Back to School Art Project Pencil Drawing Lesson BTS First Week Art Activity
This Back to School Pencil Art Project is a mixed media art lesson for K to 3 students. It is a fully planned, ready-to-use lesson that helps students celebrate the start of the year with bold colors, expressive oil pastel lines and tempera paint.
Students follow a step-by-step tutorial to draw and design a whimsical pencil artwork. They use oil pastels for mark-making and texture, then paint with tempera to finish. Planning and reflection pages help students build confidence and develop their own artistic voice.
WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)
- Full Art Lesson Plan with learning objectives and materials list
- About the Artist
- Poem Lesson Hook to introduce the theme
- Step-by-Step Art Tutorial with written and visual instructions
- Line Examples
- Templates
- Example Artwork for student reference
- Printable Display Sign for bulletin boards or hallway art shows
- Student Reflection Pages and Artist Statements
- Assessment Rubric
- K-W-L Chart
- Planning and Brainstorming Worksheets
- Student Handouts for reference
This resource uses American English and is not editable.
HOW TO USE IT
Use it as a first week of school lesson, part of a back to school unit, a September art project, a bulletin board display or a "get to know you" opener for the art room. It also works for homeschool art, sub plans and art rotations.
Print the tutorial, read the poem hook aloud, and guide students step by step through the art-making process. The planning, reflection and assessment pages add thinking before and after the art, and the finished pieces make a bright display for your classroom or hallway.
NATIONAL ART STANDARDS
- VA:Cr1.1.Ka Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials.
- VA:Cr2.1.Ka Through experimentation, build skills in various media and approaches to artmaking.
- VA:Cr2.3.Ka Create art that represents natural and constructed environments.
- VA:Cr2.1.1a Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
- VA:Cr2.2.1a Demonstrate safe and proper procedures for using materials, tools, and equipment while making art.
- VA:Cr1.2.2a Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.
- VA:Cr2.1.2a Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design.
- VA:Cr2.2.2a Demonstrate safe procedures for using and cleaning art tools, equipment, and studio spaces.
- VA:Cr1.2.3a Apply knowledge of available resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas through the art-making process.
- VA:Cr2.1.3a Create personally satisfying artwork using a variety of artistic processes and materials.
FAQ
Who can use this resource?
Elementary classroom teachers, homeschool families, art educators and substitute teachers working with students in Kindergarten to Grade 3.
How long does it take to complete?
Typically 2 to 3 art sessions, depending on student age, classroom behavior, available time and teaching style.
What materials do students use?
Oil pastels and tempera paint, along with the drawing tutorial and handouts.
Is it editable?
No. It is a non-editable PDF.
Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.
TERMS OF USE
Images and lessons are copyright products.
YOU MAY: use clip art as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations, and use this in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like. Additional licenses are available for school use.
YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, put it on your blog, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.
Sincerely,
Ms Artastic