Painting
Activity 1: Face painting (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to adults
Activity: Children can use water-based makeup or greasepaints to apply a variety of patterns, symbols, animal faces, etc., to their own (using a mirror) or another individual's face. Water-based makeup is easy to use and when applied by brush, goes on smooth and doesn't feel heavy or greasy on skin. Greasepaint covers the facial skin more completely with less streaking but a thin layer of cold cream must be applied first.
Materials: water-based makeup or grease paint; box of facial tissue; bobby pins; old scarf (to hold hair back); Paper towels; cotton swabs;
- If using water-based makeup: 2 small containers of water, 2-3 water color brushes
- If using greasepaint: jar of cold cream; transparent face powder; powder puff; large wad of cotton
Preparations/Preparations/Safety Precautions: Teachers may elect to discuss reasons (historical and/or current) for the painting of a person's face. This includes discussing the role of face painting in other cultures, drama, sports, military, etc. It is important to use only paints or make-up that is specifically produced for use on skin. Do not use watercolor crayons, watercolors, finger paints, felt-tipped markers, poster paints, oil paints, or any coloring that was not produced for putting on facial skin.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student makes connections between the visual arts, other disciplines, and the real world.
2. Sunshine State Standards in Visual Arts -
The student understands the visual arts in relation to history and culture
Activity 2: T-shirt Painting (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to adult
Activity: Fabric paints can be used to design colorful T-shirts using animals or nature scenes as themes. The designs created can be used as part of a school play, a science, or lesson on using art media, etc. Designs/pictures can be simple or more elaborate depending on age group and purpose of project.
Materials: sponge -used for dipping into fabric paint and pressing onto fabric; water container - for cleaning brushes between use; variety of fabric paints - paints can be plain, puffy, pearlized, iridescent, with glitter, etc.; cardboard - inserted between the body and sleeves of a t-shirt to keep wet fabric from leaking through; different size paintbrushes - allows artist to vary the size of the strokes used; fabric marker pen or chalk fabric marker- lets children create the design first and later follow it with paints; t-shirts - should be pre-washed; hair-dryer - used to help set the paint faster, especially puffy paints; newspaper or plastic tablecloth - used to protect work surface and provide easy clean-up; other possible items - buttons, felt squares, ribbons, sequins, thread, scissors
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Inform children a day or two beforehand that they will need to bring in a pre-washed t-shirt or some other clean fabric item (rags, socks, etc.) On the day of the activity, set up the work area so that children can share paints and brushes adequately. Keep paints and sharp utensils out of reach of small children. Read manufacturers guidelines for preparing, mixing, applying, and drying paints, as well as clean-up methods. If paint is splashed on personal clothing, soak them immediately in cold water. Rinse until fabric paint is removed. Wash clothing later in warm soapy water.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
2. Sunshine State Standards in Visual Arts -
The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts.
Activity 3: Mask Painting (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through fourth grade
Activity: Mask painting, like face painting, can be used to transform a person's face into something else, such as an animal, a mythical creature, another kind of person, a spirit being, etc. The mask may cover the entire face or just the eye area and may be composed of a variety of materials.
Materials: Since a mask can be so individualistic, the materials listed below are based on what is most commonly needed.
paper plates - used as mask frame; construction paper - used as alternative frame or part of mask decor; tempera or acrylic paints - either is adequate; sponges or brushes - to apply the paint; glue - to apply other items on mask; feathers, glitter, cotton, or other items for additional creativity; newspaper - to protect surface area; yarn or string - to tie mask on; scissors - to cut holes for eyes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: As in face painting, teachers can discuss the purpose of a mask in different cultures and/or activities. For example, in Japan masks are used to portray certain characters. While in the Pacific Northwest, Native Americans made elaborate masks to portray spirits as a part of their culture. Masks are also created for use at certain events such as a masquerade party, a carnival, a dramatic play, etc. Keep sharp utensils away from small children. Put tape around any rough or sharp edges of the mask if they exist. Do no use plastic wrap or bags as parts of mask. Check to make sure paint is dry before trying on mask.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
2. Sunshine State Standards in Visual Arts -
The student understands the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
Activity 4: Flower Pot Painting (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to third grade
Activity: Flower pots are used as a surface for acrylic paints. This activity can be done as part of a gardening, plant, or art media unit.
Materials: small clay flower pots; acrylic paints; paint brushes; water bowl; newspaper; small plant (for later planting into pot)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure flower pots are dry. Keep paints out of reach of young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment.
Activity 5: Hand Print Octopus (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to second grade
Activity: Using their painted hand, children can press it onto paper and create the tentacles and head of an octopus. Children can then add eyes and suction cup designs on their octopus and the add components of an underwater scene (plants, rocks, etc.) using paint.
Materials: tempera paint; brushes ; water bowl; newspaper; construction paper
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Keep paints away from young children. Make sure children thoroughly wash hands afterwards.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 6: Sponge Painted Tree (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through second grade
Activity: Children can create the outline of the trunk of a tree on paper and then use sponges to paint and color the trunk in and create leaves on the tree. The tree can be done based on the seasons, such as paint the leaves of a tree in fall colors.
Materials: sponges, cut into small squares; brown, yellow, orange, red and green tempera paints; styrofoam meat trays; white construction paper; brown crayon (to draw outline of tree)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Prior to doing this activity, teachers might want to find, and share with children, books that demonstrate what happens to trees as seasons change.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 7: Fish Painting and Printing (Gyotaku) (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to adults
Activity: Children use acrylic or tempera paints to paint rubber models of fish. Afterwards, art paper is placed over each fish and children lightly press and rub the paper around the outline of the animal. Once done, the paper is pulled off leaving behind a painted impression of the fish on the paper.
Materials: acrylic or tempera paints; ½ to 1 inch paint brushes or sponge pieces; rubber fish models (obtain from school supply catalogues); newspaper; art paper; water containers; paint holding containers; paper towels
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Use this activity as a way to introduce children to what fish are and what they look like. Provide adequate workspace for each child and set up fish in a "station." After use clean each rubber fish with warm soapy water. Keep paints away from young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student describes patterns of structure and function in living things.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 8: Rock Painting (back to top)
Age: First through third grade
Activity: Children collect their own rocks and create pictures, designs, or messages on them using acrylic paint. These can then be used as paperweights, decorative pieces around the classroom, or a way to send messages to students.
Materials: acrylic paints; small brushes; water bowls; newspapers; rocks (2 to 4 inches in diameter); toothbrush
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Rocks that have smooth or flat surfaces work better than those that do not. Rocks should be rinsed, scrubbed, and dried before paint is applied. Children need to be careful handling rocks and not drop or toss them around other because the rocks could hurt another person.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 9: Creating Paints (back to top)
Age: Second grade though sixth grade
Activity: In this activity, children can create their own paints using items that contain color pigments. Children can also learn about the use of paints by prehistoric or early civilizations.
Materials: spoon; mixing bowl with water; colored chalk or powdered drink mix; certain fruits that have strong color (strawberries, blueberries, etc.); other natural items with pigments (bricks, dark mud, etc.); eggs - to help bind pigments; vegetable oil - to help bind pigments; stones - for use in grinding hard pieces such as brick); heavy drawing paper; brushes; newspaper or plastic drop sheet to protect floor
Preparations/Safety Precautions:Some children may need help in grinding brick pieces or other items. Keep young children away from paints. Be careful if using plastic drop sheet, some can be slippery.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Social Studies -
The student understands the interactions of people and their physical environment.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 10: Bag Animals (back to top)
Age: First through fourth grade
Activity: Children can use paper bags to create a variety of animals. Bags can be cut and painted to look like a turtle, skunk, giraffe, tiger, bird, or other animal. This activity could be part of a science unit on animals.
Materials: paper bags; pencil; scissors; thin cardboard; glue; markers; construction paper; paints; pipe cleaners; newspaper; boxes; masking tape; feathers or pompoms; yarn; wiggle eyes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Keep paints and small objects away from young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student understands the process and importance of genetic diversity.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 11: Hidden pictures (back to top)
Age: Second grade through sixth grade
Activity: Children paint a background scene on paper (underwater, jungle, desert, etc), add some elements (animals, plants), and then hide them behind flaps of other elements (plants, rocks, etc.). The activity helps children develop their sense of curiosity and demonstrates the concept that one must sometimes observe nature carefully to see animals.
Materials: watercolors or block paints; small brushes; water; glue; scissors; mixing tray; art paper; magazines or books to use as reference for subjects; newspaper/plastic cloth to protect surface
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Teacher will need to demonstrate how the flaps work and may need to create an example beforehand to show children. Keep paints out of reach of young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Science -
The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 12: In a Painting Mood (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through sixth grade
Activity: Children use art to express their moods and feelings. In this activity, children can listen to three different types of music and paint according to how the music makes them feel. Children can then compare their three pictures and tell the class why they drew what they did.
Materials: paper; a variety of paint types and colors; paint brushes; water; music sources - tapes, CDs, etc.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Select songs or music that are quite different in composition. Keep paints out of reach of young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Music -
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 13: Mixing Media (back to top)
Age: Second grade through fourth grade
Activity: Children can create pictures with different textures and effects by mixing paints with a variety of other materials such as rice, beans, grass blades, etc.
Materials: liquid paints; white glue; paper plates; mixing materials such as rice, seeds, sand, pasta, and grass cuttings; mixing trays or margarine tubs; thick paper to paint on (cardboard works); magazines or photographs for reference
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Have children sketch their picture in chalk beforehand. A small amount of white glue mixed in with each color helps keep the paint from flaking off when it dries. Keep the paints and other mixing materials out of reach of young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 14: Dots of Color (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten to fourth grade
Activity: Children explore the art known as pointillism by creating their own pictures with dots instead of lines or strokes of color. Pictures are first sketched in chalk, then cotton swabs dipped in paint are used to create the picture.
Materials: yellow chalk; tempera paints of various colors; cotton tip swabs; white drawing paper
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Keep paints out of reach of young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 15: Half and Half Paintings (back to top)
Age: First grade through fourth grade
Activity: In this activity, half of the picture is made up of photographs cut out of a magazine and pasted on, while the other half is painted by the child. The final picture is a composite of both.
Materials: tempera paints; paint brushes; scissors; pencil; old magazines or photographs; glue; heavy drawing paper and scrap paper
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Keep paints and sharp objects away from very young children.
Standards:
1. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts.
2. Sunshine State Standard in Visual Arts -
The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes.
Activity 16: Classroom Mural (back to top)
Age: 2-3 grade
Activity: In this activity the entire class will work together to paint a classroom mural. Because of the cooperative grouping of this activity it would be best for grades 2-3. The students will work in small groups at the beginning of the year. Each student will add a piece of themselves. When it is done, the mural can be hung in the classroom. The teacher can discuss each child’s addition. This will be a good way of getting to know each other.
Materials: Large sheets of butcher paper, water, various painting utensils (brushes, sponges, stamps, etc.) large outdoor area.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories
d. use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Students:b. describe how people’s experiences influence the development of specific artworks.
Activity 17: Watercolor and wax (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten
Activity: In this activity, students will explore with watercolors and crayons. The students will draw first with crayons, and paint over with watercolors. They will soon realize that the paint does not stick where the crayons made a mark.
Materials: Paper, crayons, water, watercolor paint, paint brushes, cups to hold water, paper towels
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 2. Using knowledge of structures and functions.
Students: c. use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas.
Activity 18: Blending Toucans (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten
Activity: In this activity students will blend hues of color to create new colors. The new colors will be painted on paper and cut in segments of a toucan’s beak. The segments will be pieced together.
Materials: Paint (primary colors, black, and white), paper, scissors, paint brushes.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
d. use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner.
NSAE/ visual Arts 3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Students: a. explore and understand prospective content for works of art.
Activity 19: Point painting (back to top)
Age: 3rd grade
Activity:In this activity students will create a picture using only dots.
Materials: Paint brushes, paper, tempura paint, pencils (to draw out first)
Preparations/Safety Precautions:
Standards:
NSAE/ visual Arts 4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Students: b. identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.
NSAE/ visual Arts 1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
Activity 20: Falling Leaves (back to top)
Age: K - 3
Activity: In this activity students will paint pictures of tress, with a focus on leaf color, texture, and shape. After a nature walk with in depth observation of fall leaves, the students will paint pictures of what they have seen.
Materials: Paint, brushes, paper, outside area for nature walk
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Students: a. explore and understand prospective content for works of art.
Activity 21: Sand, salt or sawdust painting (back to top)
Age: K - 3
Activity: In this activity children paint pictures on paper using clear glue (cellulose adhesive). Using sand, salt or sawdust in a shaker (which can be made from a plastic container) shake sand, salt or sawdust over the picture - then tip the surplus into a box in the centre of the table. This gives a 'textured picture' effect.
Materials: Paper, glue, sand, salt sawdust, bin to catch excess
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Students: a. explore and understand prospective content for works of art.
Activity 22: Chinese Landscape Painting (back to top)
Age: Second and Third grade
Activity: In this activity students will use the overhead projector to copy/trace, and then later paint with ink, a Chines landscape to be hung in the room. This activity should be paired with a unit on China.
Materials: Overhead projector, transparency of Chinese landscapes, tape, paper, pencil, watercolor ink
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Students: b. identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.
Activity 23: Batique Painting (back to top)
Age: 2nd, 3rd grade
Activity: In this activity students will experiment with batique painting. In this method the students will paint over masking tape on fabric with dye. They will explore the different cultural technique.
Materials: Large white sheet, masking tape to block out areas, fabric dye, large paint brushes, outdoor area to work in
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ visual arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ visual Arts 4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Students: b. identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.
Activity 24: Roller Painting Print Making (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through 3rd grade
Activity: In this activity students will use rollers to spread out paint, they will scrape in their picture, and then place a sheet of paper over the scraped design. Rub the paper in and gently lift.
Materials: Paint, roller brush, paper, tools for creating picture, large shallow tub
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Students: a. explore and understand prospective content for works of art.
Activity 25: Class Play Set Design (back to top)
Age: Students from all grade levels can help to create their set design
Activity: In this activity the students will be involved in creating the set background. The students will paint on large sheets of butcher paper, and cardboard to create different scenes for the play.
Materials: Paint, brushes, butcher paper, cardboard, glitter, etc.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/Visual Arts 6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Students: b. identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.
Activity 26: Peer Portrait (back to top)
Age: 2 & 3 grade (Beginning of the year)
Activity: In this activity students will use painting as a medium in which to portray their peers. Students will interview each other, and write down the interview. After the interview the students will have a better understanding of each other. With this understanding they can do portraits of each other.
Materials: Paint, brushes, paper, interview notebooks, pencils, quiet area
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Students:b. describe how people’s experiences influence the development of specific artworks.
Activity 27: Egg Painting (back to top)
Age: Early Elementary
Activity:In this activity students will explore cultures around the world that paint eggs during spring celebration. Students will view examples of other culture’s eggs, and create their own.
Materials: Hard boiled eggs, paints, brushes, dyes, vinegar, water, cups
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/Visual Arts 5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Students:b. describe how people’s experiences influence the development of specific artworks.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Students: b. identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.
Activity 28: Face Painting (back to top)
Age: 3rd grade
Activity: After an integrated unit on the circus, the students will perform their own circus. Students will perform as clowns. The students will pair up and paint each other’s faces.
Materials: Face paints, brushes, sponges, water, paper towels, pictures of clowns
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Students: b. identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.
Activity 29: Symmetry Painting (back to top)
Age: 1 - 2 Grade
Activity: In this activity students will paint on one half of a folded sheet of paper. When the paper is still wet, the students will unfold it and make to paint touch the white side. This activity teaches about symmetry.
Materials: Paint, paper, brushes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Students: b. identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.
Activity 30: Fish Painting (back to top)
Age: 3rd Grade
Activity:In this activity the students will paint on an actual dead fish. This lesson will follow a lesson on fish (discuss scales, fins, gills, etc.). The students will take the fish and paint on its skin using various colors. They will then take a t-shirt and press it on to the painted side of the fish. The students will really see the scales and gills.
Materials: Dead fish (one for every two students/can use both sides), fabric paints, brushes, white t-shirts for each student.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure that students wash their hands.
Standards:
NSAE/ Visual Arts 1. . Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Students: a. know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
b. describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses.
NSAE/ Visual Arts 6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Students: b. identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.