell them they will …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Gingerbread Village

By Andrea Mulder-Slater Every year my daughter and I decorate a gingerbread house (or two, or three). We don’t bake from scratch, but instead work with pre-baked, pre-cut slabs of …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

A Cup of Cocoa

by Andrea Mulder-Slater The only thing better than chocolate, is chocolate in a cup! Big mugs of hot chocolate (or hot cocoa) are the theme of this cozy art lesson. …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Paper Pumpkins

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Here’s a super quick way to make paper pumpkins that look real enough to pick! [This is a small snippet of a lesson we have inside The …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

6 Ways to Make Sketchbooks

by Andrea Mulder-Slater When I was a student at art school, my drawing professor had one rule and that was to draw, every single day. From her I learned there …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Pop Art Owls Drawing Art Lesson with Video Tutorial

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Glue Flowers

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Negative Space Plant Drawings

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, High School

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Criss Cross Doodles

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Using materials found in every art room, students will draw criss cross lines to create shapes for doodles to live! Then, by following a few basic prompts, …

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Design a Miniature Garden

K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Architecture Mood Board

Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

Draw and Paint a Sea Turtle

Sign up for our newsletter.

  • Grades 6-12
  • School Leaders

Black History Month for Kids: Google Slides, Resources, and More!

37 of Our Favorite Easy Art Projects for Kids

Get their creative juices flowing.

East art projects for kids, including dictionary drawing of the word ignorant and a woven paper rainbow fish.

The stress of tests and social dynamics can prove challenging for students, and for this reason, they need an opportunity to express themselves freely. Art provides a powerful outlet for creative expression while also proving therapeutic. Plus, a good art project can be particularly effective at getting kids to unplug from their devices. A simple art project can even fill some of downtime during the day for early finishers. Regardless of whether you teach preschool or high school, there is an art project for everyone. So gather some art supplies and try one of these easy art projects for kids!

Easy Art Projects for Pre-K Students

1. paper bag jelly fish.

Text at the top says Paper Bag Jellyfish. Four paper bags have been painted with googly eyes glued on them. The bottom of the bags have been shredded with scissors.

As far as easy art projects for kids go, this one is perfect for preschoolers since it works on their hand-eye coordination and their cutting skills in particular. In addition to paper bags and scissors or pinking shears, you will need some paints, paintbrushes, googly eyes, and glue. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can grab some sparkles too!

Learn more: Paper Bag Jelly Fish at No Time for Flash Cards

2. Tissue Paper Apple

A piece of paper has two apples on it that are created from little squares of red and green tissue paper that have been glued onto the apple outlines.

Since everyone associates apples with fall and the start of school, this will be the perfect craft to start the school year off on the right foot. Simply draw an apple outline on a piece of paper and have small red and green tissue paper squares ready to be crumpled and glued by tiny hands.

Learn more: Tissue Paper Apple at Burlap + Blue

3. Fork Print Tulips

Several pieces of paper have tulips that are made from different colored paints dipped in the top part of forks to make the flower head. green stems and leaves are painted underneath.

This project is both cute and simple, requiring only a fork, some heavyweight paper, and some paints. This project would be especially perfect for a Mother’s Day gift.

Learn more: Fork Tulip at Toddler at Play

4. Paper Bag Monster

Three paper bags are transformed into brightly colored monsters.

First, paint the bag any color you want. Once dry, cut out shapes from card stock and assemble your monster!

Learn more: Paper Bag Monster Puppets at I Heart Crafty Things

5. Paper Plate Lion

This easy art project for kids shows a paper plate that is painted orange with simple eyes, mouth, and nose painted on in black. The edges of the plate have been cut with slits to look like a mane.

All you need to re-create this adorable lion is orange and black paint, paintbrushes, paper plates, and scissors. Grab some Popsicle sticks to glue to the back and you’ll have a ferocious puppet show on your hands in no time!

Learn more: Paper Plate Lion at My Bored Toddler

6. Popsicle Stick Rainbow

This easy art project for kids shows white circles glued to a piece of light blue construction paper as clouds. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple popsicle sticks are coming out of the clouds as a rainbow.

Grab some blue card stock, cotton circles, and Popsicle sticks and have your students work on their gluing skills. This craft will prove effective at teaching little ones their colors. Choose either colored Popsicle sticks or have kids color them themselves.

Learn more: Popsicle Stick Rainbow at My Bored Toddler

7. Paper Plate Octopus

An orange and a blue octopus are made from paper plates painted with faces on them and the octopus legs are made from strips of construction paper.

Kids love octopuses, especially adorable ones like these! This craft would be perfect for little ones still learning to count since they have a whopping eight legs to make.

Learn more: Paper Plate Octopus at Simple Every Day Mom

8. Macaroni Necklace

This image of an easy art project for kids shows 5 multi-colored macaroni necklaces made from painted macaroni, string, and some beads.

A staple of many of our childhoods, macaroni necklaces work on the dexterity of little fingers while also making perfect gifts. Add in some large beads as well for variety.

Learn more: DIY Macaroni Necklaces at Made To Be a Mama

Easy Art Projects for Elementary School Students

9. paper plate snake.

A paper plate is cut into a spiral and painted with watercolor paints. Googly eyes havebeen glued on.

Have your students paint a paper plate with watercolors and then once dry, help them cut it in a swirl shape. Finally, add some googly eyes.

Learn more: Colorful Paper Plate Snakes at Pink Stripey Socks

10. Paper Roll Koala

This easy art project for kids shows a cute koala made from a paper roll, construction paper, and pom-poms.

This super-cute koala would make an adorable desk buddy since it stands up on its own. Kids will enjoy personalizing their koala’s face!

Learn more: Paper Roll Koala at Arty Crafty Kids

11. Leaf Pattern Drawing

The outline of a leaf is divided into different sections in this easy art project for kids. Each section is brightly colored with a different pattern in it.

We just love art projects that fill the entire page, and this one certainly fits the bill. The combination of crayon and watercolor paint create this multi-dimensional leaf print.

Learn more: Leaf Pattern at Art Projects for Kids

12. Woven Rainbow Fish

An image on the top shows a white cutout of a fish with a stack of strips of brightly colored paper. The bottom image shows the final product with the strips woven inside the fish.

This project is perfect for working on students’ hand-eye coordination while being a cursory introduction to sewing. It’s challenging enough for even upper elementary school students while still being relatively simple.

Learn more: Rainbow Fish at Crafty Morning

13. Thumbprint Bugs

This easy art project for kids shows three steps to making green thumbprints turn into a caterpillar.

These thumbprint doodles are just so sweet and would perfectly complement a science lesson all about bugs. After having students try their hand at some of the thumbprint examples, let them use their imagination to see what other ideas they can cook up. You can even have them create bug jars out of card stock to put their new friends in!

Learn more: Thumbprint Bugs via Toot’s Mom Is Tired

14. Umbrella With Rain

A rainbow umbrella is constructed from a half of a paper plate.

Another fun art project that is really affordable to create since you only need paper plates, some paints, a roll of string, and some blue beads. We just love this clever approach to creating raindrops!

Learn more: Umbrella With Rain at Easy Peasy and Fun

15. Popsicle Stick Pencil

A pencil is made from construction paper and yellow popsicle sticks.

Nothing says back to school more than a cute pencil-themed craft. Have students add their names to them and then use them to decorate a September bulletin board in your classroom.

Learn more: Popsicle Stick Pencil at Crafty Morning

16. Craft Stick Airplane

Two small airplanes are shown made from a clothespin, different size popsicle sticks, and a wooden bead. They are painted.

Kids will unquestionably go crazy over these clothespin-and-Popsicle-stick airplanes. Regardless of whether they choose paint or permanent markers, students will enjoy personalizing their tiny flying machines.

Learn more: Craft Stick Airplane at Making Life Blissful

17. Pom-Pom Caterpillars

Two caterpillars are made from pom poms and sit on construction paper leaves.

Since kids love pom-poms and caterpillars, this will be the perfect craft to grab their attention. Make sure to supply them with a fun variety of pom-poms and googly eyes.

Learn more: Pom-Pom Caterpillar at Easy Peasy and Fun

Easy Art Projects for Middle School Students

18. chalk christmas lights.

A string of Christmas lights is shown on a black backdrop. The lights are created from chalk smudges in blue, yellow, pink, green, and purple.

This is the perfect easy art project to do around the holiday season. You’ll need to create a stencil from card stock so you can create your light shapes. Once that is done, you can begin creating “light” with some chalk pastels. A silver Sharpie can be used to create your light string since it will show up nicely against the black paper.

Learn more: Christmas Light Chalk Stencil Art at Buggy and Buddy

19. Gratitude Journal

The front of a journal is shown with an abstract painting on the cover of this easy art project for kids.

This project doubles as an art and writing activity since students can use their finished journals for writing prompts. These personalized journals beat store-bought ones any day!

Learn more: Handmade Gratitude Journal at Kids Activities Blog

20. Textured Hot-Air Balloon

Two hot air balloons are constructed from a variety of different materials.

This project is the perfect excuse to use up all your crafty odds and ends like feathers, glitter, and sequins. We love how unique each creation will be once they’re done.

Learn more: Textured Hot-Air Balloon at Artsy Momma

21. Layer Cakes

Four multi layer cakes are shown cut into. They are drawn using oil pastels.

Regardless of students’ experience with oil pastels, this project will be a good introduction to the medium. Have students follow a step-by-step tutorial for drawing the outline of the layer cake, then let them use the pastels to bring their drawings to life.

Learn more: Cakes at Little Yeti

22. Chalk Planets

Four different planets are shown drawn on black backgrounds in this easy art project for kids.

This is an inexpensive way to enhance a science unit on space while still getting creative. It’s inexpensive too since all you will need is some black paper and chalk.

Learn more: 18 Awesome Art Projects for Your Classroom at Teach Junkie

23. Back-to-School Rocks

Eight rocks are painted as various back-to-school items including a purple crayon, a pink eraser, and a pencil.

Kids love painting rocks so why not make it school-themed? Show students some of these examples to copy or let them come up with some of their own, then spread them around the school’s grounds.

Learn more: Painted Rock Ideas at Color Made Happy

24. Dictionary Page Drawing

A dictionary page is the backdrop to a drawing of the word Ignorant. A strange looking cartoon man is shown.

Easy art projects for kids that also double as vocabulary lessons? Yes, please! This project will prove especially educational as students are tasked with illustrating a word on an old dictionary page.

25. Paper Collage Painting

A green coffee mug with steam coming out of it is sitting on a pink surface with a yellow background. This easy art project for kids is made from pieces of different colored paper.

Students will enjoy creating their collages from a variety of materials. Even better—this project is a great way to encourage recycling since old cereal boxes and other food labels can be ripped into strips and repurposed.

Learn more: Painting With Paper at Megan Coyle Artist & Illustrator

26. Crayon Resist Art

This easy art project for kids shows multiple pieces of paper with different doodles and words in white crayon with paint surrounding it. An actual white crayon and watercolor paints are on top of the paintings.

This simple project can be done without a lot of instruction and will work for students of any age. This project runs on the same idea as some Easter egg–decorating kits in that the paint or dye sticks to the areas not covered in wax, or in this case, crayon.

Learn more: Fun Watercolor Resist Art at Kids Activities Blog

27. Number Art

An image shows several number stencils layered upon one another and the sections are colored in many different colors in this easy art project for kids.

If you have some math whizzes in your class, they will likely enjoy this number-themed art project. Grab some large number stencils and paints and you’ll be ready for this low-setup project.

Learn more: 5th Grade Number Project at Art Room Blog

28. Woven Baby Turtle

Several turtles are made from popsicle sticks with brightly colored yarn wrapped around them. Faces are drawn on them with sharpie.

Select three mini Popsicle sticks, paint them, and then glue them together to form your turtle’s body. Finally, select your yarn and weave it around your turtle. Be sure to have a lot of fun colors to choose from!

Learn more: Weaving Cute Baby Turtles at Pink Stripey Socks

Easy Art Projects for High School Students

29. yarn-wrapped letter.

A letter M made of cardboard is wrapped with different colored yarn. Several rows of yarn are in the background.

All you will need to create this craft is some leftover cardboard, a bunch of different yarns, and some scissors. Teens especially will enjoy this project as the end result can be used as decoration in their bedrooms and eventually their dorm rooms!

Learn more: 14 Crafts for Teens and Tweens at Art Bar Blog

30. Elevated Macaroni Necklace

Two macaroni necklaces are shown. One is teal and the other is pink and both are on actual chains.

Some easy art projects for kids and teens can even double as fashion! Despite their association with preschool, these are definitely not your little brother’s or sister’s macaroni necklaces. Swapping out twine with an actual chain makes these necklaces look surprisingly high-end.

Learn more: 12 Pasta Necklaces We Need Right Now at Mum’s Grapevine

31. Neuro Doodle Design

Black squiggles on a white paper form different size shapes, some of which are colored in purple and green in this easy art project for kids.

This is a simple and mindful art project that can be enjoyed by students regardless of their art experience. This art process was invented by Russian psychologist and architect Pavel Piskarev in 2014.

Learn more: Simple Mindful Art Project at Inside Out Art Teacher

32. Crepe Paper Flowers

A glass plate has a variety of flowers on it which are made from crepe paper.

This is the perfect project for early finishers to do since each flower only takes 5 minutes to create. In addition to being a fun project, these flowers would also make for beautiful classroom decor.

Learn more: Easy Crepe Paper Flowers at DIY Candy

33. CD Fish

Two fish are made from CDs with eyes and tissue paper fins added.

Easy art projects for kids that utilize outdated technology? Why not? Although this project could work for any age group, older kids will be able to personalize their fish using a variety of add-on materials. Be prepared to explain to your students what CDs are since they were born long after their demise!

Learn more: Make Your Own Fish Aquarium at Super Simple

34. Pencil Sculpture

A sculpture is made from 72 pencils that have been arranged in a dome shape.

While this project can get complicated, simpler structures can be completed using fewer pencils. The preparation is minimal, requiring just a bunch of pencils and elastics, but the reward will be big when you see what your students create!

Learn more: Geometric Sculpture From 72 Pencils at Instructables

35. Ribbon Garland

A garland is made from pastel ribbon pieces tied together.

This project is another good time-filler since it can be worked on and then picked up again later and continued. It’s also a good lesson in recycling since you can ask students to bring in any fabric or ribbons that may be sitting around their houses unused.

Learn more: Easy DIY Fabric Garland at Project Nursery

36. Origami

Hands are shown holding an orange origami fish and a neon yellow origami fish in this easy art project for kids.

Origami paper is inexpensive and can be bought in bulk, making this an affordable and low-preparation art project. Additionally, it is perfect for high school students who are better equipped to follow along with an instructional video.

Learn more: 12 Origami Projects for Kids at Mom Loves Best

37. Layered Landscape

A landscape is created by layering different scraps of brightly colored paper.

Keep those cereal boxes and old magazines since they’re perfect for ripping up to create layered art! We especially love how much room there is in this project for individual creativity.

Learn more: Layered Landscape at Art Camp Studio

What are your favorite easy art projects to do in the classroom? Come and share your ideas in our  We Are Teachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Plus,  get ideas for great auction art projects .

Art provides a creative outlet for kids while also reducing stress. Try incorporating one of these easy art projects for kids into your day!

You Might Also Like

Examples of kindergarten art projects, including a rainbow finger painted heart in a plastic bag and snails made from rolled up paper.

62 Kindergarten Art Projects To Spark Early Creativity

Don't limit yourself to finger paints! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Fall Art Projects for Middle School

This season, add some fall art for teens  to your homeschool lesson plans. To make it easy, have your older kids work on some fun projects from this amazing mixed media workshop. Not only will they be getting in some art lessons, when they finish a work of art, you’ll have something beautiful that you can use to decorate your home for the season.

The art pieces in this class reflect the season and focus on things like pumpkins, Monarch butterfly migration, pine cones, apples, fall flowers, leaves turning color, woodland creatures, and much more.

Between the variety of subjects and the large number of projects, this workshop really does have something for everyone.

Celebrate Fall with Art: Mixed Media Workshop @Education Possible

Art by Alisha. This post contains affiliate links .

Mixed Media Fall Art Projects for Middle School

Through this awesome mixed media e-course , your teen (and even your whole family) will have the opportunity to work on 20 different projects, right in your own home. It’s an incredible way to add art into your home school. It can be a challenge to fit art into and already busy homeschooling day, but with this course, it’s actually quite easy. Mainly because you don’t have to do the teaching. That’s right, all of the lessons are prepared for you.

So, if you’re not artistic and worry about teaching art to your kids, you don’t have to worry. You’ll be given a detailed supply list before you begin so you’ll know exactly what you’ll need to complete each project. Just have your teen choose the one they want to work on and gather the materials for that particular design. If my girls want to do something artistic, but I’m not able to get them extra materials, they just choose something that we already have what they need in order to complete.

I love that this workshop is so flexible.

Teens Can Work Independently

Each of the 20 mixed media projects is contained on a video that’s online, so there’s no DVD to keep track of. In each project’s video, Alisha takes you, step-by-step, through the steps.

The bonus of having the course taught this way is that your kids can stop and start the video as many times as they need to. If your teens need more time to complete one of the steps, all they have to do is pause the video. They can take as much time as they need and just start it back up when they’re ready.

That’s a huge benefit in our opinion, because there have been many times that my girls have gotten behind and then lost while taking in person art classes, which frustrated them. They never feel this way when they’re working through one of Alisha’s projects.

Because all of the projects are taught by someone else, my kids can work on these fall crafts for teens on their own. I love utilizing courses like this in our home school that let my kids learn independently.

Fall Mixed Media Course

Art by Alisha 

My kids also enjoy the fact that they never get bored with these particular classes. When my girls were taking a drawing class, there was so much repetition that they became bored with the class. Because this is a mixed media course, kids are constantly working with a variety of different art mediums, often within a single project. This is great for those kids who don’t want to spend four weeks drawing the same bowl of fruit.

Types of Mediums Included

During the course you’ll work on these art forms:

  • Acrylic painting
  • Art journaling
  • Chalkboard art
  • Hand lettering
  • Watercolor painting
  • And tons MORE!

With so many projects to choose from, I’m thankful that I don’t have to cram them all into a set number of weeks like a lot of other art classes. With this workshop, you are granted lifetime access, so you can work at a pace that works for your family. You can even come back to it season after season. It’s a tremendous value!

Once you purchase the Fall Mixed Media Workshop , all of the videos are available, so you can start whenever you’re ready.

Art by Alisha

Since my kids are older, they enjoy tackling the projects on their own and really appreciate working in multiple art mediums. My girls have loved every project they’ve chosen from Alisha.

Did you know that she has a mixed media course for every season? She does. So you can work on art all year long and don’t have to do any of the planning. These workshops are a huge help for homeschooling moms.

So work on the Art of Fall with your middle schoolers now and add these seasons to your future lesson plans.

  • Winter Wonderland
  • Springtime Splendor
  • Celebrate Summer with Art

Working on fall art projects for middle school is the perfect way to add art into your homeschool lesson plans. With this mixed media course, your teen has 20 different fall crafts in different mediums to choose from. It's a great way to teach art to your kids, especially if you or your kids aren't particularly artistic. My girls really loved creating their version of the owl and we use it to decorate for autumn. #diy #diyforteens #homeschoolart #homeschooling #tweens #teens #educationpossible

More Fall Ideas

Here are more things you can do with your middle schoolers to celebrate the season.

  • Fall Crafts for Teens
  • Fun Fall Family Activities

I hope you’re able to add some mixed media art into your fall homeschooling schedule. It’s a great way to celebrate the season.

What mixed media art project is your teen looking forward to creating?

  • Latest Posts

Megan Zechman

Megan Zechman

@edupossible, latest posts by megan zechman ( see all ).

  • Middle School Geography Curriculum - August 11, 2023
  • Outdoor Geography Activities - August 4, 2023
  • Pioneer Life Activities for Kids - August 3, 2023

Love this!! Can’t wait to start on these 🙂

I know, right? Me too Meredith!

  • Pingback: Winter Wonderland: Mixed Media Workshop for Older Kids

Comments are closed.

Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is struggling to get traction in her home state before...

Trump racks up key endorsements

Tap'd Out Dance Studios

New dance school in Scottsdale encourages tapping your heart out

FEMA is reminding homeowners they may need flood insurance, even if they’ve never had to...

It's time to check your flood risk; here's what to know about insurance plans

Surveillance video shows the suspect stealing from a Girl Scout cookie stand. (Source: Fort...

Man caught on camera stealing from Girl Scout cookie stand outside of Walmart

Something Good

Pints For Paws

Pints For Paws fundraising for Arizona Human Society

Police shot and killed a man who allegedly had a gun. No officers were injured in the incident.

Phoenix Police shoot, killed armed suspect; allegedly tried to carjack

Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students

Dr. Alex Jacobsen

WebXtra: East Texas doctor explains how walking serves as wellness indicator

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is struggling to get traction in her home state before...

Trump racks up key endorsements

Popular Tyler Mexican restaurant ‘ransacked’ in burglary

Popular Tyler Mexican restaurant ‘ransacked’ in burglary

Surveillance video shows the suspect stealing from a Girl Scout cookie stand. (Source: Fort...

Man caught on camera stealing from Girl Scout cookie stand outside of Walmart

United flight makes emergency landing after ‘issue’ with wing of aircraft

United flight makes emergency landing after ‘issue’ with wing of aircraft

A high school teaching assistant died after he fell and hit his head during an interaction...

Teaching assistant dies after classroom incident

Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is struggling to get traction in her home state before...

Trump racks up key endorsements

Shared Video

KBTX Brazos Valley This Morning(Recurring)

The Local at Lake Walk running from Feb. 20 to Nov. 19

KBTX Brazos Valley This Morning(Recurring)

The Local at Lake Walk kicking off season with new vendors, live music

Surveillance video shows the suspect stealing from a Girl Scout cookie stand. (Source: Fort...

Man caught on camera stealing from Girl Scout cookie stand outside of Walmart

A high school teaching assistant died after he fell and hit his head during an interaction...

Teaching assistant dies after classroom incident

Starbucks is releasing a pork-flavored latte.

Starbucks is releasing a pork-flavored latte

Middle school teacher assaulted by student’s parent in front of class, district attorney says

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSTM) - Authorities in New York are investigating after the parent of a middle school student allegedly bypassed school security and attacked a teacher in front of a classroom full of students.

Police say 31-year-old Lynzina Sutton, a parent of a student at Syracuse’s Lincoln Middle School, bypassed security Friday morning in search of a teacher.

After finding the teacher’s classroom, Sutton is accused of violently assaulting her with her bare hands, striking her many times in the face and causing injuries that include broken bones, according to Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick.

The teacher was sent to the hospital after the attack, which happened in front of her students.

“She’s going to have some long-term issues. I know her nasal passages were severely affected by it,” said Fitzpatrick of the teacher.

The district attorney hinted at what may have sparked the attack, saying, “You have a child disciplined, and the reaction from the parent is ‘I’m going to come to school and beat up the teacher.’”

Fitzpatrick says teachers shouldn’t have to worry about parents coming to the school and potentially assaulting them. He says it’s also not something children should see.

“To have a classroom full of students sit there, I mean, how are they going to be affected? Those are questions that need to be answered,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick says it’s even more alarming that Sutton was able to get into the school and get out, as she wasn’t arrested until Friday afternoon. He says the middle school is going to have to address that.

“It’s disturbing to me that she was able to enter the school. Unless you’re vigilant 24/7, it’s meaningless, and I don’t know what happened here. I hope it never happens again,” he said.

The roles of the school resource officers and the Syracuse Police Department are also being addressed.

Sutton was arraigned Saturday. She pleaded not guilty and remains in jail.

Copyright 2024 WSTM via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

Over the weekend, the two victims were identified as 24-year-old UCCS senior Samuel Knopp...

Police: Suspect, victim in double-homicide at UCCS were roommates

An El Paso County Sheriff's Office vehicle and the Metro Crime Lab at the scene on Feb. 19, 2024.

1 dead, 1 injured in El Paso County shooting

Police lights

1 injured in rollover near Pueblo West

Monday's Most Wanted for Feb. 19, 2024.

Monday's Most Wanted: Feb. 19

UCCS students, staff work to recover after week of tragedy

Employer of university student who lost her life offering free meals to UCCS students, staff after tough week

Latest news.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is escorted from the Lefortovsky court after the...

A Russian court extends pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying

Palestinians fleeing the Israeli offensive on Khan Younis arrive at Rafah, Gaza Strip....

US vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution demanding immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, the theft happened on Feb. 11 at around 2 p.m....

Man seen robbing Girl Scout cookie stand outside of Walmart

Surveillance video shows the suspect stealing from a Girl Scout cookie stand. (Source: Fort...

Man caught on camera stealing from Girl Scout cookie stand outside of Walmart

IMAGES

  1. Winter trees almost done

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

  2. Collaborative owl. Created by students and staff at The Guthrie School

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

  3. New project for middle school... Choice Zentangles! #sanfrancisco #

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

  4. Pin on Art Projects

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

  5. quick art projects for middle school

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

  6. Pin by Rebecca Jardin on Middle School Art inspirations

    art projects for middle schoolers pinterest

VIDEO

  1. Easy art idea

  2. Front page design for school projects

  3. How to draw a clam with a pearl in the middle #art #drawing #drawingguide #drawingtutorial

  4. /my favourite school art projects❤/

  5. art supplies beginners should try

  6. 5 Easy Valentine's day Activities for Toddlers

COMMENTS

  1. Art Projects for Middle School

    490 Best Art Projects for Middle School ideas | art projects, art lessons, teaching art Art Projects for Middle School 495 Pins 3y K Collection by Heather Hawkins Similar ideas popular now Art Projects Art Lessons Teaching Art Art Classroom Elementary Art 0:20 Painting Art Lesson Nature Art Painting Diy Canvas Art Painting Amazing Art Painting

  2. Creative and Inspiring Art Projects for Middle School Students

    Discover exciting art projects that will ignite the creativity of middle school students. Explore a variety of mediums and techniques to inspire and engage young artists in their artistic journey.

  3. 130 Best Middle School art projects ideas

    May 1, 2017 - Explore Marjorie Broce's board "Middle School art projects", followed by 233 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about school art projects, middle school art, art projects.

  4. 120 Middle school craft ideas

    Feb 20, 2013 - Explore Kim Ratcliffe's board "Middle school craft ideas", followed by 232 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about art lessons, elementary art, teaching art.

  5. good art projects for middle schoolers

    Feb 6, 2023 - Explore Zipporah Bragg's board "good art projects for middle schoolers" on Pinterest. See more ideas about art projects, art lessons, school art projects.

  6. Art projects for middle schoolers

    Nov 25, 2022 - Explore Christine Hodsdon's board "Art projects for middle schoolers" on Pinterest. See more ideas about art projects, art lessons, teaching art.

  7. Art Projects for Middle School

    320 Art Projects for Middle School ideas | art projects, elementary art, teaching art Art Projects for Middle School 329 Pins 14w L Collection by Lisa Bertetto Similar ideas popular now Art Projects Elementary Art Teaching Art Diy Air Dry Clay Air Dry Clay Projects Clay Crafts Air Dry Diy Clay Crafts Pottery Crafts Ceramics Ideas Pottery

  8. Arts and Crafts for Middle School

    May 21, 2023 - A 2012 study published by the National Endowment of the Arts linked arts education in low socio-economic communities to greater academic achievement, higher career goals, and more civic engagement. Plus, art projects can cross over and teach lessons about other subjects, like math and science. #forkids #forteens #DIY #projects #interactivenotebooks. See more ideas about link art ...

  9. 310 Middle School Art Lessons ideas

    2w H Collection by jules Similar ideas popular now Middle School Art Art Middle School Art Lessons Middle School Reindeer Mixed Media Faith Holiday Color Art Lessons Teaching High Schools Vacations Mixed Media Holiday Reindeer a faithful attempt: Mixed Media Holiday Reindeer Symmetrical Mandala Drawings

  10. Art projects for middle school

    Aug 15, 2023 - Explore Francine Gilmour's board "Art projects for middle school" on Pinterest. See more ideas about art projects, art lessons, elementary art.

  11. 25 Unique Art Projects for Middle Schoolers

    1. Giant-sized comic strip What Do We Do All Day?/Make Your Own Giant Comic Strip via whatdowedoallday.com Regardless of your artistic abilities, creating comic strips is a fun way to express yourself. We especially love the idea of getting down on the floor and creating a larger-than-life story.

  12. My Favorite Middle School Art Projects » Make a Mark Studios

    Below are some of my favorite middle school art projects that have yielded engagement and great visual end products! The ideas below use a variety of art media and include a range of 2d and 3d art projects. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment below if you'd like to share some of your personal idea for successful middle school art projects.

  13. 47 Inspiring Art Activities For Middle School Students

    There's nothing quite like creative art projects to break the monotonous routine of middle school students. Contrary to popular opinion, artistic ability is not an innate skill, but rather something that can be honed and developed with practice but finding art projects that are engaging and immersive can be tricky.

  14. Middle school art projects

    Middle school art projects. Discover Pinterest's 10 best ideas and inspiration for Middle school art projects. Get inspired and try out new things. Saved from makeamarkstudios.com. 25 Awesome 2D Art Projects for Secondary Artists » Make a Mark Studios ...

  15. 10 Quick Middle School Art Projects When You're Pressed for Time

    10 Quick Middle School Art Projects When You're Pressed for Time Art lessons don't have to be complicated. These quick art projects for middle school are the best way for busy homeschooling families to make time for art. What comes to mind when you hear homeschool art? A time-consuming elective that rarely makes the cut in your busy school week?

  16. 40 Fun Ideas for Middle School Art Projects

    Whether you are an art teacher teaching middle school students or have kids in middle school that you want to introduce to the world of art, today we are sharing tons of fun middle school art projects for you to do with your young artists at home or in the classroom. Let's do some fun art projects! Free & Fun Art Projects For Middle Schoolers

  17. 5 Successful One-Day Art Lessons for the Middle School Classroom

    The best one-day lessons have built-in potential for success. Highly successful lessons are enjoyable and engaging. A few other things they have in common include: Clear and limited steps. Completion in one class period. Student autonomy (in material choice, design, color, etc.). Scaffolding for future skills and techniques.

  18. 100+ Hands-On Activities for Middle School and High School

    These hands-on activities for middle school and high school students keep older students engaged. ... Free Art Lessons and Tutorials - An entire Pinterest page of art tutorials. ... Self-Portrait Collage - Some art projects should require endurance. This one will have to be completed in several steps over time.

  19. Middle School Art Project Ideas

    Middle school art is all about building off the basics taught in elementary school and allowing students the space to explore subject matter and styles that interest them. They still need a lot of scaffolding and structure, but you can begin to give them some freedom to express themselves.

  20. Middle school art lesson plans. Grades 6-8 (ages 11-14 years)

    We are daughter/mother artists/teachers Andrea and Jantje and we've been leading the way in art education on the Internet since 1997. For 25 years, our goal has been to make art lessons accessible to those who need them. More than 80 million visitors have used our free collection of ideas in their homes and classrooms and hundreds have joined our premium art lesson membership club.

  21. 5 Activities And Art Projects For Middle Schoolers

    Just go ahead and try searching for art projects for middle schoolers, and you will see that some of the top results would be canvas painting ideas for kids. ... Facebook 0 Twitter Pinterest 0 0 Likes. Previous. 7 Best Interesting Art Projects And Ideas For Kids. Learning Guest User October 1, 2021 art activities, art and craft, Art projects ...

  22. 37 Easy Art Projects for Kids of All Ages

    1. Paper Bag Jelly Fish No Time for Flash Cards/Paper Bag Jelly Fish via notimeforflashcards.com As far as easy art projects for kids go, this one is perfect for preschoolers since it works on their hand-eye coordination and their cutting skills in particular.

  23. Fall Art Projects for Middle School

    The art pieces in this class reflect the season and focus on things like pumpkins, Monarch butterfly migration, pine cones, apples, fall flowers, leaves turning color, woodland creatures, and much more. Between the variety of subjects and the large number of projects, this workshop really does have something for everyone. Art by Alisha.

  24. Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of ...

    Police investigating 16-year-old's death after reported fight at school Updated : 4 hours ago Police say they don't know if the alleged fight was related to the 16-year-old's death or if a ...

  25. Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students

    Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students. Published: Feb. 20, 2024 at 4:27 AM CST | Updated: 1 hour ago The suspect is accused of striking the teacher many times in the face and causing injuries that include broken bones. ... Police investigating 16-year-old's death after reported fight at school. Updated: 5 hours ago |

  26. 'Home Improvement' actor Zachery Ty Bryan arrested for DUI, police say

    Middle school teacher assaulted by student's parent in front of class, district attorney says. Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students. Quiet and mild week ahead.

  27. Woman accused of attacking middle school teacher in front of students

    President Joe Biden expresses frustration with the lack of U.S. funding for Ukraine. What started as a 911 call about a domestic incident ended with two police officers, a firefighter and the ...

  28. Middle school teacher assaulted by student's parent in front of class

    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSTM) - Authorities in New York are investigating after the parent of a middle school student allegedly bypassed school security and attacked a teacher in front of a classroom full ...