To allow for visual artistic expression stay away from “cookie-cutter” activities and focus of the process as much as the product for this age group. Try art projects that are functional such as weaving paper place mats from strips of two choices of color of construction paper. Or, create a simple class quilt. Use stamp-type painting to create patterns on large sheets of paper to be used for gift wrap.

Your students will enjoy making their own “play-dough”. This process can connect science, math, language arts, etc. Use the clay-type product to create pinch pots. Another fun activity is using it for a guessing game: let one student secretly imprint a texture from somewhere in the room and the others try to guess what made the texture in the dough.

You can incorporate technology by using a simple paint program. Create several abstract designs using squares and circles (some overlapping) on the screen. Then the student can “fill” the spaces with different color combinations over and over- noticing the varying impact. (My five year old grand-daughter quickly learned how to “click” the colors and soon wanted to place the auto-shapes as well.One of our favorite projects!) The one design they like best can be printed.

Construction paper, or scrap color copy paper chains to color the edges of the room. Use cheap library paste, or make your own with donated flour mixed with water. I

f someone can donate scrap felt and fabric pieces, you can show them how simple shapes combine to make complex shapes such as houses, animals, people, etc.

Use chalk, charcoal or soft pencil for the kids to do “rubbings: of different texture found around the school, such as stucco, asphalt, concrete, tree bark, etc. Suggest to them that they can make “drawings” using texture and only one color to make the shapes.

Create a “tic tac toe” type of game, only using shapes like triangles and squares instead of circles and Xs. Use even more shapes and a larger grid for the challenge of teams trying to get five in a row.

Deal out cards, face down, with hand made shapes on them in different colors. Kids put the card, face out, on thier forehead and try to guess what shape and color is by asking others around a circle simple “yes” or “no” questions. Each player can only ask one question at a time and kids each take turns around the circle.

Kindergartners love to use paint. To help teach shapes cut sponges in shapes and dip in paint, then press on paper.

Add liquid soap to the paint and put it in a shallow container. Blow with a straw to make bubbles then place paper over the bubbles.

Cut letters out of poster board and glue colored macaroni, or rice on the letter.

Paint on dark paper with Epson salt mixed with water.

Use colored tissue paper and tear into small pieces. Glue on as flowers, duck feathers, leaves….and so on.

Use a real feather and paint with it.

I have more ideas, as I have taught both K and art, but too many to write here. Do internet searches and you will find many ideas. Just make sure to let the students do their own work. It may not look as good as if you help, but they are proud of being able to do it.

I always wanted to teach art to children. Don’t know if this suits you but one of the ideas I had was for them to bring in a picture of their grandmother and then tell them about about Grandma Moses. You would need to do a little survey first to make sure everyone had a grandma. It would hurt if one kid didn’t have any grandparents to talk about. I also think its a great idea for them to make hand or footprints, caste in plaster and take home with them. Parents love that one. I once saw someone take hand casts with liquid wax. Don’t really remember it exactly but the kids dipped their hands into a pot of warm wax and then the artist did some kind of mold from it. Maybe you could Google and find out more about that. It would be lots of fun for little kids to do.

You definitely need to do some paint mixing when you cover colors. It’s nice to actually see how all colors can be made from the three primary colors. Plus they can get their hands into it!!!

I did some nice chalk coloring with my 3 year old class years ago – kind of cool around Halloween to do ghosts and such with, or in the winter for snow scenes. Use a dark color construction paper, like black or dark blue. Then get chalk in many colors for them to create their masterpieces – plus it covers some reverse color concept which I can’t think of the term for.

Masks are always fun, like animal masks or Mardi Gras masks. Can be done easily with paper plates as a base.

Get lots of spangles – you can use them for all kinds of projects, especially around Christmas.

Hand turkeys.

what ever you would like.