Are you looking for a “grab and go” hands-on art activity?
Are you interested in teaching your students about the elements of art and the principles of design?
Or are you looking for a special seasonal project? What about a way to connect with our rich Adventist heritage?
If so, take a look below.
Select a Section:
Lesson Plans
Adventist Heritage
Elements of Art & Principles of Design
Seasonal Lessons
Teacher Bulletin
Adventist Heritage
Help your students understand and appreciate the rich, providential beginnings of the Seventh-day Adventist church so they can fully embrace its promising missional future. Art provides a fertile soil where those sentiments can take root and flourish.
Australian Cartography
Essential Question
How has the art and science of cartography changed over time and impacted travel?
Learning Intentions
Students will create a world map that highlights the movements of Ellen White and her family during her ministry.
The Beasts of Daniel
Essential Question
How does an artist use symbolism to communicate ideas?
Learning Intentions
Students will recognize the value of symbolism in both the Bible and in art.
Light Catchers
Essential Question
How can art illustrate the dramatic contrast between light and dark?
Learning Intentions
Students will be exposed to the art of stained glass and its purpose.
Marbled Paper
Essential Question
How was marbled paper used in early Adventist literature and other literature of that time period?
Learning Intentions
Students will learn the technique to produce marbled paper.
Not So Serious
Essential Question
How and why have photos of individuals and groups of people changed over time?
Learning Intentions
Students will demonstrate an appreciation for early Adventist pioneers in spite of their “serious” photos by relating positive narratives of those pioneers.
Patterns of
the Pioneers
Essential Question
What can we learn about the time period of the Adventist pioneers by studying the home decor?
Learning Intentions
Students will create a diorama of the interior of a room using textured rubbings for wallpaper and other decor.
The Vision of the Runaway Train
Essential Question
Can a dynamic Ellen White vision be translated into a visual form? How would you illustrate a vision of Ellen White showing the art principles of emphasis and movement?
Learning Intentions
Students will create an illustration displaying movement and emphasis.
Enhancing Your Art Program Using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design
The elements of art and the principles of design are utilized by the art teacher as the building blocks that a student will use to create an artistic piece. Think of the elements of art as the parts that make up a drawing, painting, design, etc. All works of art will contain most, if not all, of the elements of art. Think of the principles of design as what we do with the elements of art. How we use the principles of design will determine how successful we are in creating a work of art. At the elementary level, teachers mainly focus on the elements of art.
Below you will find the elements of art followed by the principles of design, definitions, links to their use in examples of artwork, and links to websites with a correlating lesson. The multigrade teacher will vary the level of difficulty to fit the individual student’s grade and/or ability level.
These websites have many valuable resources for visuals, simplified definitions, poster ideas, videos showing the elements of art and the principles of design, and other incredible resources:
Elements of Art
Line
The continuous mark in a work of art that is made by a pointed tool like a brush, pencil etc.
→ Dr. Seuss House art project from Deep Space Sparkle highlighting the use of LINE.
SHAPE
An (organic or geometric) outlined area that has length, width, and is two dimensional.
→ Matisse collage project from National Gallery of Art highlighting the use of SHAPE.
Form
Three-dimensional objects that can be viewed from any side; taking up volume and space. Such as a cube, sphere or cylinder.
→ Calder-inspired 3D sculpture project from Pink Stripey Socks highlighting the use of FORM.
COLOR
Considered the most dominant element. Color is created by light reflecting off an object and has three properties: Hue (name,) Value (shades and tints,) and Intensity (brightness.)
→ Mondrian windsocks project from Art Teacher Smile highlighting the use of COLOR.
TEXTURE
The way a surface or object actually feels or appears to feel.
→ Clay turtles project from Cassie Stephens highlighting the use of TEXTURE.
SPACE
Creates the illusion of depth on a flat surface. It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, positive or negative.
→ Foreshortening project from Kids Artists highlighting the use of SPACE.
VALUE
The quality of lightness or darkness of a color seen in a work of art. Value contrast is the difference between the values.
→ Ice cream cone collage from Hayt Art Room highlighting the use of VALUE.
Principles of Design
BALANCE
Balance is referred to as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial. It is the distribution of visual weight on either side of the vertical axis. Symmetrical balance is the same on both sides (equal weight). Asymmetrical balance has different features that are equally weighted; so it looks balanced despite a lack of symmetry. Radial balance is based on a circle with its design extending from the center (a wheel with spokes, or a star)
→ Types of balance project from Create Art With Me highlighting the use of BALANCE.
CONTRAST
Arrangements of opposite elements (light vs. dark, smooth vs. rough, small vs. large, etc.) in a composition used to create visual interest.
→ Parrot color contrast watercolor from Create Art With Me highlighting the use of CONTRAST.
EMPHASIS
Used to make certain parts of a composition stand out. It is the focal point or center of interest that an artist uses to draw the viewer’s eye to that location first.
→ Watercolor silhouette from Pretty Prudent highlighting the use of EMPHASIS.
MOVEMENT
The path the viewer’s eye moves through a composition—leading attention from one aspect of the work to another. It can be used to create the illusion of action.
→ The Great Wave project from Deep Space Sparkle highlighting the use of MOVEMENT.
PATTERN
The repetition of certain visual elements like shape or form. It can be used to organize the surface in a consistent manner.
→ Succulent Garden art project from Art With Mrs. Nguyen highlighting the use of PATTERN.
RHYTHM & REPETITION
The use of the regular repetition within a compositions elements used to create cohesiveness and interest.
→ Rhythm and repetition painting from Create Art With Me highlighting the use of RHYTHM & REPETITION
UNITY & HARMONY
A visually pleasing connection among all aspects of a design. It gives you the thought that everything in the composition fits together.
→ Arabic tiles art project from Kid World Citizen highlighting the use of UNITY & HARMONY.
PROPORTION & SCALE
The size relationship between the individual parts and the whole or the size relationship of the individual parts to one another. Scale is used to relate the size of an object to a constant or common, well-known object in the composition, such as a human figure.
Seasonal Lessons
As fall, winter, and spring roll around bringing with them the sights, sounds, and smells unique to each one, teachers often find themselves wanting to incorporate some of those elements into the classroom routine. Here you will find teacher-friendly art projects that will allow you to do just that. Take a look.
Fall
Fall Leaves - Warm Color Tones
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Tissue Paper Leaves - Silhouettes
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Tree Line Drawings - Line & Collage
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Ceramic Leaf Bowls - Sculpture
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Autumn Leaf - Scratch Art
→ Art project from The Artful Parent
Fall Banners - Line & Warm Colors
→ Art project from Art Projects for Kids
Fall Reflections - Monoprints
Tissue Paper Fall Tree - Crepe Paper
→ Art project from The Resourceful Mama
Autumn Sunflower - Oil Pastels
→ Art project from Projects with Kids
Leaf Tessellation - Tangrams
→ Art project from Frugal Fun for Boys
Owl Babies - Sponge Painting
→ Art project from I Heart Crafty Things
Pony Bead Indian Corn - Beadwork
Winter
Birch Winter Trees - Perspective
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Collage Animal Faces -
Cool & Warm Colors
→ Art project from Elements of the Artroom Blogspot
Winter Paintings - Tints
→ Art project from Mrs. Werners Artroom
Aurora Borealis -
Landscapes (silhouettes)
→ Art project from Elements of the Heart Room Blog
Owl Moon Texture - Literature Based
→ Art project from Creativity Connection
Winter Landscapes - Foreground, Middle Ground, Background
→ Art project from Dali’s Moustache
March of the Penguins - Foreground
→ Art project from Marymaking Blogspot
Cardinals in the Snow - Overlap
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Winter Landscapes - Perspective
→ Art project from Elements of the Artroom Blogspot
Black & White Chalk Polar Bear - Highlighting
→ Art project from Small Hands Big Art
Snowy Owl Alternative Painting - Texture
→ Art project from Tippy Toe Crafts
Poinsettia Prints - Overlap
Spring
Spring Has Sprung - Three Dimensional
→ Art project from Working 4 the Classroom
A Rustic Jar of Daisies -
Reflection, Implied Texture
→ Art project from Step By Step Painting
Camping Under the Night Sky -
Cool Colors, Background
→ Art project from Handmakery.com
A Spring Tree Path - Perspective
→ Art project from Step By Step Painting
Zentangle Flowers - Line
→ Art project from Arteascuola
Art Cards Dog Project - Portraiture
→ Art project from Art Card Dogs
Torn Paper Painting - Collage
→ Art project from Nancy Standlee Blogspot
Watercolor Resist Tropical Fish - Resist
→ Art project from Deep Space Sparkle
Kandinsky Tree Collage -
Warm Colors, Shapes
→ Art project from Art Projects for Kids
Metal Tooling - Visual Texture
→ Art project from Glitter Meets Glue
Textures on Umbrella - Patterns, Shapes
→ Art project from Imagine Art
Paint Chip Mosaic - Patterns, Shapes
The Teacher Bulletin
is created by teachers, for teachers. Its mission is to present classroom teachers with creative and resourceful ideas integrating Christian principles with cutting-edge technology, contemporary theories and trends.
Geometric Optics
Students will learn the many applications of lenses and the instruments that use them. They will understand the effects of refraction when light passes through a medium more dense than air and how it results in the properties of lenses. They will also become familiar with the properties of converging lenses and will investigate the formation of an image produced by a converging lens. The unit is targeted for high school, but may be adapted for other grades.
Introduction to Impressionism
Have you tried to make a realistic painting and been frustrated? Set up some acrylic paints and become an impressionist. Impressionism allows you to paint the “sense” of something instead of a photographic reproduction. All ages can experience satisfying successes as they paint in the style of Monet and his fellow Impressionists.