Summertime Art Lessons for Kids: Grades K–5
Whether you’re a parent looking for at-home activities, a summer camp counselor, or a classroom teacher… keeping kids engaged with art all summer long is a wonderful goal! After 10 years of sharing elementary art projects on my website, I’ve rounded up my favorite engaging, summertime art lessons for Kindergarten to 5th grade. From easy, low-prep activities ( making air dry clay from scratch/ drawing lessons ) to elaborate multi-day projects ( painting/ mixed media / collage) explore the ideas below!
There are 30 summertime art lessons listed!
I’ve included my links to my original blog posts on the lessons (where I could) that include steps for the lesson, in process pics, photos of additional finished student art, and the learning goals.
Many of these lessons can be taught to the grade above or the grade below too! All photos are of student artwork only
KINDERGARTEN
Mixed-Media Bridges inspired by Claude Monet
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the instructions, learning goals, and see additional artwork!
MORE Mixed Media Bridges inspired by Monet!!
Mixed-Media Clay Butterflies
This lesson can be found under my “Special Education” page under the main menu. These would be perfect to make with kindergarten- 2nd grade! Another cute idea for this, would be to cut a bite taken out from the paper leaf! Lessons directions, additional photos of students art, and learning goals are listed under the lesson!
My Bug Jar!
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, in process pics, and view the learning goals!
This would be a fun lesson for K-2!
My students love the fact that they get to color their fingers with markers ON PURPOSE!
BIRDS ON A WIRE
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and view the learning goals! Another great lesson for K-2!
Mixed-Media Rainbow Collages
This lesson can be found under my “Special Education” page under the main menu. These would be great to make with kindergarten- 2nd grade! Lessons directions and learning goals are listed under the lesson!
1ST GRADE
MAKING CLAY!
This fun lesson can be found under my “STEAM CLUB” page! Kids LOVED making their own air dry clay from scratch! This would be perfect for kids in grades K-2 in small groups with adult assistance. The clay comes out real soft too! Directions and additional in process photos are under the lesson!
WATERMELON WEAVINGS
Such a fun lesson and kids love learning how to weave! Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions with photos, view in process pics, (learning goals are posted under the lesson in my 1st Grade Art Lessons page), and see additional artwork!
WATERMELON WEAVINGS! – 1ST GRADE
SNAILS, FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES OH MY!
My students absolutely love model magic clay! It’s so soft and easy to manipulate and shape too. This lesson can be found under my “Special Education” page under the main menu near the bottom, or the link below! These would be great to make with kindergarten – 2nd grade! Lessons directions and additional photos of students art are listed under the lesson and in link!
SNAILS, FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES OH MY!
Symmetrical Butterflies
This lesson can be found under my “Special Education” page under the main menu. These would be great to make with kindergarten-1st grade!
Lessons directions, and learning goals are listed under the lesson!
Hot Air Balloon Collage
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, (the learning goals are posted under 1st grade art lessons under the lesson), and see additional artwork! Kids could also draw themselves rather than taking their photo- and then cut them out and glue them in their hot air balloon! I’ve done that in the past and they still come out great!
Tanglebird Collage
Please go to my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
SUNFLOWER DRAWING INSPIRED BY VINCENT VAN GOGH
Please go to my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
2ND GRADE
3D Jellyfish
This lesson is listed under my “Special Education” page, but I taught this one year to my 2nd graders and my students LOVED making these! They came out so cool too!
However, I recommend creating these only with small groups (5-10 kids) as it’s messy and you’ll need to store them somewhere vertically to dry over night.
Messy—but totally worth it!
Lessons step by step directions, additional photos, and learning goals are posted under “Special Education”.
Mixed–Media Jellyfish Paintings
More jellyfish art lessons!
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
3D WATER LILIES Inspired by Claude Monet
Please click on my links below to view my blog posts on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, (learning goals are listed under the lesson on my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page), and see additional artwork!
3D Water Lilies Inspired by Claude Monet! 2nd Grade
Click HERE to go to my teachers pay teachers store to download a Tracing Template for the 3 petals (Large, Medium and Small) Joining Teachers pay Teachers is free and anyone can join!
ABSTRACT SELF-PORTRAITS
Not specifically “summery” but, I wanted to include this one because it’s so fun! And SO colorful!! Parents and students alike love this one!!
Please click on my links below to view my blog posts on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, (learning goals are listed under the lesson on my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page), and see additional artwork!
ABSTRACT SELF-PORTRAITS -2nd Grade
2ND GRADE ABSTRACT SELF-PORTRAITS!
I also have the sheet with questions kids fill out for this lesson in my TpT store – link below
TpT store link https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/art-with-mrs-filmore
BIRCH TREE LANDSCAPES
Please click on my links below to view my blog posts on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, (learning goals are listed under the lesson on my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page), and see additional artwork!
I also have a step-by-step how to draw woodland creatures packet in my TpT store for the lesson.
My TpT store is HERE!
Birch Tree Landscapes- 2nd Grade
2nd Grade- BIRCH TREE LANDSCAPES!
MONET INSPIRED BRIDGE PAINTINGS
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
FIELD OF FLOWERS PAINTING
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
SUPERHERO MASKS
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, learning goals, and see additional artwork!
They absolutely loved creating their own unique masks earlier this year, and were just requesting we make more masks for the last day of art before summer break!
Winter Cardinals -4th grade and Superhero Masks – 2nd grade!
Link to my TpT store to download a PDF of 4 different hand drawn masks is here! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/art-with-mrs-filmore
3RD GRADE
KINETIC PIRANHA
Every year my students LOVE this one! And my younger students see the project on my cart and ask when they can make them! It’s a fun one!! Please click on my links below to view my blog posts on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, learning goals (learning goals are listed on my 3rd Grade Art Lessons page under the lesson) and see additional artwork!
K + 1st grade Self-Portraits and 3rd grade Kinetic Piranhas! (I have screenshots of my Google slides here. This link also has some really cool videos on kinetic artists and their work too!!)
Sunset Silhouettes
Please go to my 3rd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
SUNFLOWERS INSPIRED BY VINCENT VAN GOGH
Please go to my 3rd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them, see additional photos of students artwork, and view the learning goals!
4TH GRADE
DANDELION PUFFS
Aren’t these beautiful! So summery too! Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, and see additional artwork! Lots of pics here! Learning goals are listed under the lesson in my 4th Grade Art Lessons page.
Mixed Media Bouquet of Flowers
To view my blog post on this lesson and view the step by step instructions with photos, learning goals, and see additional artwork please click on my link below!
“Mixed Media Bouquet of Flowers” by 4th grade
I also have vase tracers (5) on my TpT page for this lesson for $2. My TpT store is HERE!
Enlarged Flower Drawings Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe (oil pastel)
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, learning goals, and see additional artwork! Lots of pics here!
4th grade “Enlarged Flower Drawings” and 5th grade “Splattered Paintbrushes”!
COLLABORATIVE ENLARGED FLOWER DRAWING- Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe (oil pastel)
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, and see additional artwork!
4th Grade -COLLABORATIVE FLOWER DRAWING!
(Learning goals can be found under the lesson on my 4th Grade Art Lessons page)
5TH GRADE
MIXED MEDIA BIRDS NESTS
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, and see additional artwork! Lots of pics here! Learning goals are listed under the lesson on my 5th Grade Art Lessons page
MIXED MEDIA BIRD NESTS- 5TH GRADE!
MIXED-MEDIA BOUQUET OF FLOWERS
I had 4th grade create something very similar just recently (May 2026) as seen above—-but we used up-cycled painted messy mats to create the vase or tables. 5th grade used hand made bubble wrap prints to make their table or vase. Both ways are beautiful! So many fun options with this lesson! You could use newspaper print as the table or vase, or another printmaking method! Endless possibilities!
Please click on my link below to view my blog post on this lesson and view the step-by-step instructions, view in process pics, and see additional artwork! The Learning goals are listed under the lesson on my 5th Grade Art Lessons page
5th Grade- Mixed-Media Bouquet of Flowers
FINISH THE PICTURE!
This is a super fun art lesson that my student always LOVE every year! I teach this one in the first art class for ALL grades every year after doing rules and routines, but could be used ANYTIME during the year for grades K – 5!
“Finish The Picture” sheets are available to download and print (PDF files) in my TpT store! 3 different sheets total for $1.99. My TpT store is HERE!
Please go to my 5th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down near the bottom to view the lesson, and see additional photos of students artwork!
I’ll add more “Summertime art lessons” as I teach them, but feel free to look around and check out my grade level pages for other lessons that could be used for summertime too!
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