Hi, I’m Kathleen!
Art lessons that make kids think like artists
Step-by-step art projects, seasonal ideas, artist studies and teaching strategies for busy teachers and homeschool families, from Kathleen McGiveron, the artist and educator behind Ms Artastic.
Popular in November: Thanksgiving Autumn Famous artists Free printables
Pre-K to
Grade 8
As featured on
Psst! I’m giving away two of my favorite lesson packs this month. Come enter, it only takes a minute.
Everything in one place
What you’ll find at Ms Artastic
Free for teachers & homeschoolers
120 Sketchbook Prompt Task Cards
No more “I don’t know what to draw.” Printable prompt cards for warm ups, early finishers and sub plans. Pop in your email and they’re yours, free.
In season now
Thanksgiving & autumn art, ready for November
Turkeys, harvest, gratitude and Remembrance Day projects, plus quick activities for bell ringers, fast finishers and sub plans.
Browse by topic
Find your next art lesson
Every card opens a category on the blog, so you can scroll lesson ideas the way you’d scroll a Pinterest board.
More topics: Explore Artists Choice-Based Learning Art Activity Ideas Art Lessons for Kids Principles of Design Podcast Show Notes
Your art teaching hub
A quick tip and a quick lesson, every visit
Look for grants, local businesses or parent groups that fund classroom supplies. Many are happy to support the arts.
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▶ Featured art video
Need a quick lesson or a bit of art inspiration? Watch this.
How to Draw a Starfish for KIDS!, June Drawing Challenge Day 20
🎂 This week in art history
Claude Monet
Born November 14, 1840
French Impressionist painter of water lilies, gardens and changing light.
Find a matching lesson →Sonia Delaunay
Born November 14, 1885
Artist and designer known for bright circles and colour rhythms.
Find a matching lesson →📚 Art word of the day
Pattern
A repeated line, shape or colour.
🏆 November art challenge
Create an artwork about something you're grateful for.
Make it, snap a photo and share it with #ArtasticChallenge. Classroom, homeschool and grown-up artists all welcome.
Follow along on Instagram →🔎 Find a lesson in seconds
Pick a grade and a season
Lessons, free videos and blog ideas, all in one place.
✨ New free planning tool
Plan your art lessons in minutes
Tell me who you are, your grade and what you need. The planner pulls together lessons, free videos, teaching tips and supplies into a plan you can print, save or email.
- 🗓️Plan a lesson or unit, week by week
- 🛟Solve a classroom problem
- 💡Brainstorm fresh ideas
- ✨Get quick inspiration
For parents, homeschoolers, classroom teachers and art teachers.
Free for teachers, families & kids
Free art tools for every day
A new drawing prompt every morning, plus interactive tools to plan lessons, mix colors, explore art history, discover art careers and bring art into your homeschool.
120 Free Sketchbook Prompt Task CardsMy books are here!
A coloring book with a page for every season and holiday, and a book of 31 easy art projects kids can finish on their own. Every page is hand-drawn by me and classroom tested.
Visit my bookshelf →
Start here
Not sure where to begin? Pick your path
New to teaching art?
Start here for simple, confidence-building ideas.
Homeschool parent?
Easy ways to make art part of your week.
- Why Teaching Art to Kids is Important: Benefits of Art Education
- The Importance of Play in Teaching Art to Kids: Creating a Fun and Engaging Learning Environment
- How to Keep Kids Drawing Over Summer Break
- Winter Art Lessons for Kids | Free YouTube Art Tutorials for Home & Classroom
- Free Art Lessons for Teachers and Homeschool Families in One Easy Library
Art teacher?
Ideas, reflection and support for your art room.
- Exploring Art History: How to Teach Children About Famous Artists and Their Work
- Teaching Art to Kids with Disabilities: Adapting Techniques and Materials to Meet Unique Needs
- End of Year Art Teacher Reflection: Celebrate Creativity and Plan for Next Year
- How to Prepare for an Art Teacher Job Interview With Confidence
- Unlock Your Full Potential as an Art Teacher: Join the FREE Art Teacher Mastermind Group!
Free for teachers & homeschoolers
The Free Art Lesson Library, plus a community of art teachers
Get instant access to free art lessons, printable activities and seasonal projects, and join the Art Teacher Mastermind Community to swap ideas and ask questions.
- Free art lessons for kids
- Seasonal & holiday projects
- Printable classroom activities
- Pre-K to Grade 8 scope & sequence support
- Sub plan & fast finisher ideas
- New resources added over time
No cost to join. Hosted on Artastic Collective.
it’s
free!
Free community
Join the Teaching Art Mastermind
A free online community for classroom teachers and homeschoolers who teach art. Share student work, swap ideas, ask questions and join a new art challenge every month.
- 2,100+ teachers & homeschoolers
- A new challenge every month
- Free to join
Hosted by Kathleen on Artastic Collective.
Free on YouTube
Free drawing lessons & art tutorials for kids
Press play for step-by-step art lessons kids can follow at school or at home. Subscribe so you never miss a new tutorial.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Painting & mixed media
- Seasonal projects
- Great for sub days
Fresh on the blog
Latest posts
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Best Art Picture Books for Kindergarten to Grade 2: 33 Read-Alouds for Art Class
33 of the best art picture books for Kindergarten to Grade 2, with discussion prompts, art activities, drawing prompts and sub plan ideas for color, collage, pattern and…
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What to Do When Every Student Copies Your Art Example
Why students copy the teacher art example, how examples quietly become answer keys, and practical ways to demonstrate, give choices and encourage originality without giving up structure.
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Art Teacher Freebie Feast: 13 Free Art Resources for Your Classroom
13 free art resources from 13 art teacher creators, all in one place: sub plans, grid drawing, fast finishers, a radial symmetry mandala, Elements of Art worksheets, art…
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Art Activity Ideas, Autumn Art Lessons, HOLIDAY ART LESSONS, Homeschool, SEASONAL ART LESSONS, Teaching Strategies & Resources, Thanksgiving Art Lessons10 Thanksgiving Art Lessons and Activities for Elementary Students
Ten Thanksgiving art lessons and activities for elementary students that go beyond the handprint turkey: harvest animals, a horn of plenty gratitude painting, turkey line art, paper weaving…
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Art Lessons for Kids, Christmas Art Lessons, HOLIDAY ART LESSONS, SEASONAL ART LESSONS, Teaching Strategies & Resources, Winter Art Lessons20 of My Favorite Christmas Books for Kids (With an Art Idea for Each One)
Twenty Christmas picture books worth reading every December, from The Polar Express to The Tomten, each paired with an easy Christmas art idea for home or class.
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Art Lessons for Kids, Autumn Art Lessons, HOLIDAY ART LESSONS, Homeschool, SEASONAL ART LESSONS, Thanksgiving Art LessonsArt Lessons to Try in November: Remembrance, Value and Thanksgiving Art for Kids
Plan your November art with three big ideas and six art lessons for kids: Remembrance Day poppies, a week of value and cozy Thanksgiving turkeys, organized week by…
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What to Do When Students Rush Through Their Art
“I’m done!” eleven minutes into an hour-long lesson? Here’s how to teach craftsmanship, checkpoints, reflection and the difference between done and finished, without punishing fast workers.
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Art Activity Ideas, Autumn Art Lessons, Homeschool, SEASONAL ART LESSONS, Teaching Strategies & Resources15 November Art Ideas for Elementary Students
Fifteen November art ideas for elementary students: Remembrance Day poppies, autumn hedgehogs, foxes, mushroom forests, pastel pumpkins, Van Gogh pumpkins, gratitude art and low-prep sub day activities, plus…
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Best Art Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers: 34 Picture Books for Color, Shape and Line
34 of the best art books for toddlers and preschoolers, with discussion prompts, art activities, drawing prompts and sub plan ideas for color, shape, line and mark-making.
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The New Ms Artastic: Free Art Resources, Creative Tools and Art Lessons for Teachers and Families
Take a tour of the new MsArtastic.com: a Free Art Lesson Library, 365 drawing prompts, an art history timeline and passport, an art careers quiz, a free lesson…
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K–8 Art Curriculum Map: A Year of Art Lessons, Week by Week (Interactive + Printable PDFs)
An interactive 36-week art curriculum map for Kindergarten to Grade 8: an art lesson for every week from August to June, picture book pairings for K–5, video weeks,…
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Careers in Art for Kids: Creative Jobs Your Students May Have Never Heard Of
Art careers go far beyond “famous painter.” Explore illustration, animation, game art, architecture, design, museum jobs and more, plus a free quiz to help kids find the art…
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Free Praxis Art Practice Questions for Future Art Teachers (5135 Test Prep)
Studying for the Praxis Art: Content and Analysis (5135) test? Try free practice questions by topic, see your score breakdown, and get a free printable study guide.
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Architecture Around the World for Kids: A Free Interactive Map, Timeline and Printable Pack
Explore 20 famous buildings with kids using a free interactive world map and timeline, then grab the free printable pack with coloring pages, design challenges, bell ringers and…
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How to Teach Art History to Kids Without Making It Boring
Art history doesn’t have to be dates and dead painters. Here’s how to teach art history to kids with stories, close looking, open questions, a free interactive timeline…
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How to Plan an Art Lesson That Actually Works
How to plan an art lesson that works in a real classroom: objectives, materials, demos, timing, choice, cleanup and reflection, plus a free art lesson planner.
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Elements of Art Lessons for Kids: One Art Project for Each of the 7 Elements
Elements of art lessons for kids, one for each of the 7 elements: line, shape, color, value, form, space and texture. Real art projects for grades 1 to…
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365 Drawing Prompts for Kids: Why a Daily Drawing Habit Builds Creativity
365 drawing prompts for kids, plus how to use them for sketchbooks, fast finishers and bell ringers. Try the free Ms Artastic Drawing Prompt of the Day.
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How to Teach Art When You’re Not an Art Teacher
Not an art teacher? Practical tips for classroom teachers and homeschool parents to plan, demo and teach art with confidence, no art degree needed.
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What to Do When a Student Says “I Can’t Draw”
Student says “I can’t draw”? What to say in the moment, why kids lose art confidence, and simple ways to build drawing skills, resilience and creativity.
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Toddlers Exploring Art: The Best Art Gifts for Toddlers, Ages 1 to 3
Art gifts for toddlers ages 1 to 3: chunky crayons, washable paints, easels, smocks, mess-free art and board books about color, with age labels noted.
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Gifts for Kids Who Love Art: 50 Creative Ideas from Stocking Stuffers to Splurges
Gifts for kids who love art, ages 4 to 12: drawing books, craft and clay kits, art games and studio setups, from stocking stuffers to big splurges.
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Art Supplies Gift Guide: 50 Quality Art Supplies for Kids, Teens and Adults
An art supplies gift guide with 50 quality picks for kids, teens, adults and homeschool families, sorted by medium and budget, stocking stuffers to splurges.
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The Best Gifts for Art Teachers: 50 Thoughtful Ideas from Stocking Stuffers to Splurges
Looking for gifts for art teachers? Here are 50 thoughtful ideas from stocking stuffers to splurges: classroom helpers, studio tools, cozy picks and good books.
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Displaying Student Art: Simple Bulletin Board and Hallway Ideas
simple ways to display student art, from bulletin board rotations and artist labels to hallway mini galleries and digital portfolios.
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Planning Winter Art: A December to February Game Plan
a calm, inclusive winter art plan for December to February, with themes, pacing around breaks, and ideas for every celebration day.
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Organizing Art Supplies on a Tight Budget
how to organize art supplies on a tight budget: what’s worth buying, pastel and watercolor basics, storage, donations, supply care.
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Teaching Art to Mixed Ages: Homeschool Siblings and Split Classes
how to teach one art theme at three levels for homeschool siblings and split classes, with scaffolding, independence and supply tips.
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How to Talk to Kids About Their Art (So They Keep Making It)
how to talk with kids about their art using descriptive feedback, real art vocabulary, gallery walks and honest self-reflection.
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Art Sub Plans That Actually Work: A Survival Guide for Art Teachers
how to build art sub plans that work: what to include, low-mess options, an emergency folder, drawing prompts and craft ideas.
Meet Ms Artastic
Hi, I’m Kathleen McGiveron
I’m the artist and educator behind Ms Artastic. My teaching experience spans secondary education, K–7 and Grade 4/5, and I create art lessons and resources for teachers, homeschool educators and the children they teach.
I believe art is real learning: observing, imagining, making choices and building skills, with room for every student’s work to look different.
