Back to School Art Lesson Ideas for Every Grade Level
The start of a new school year is always filled with fresh energy, excitement, and maybe even a little bit of nervousness—for both teachers and students. One of the best ways to break the ice, set the tone for your classroom, and build creative confidence right from the start is through meaningful, engaging back to school art lessons. Art has a unique power to calm first-day jitters, encourage self-expression, and spark connections among classmates. With the right projects, you can introduce your routines and expectations while also showing students that your art room is a place where creativity, risk-taking, and individuality are celebrated.
Whether you’re teaching kindergarteners who are just learning how to hold a paintbrush, or middle schoolers ready to take on more complex, skill-based projects, planning intentional first-week lessons helps establish a positive classroom culture. These first projects don’t need to be complicated—they should focus on exploration, fun, and building excitement for a year of creativity ahead. In this post, we’ll explore a variety of back to school art lesson ideas for every grade level, from simple drawing prompts for your youngest learners to perspective and identity-based projects for older students, giving you inspiration to start your art year strong.
Free Back-to-School Inspiration Guide 🎨✨
The beginning of the school year is always a mix of excitement, anticipation, and—let’s be real—a bit of overwhelm. As art teachers, we want to create a classroom environment that feels welcoming, creative, and inspiring from the very first day. But with so much on our plates, it can feel like a lot to carry. That’s exactly why I put together my FREE August Back-to-School Inspiration Guide for Art Education.
This guide is designed to spark ideas and help you step into the year with confidence. Inside, you’ll find:
- Back-to-school art lesson ideas for grades K–12
- Sketchbook prompts to ignite creativity
- Tips for building strong art room routines
- Inspiration to start the year with positivity and joy
Whether you’re teaching little ones who are brand new to art or older students eager for new challenges, this guide will give you ready-to-use ideas to make your first weeks a success.
👉 You can grab your free guide here: August Back-to-School Inspiration Guide
I hope this resource helps lighten your planning load and fills your classroom with creativity. Let’s make this school year the most art-filled and inspiring one yet! 💜
Simple Drawing Prompts for Every Grade
Starting the year with drawing prompts is an easy, low-prep way to spark creativity and help students feel comfortable in the art room. For younger grades, keep it lighthearted and personal—prompts like “Draw yourself as a superhero on the first day of school,” “Create a house for your pet made out of candy,” or “Fill your backpack with all the things you love most” encourage imagination while giving kids a chance to share who they are. These prompts are also a great way to assess motor skills, fine lines, and basic drawing abilities without the pressure of a formal assignment. The key is to choose prompts that allow freedom while connecting to themes that are relatable and fun for little artists.
As students grow, prompts can shift toward more imaginative and reflective themes. Upper elementary kids might be inspired by challenges like “Design a monster that lives in your locker” or “Draw your dream classroom filled with anything you can imagine.” Middle schoolers can be encouraged to think more deeply with prompts such as “Draw a place where you feel most yourself” or “Create a surreal self-portrait that shows your personality and interests.” These not only allow for creative exploration but also open the door to conversations about symbolism, self-expression, and identity. By tailoring prompts to each grade level, you’re building a welcoming, inclusive classroom culture where every student feels inspired to make their mark from day one.
Collaborative Back to School Projects
While individual drawing prompts are a wonderful way to get to know each student, collaborative art projects help build classroom community and establish a sense of belonging from the very first weeks of school. These projects emphasize teamwork, creativity, and shared responsibility, showing students that the art room is not only a place for self-expression but also for connection. A simple idea for younger grades is a class puzzle mural—give each student a blank puzzle piece template, have them decorate it with colors, patterns, and symbols that represent themselves, and then assemble all the pieces to reveal a vibrant classroom mural. Another option is a “We Are Artists” banner, where each child contributes a unique drawing or painted square that you string together for a bold and welcoming classroom display. These projects serve as daily reminders that everyone has a place in the art room.
For older students, collaborative projects can be more complex and skill-focused while still maintaining the community-building spirit. Middle school students might work together to design a back-to-school graffiti wall on butcher paper, exploring lettering, color, and rhythm while leaving space for individual voices within the larger piece. Another engaging idea is a perspective cityscape mural, where each student creates one building in one- or two-point perspective, and all the pieces are combined into a massive, collaborative city skyline. These group projects teach cooperation, highlight individuality within community, and set a tone of respect and teamwork for the year. Plus, they leave you with instant classroom displays that make the art room feel alive and welcoming.
Back to School Art Lesson for Kindergarten
I like to start off simply with kindergarten so that I can do some formative assessment and really gauge where the kids are at so I can adjust my plan to suit their needs. It’s pretty hard to predict what you will get in a kindergarten class! I find it is usually best to start with the basics. I like to introduce colors, shapes, tracing, basic drawing, those sorts of things. I like to have worksheets I can give out for the day as the classes are usually short, or print workbooks I use over a few weeks. But for Back to School, keep it very simple with your kindergarteners.
You can grab them by clicking here.
Grade 1 Back to School Art Lesson
For grade 1 I like to do a Color Wheel Chameleon to teach color mixing! This is a super fun and easy art lesson that is of high interest to both the girls and boys in your class. Not only do they get to explore multiple art mediums, they’re following a simple directed draw which is great for back to school learning, plus they are also learning how to mix colors!
You can grab the art lesson by clicking here.
Grade 2 Back to School Art Lesson
In 2nd grade, I LOVE to teach these Picasso puppies. They are so cute and perfect for grade 2 level students, but also integrate a bit of art history and some cubism into the mix, getting them to explore new styles of art making. And how cute will these be for your meet the teacher display?
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 3 Back to School Art Lesson Ideas
For third grade, have fun exploring line art and painting with felt markers with this arts and literacy integrated resource that will have your students making glue bottle themed art and also will have them exploring a reading comprehension and writing!
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 4 Art Ideas for Back to School
For fourth grade, I would definitely have my students create self-portraits, but I would make it fun by having them create their portraits in the style of Pablo Picasso!
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 5 Art Idea for Back to School
For fifth grade I would have them create apples in the style of Vincent van Gogh. Not only is this perfect for back to school, but if you run out of time to do autumn art… well… just leave the display up! This one is great for exploring post-impressionism, oil pastels and paint.
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 6 Art Exploration for Back to School
With your 6th graders, I would start the year off with a bit of a change! Try introducing the Principles of Design with them to change things up and see if it helps them create more visually interesting artworks throughout the year. Use this booklet to teach each of the principles of design and have them practice each one so they can understand how to use these design elements in their art making throughout the year!
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 7 Art Idea for Back to School
Let’s do some surrealism for 7th grade! I like to change up Salvador Dali’s Persistence of Memory oil painting from 1931 (also did you know this is a small painting? Like… really small. Like just slightly bigger than a piece of paper! Why am I trying so hard to make giant artworks in my own world all the time?!!?) by changing out the clocks for some melting school supplies! Mashing up contemporary themes with art history is a great way to teach art history while making it fun and relevant to the kids.
You can grab this art lesson by clicking here.
Grade 8 Art Lesson for Back to School
For your eighth graders, I would start off the year with some S.E.L. (social emotional learning) and tie in themes of exploring their identities. I’ll be real, I love exploring the theme identity with kids. I started it when I was a High School Art Teacher (I worked my way down the grades over time haha) and I thought it was the NEATEST theme to explore with them because… well you can really tell a lot about a person by the style of their art. Their art just, well it LOOKS like them! So for these guys, I recommend my SEL Identity Art lesson.
You can grab it by clicking here.
Grade 9 – “Symbolic Shoe Design”
Ask students to design a shoe that represents who they are—the patterns, colors, and imagery should symbolize their personality, hobbies, and dreams. This project eases them into high school art while introducing design thinking and personal symbolism.
Grade 10 – “Back-to-School Perspective Hallway”
Have students draw their school hallway or classroom using one-point perspective. It’s a great review of technical drawing skills while also connecting to their daily environment and routines. If you need some worksheets for teaching perspective, you can grab them here.
Grade 11 – “Identity Through Mixed Media”
Challenge students to create a layered self-portrait that blends collage, paint, and drawing. They should explore their inner identity—what’s beneath the surface—through textures, imagery, and symbols. Perfect for encouraging self-reflection at this transitional stage.
Grade 12 – “Senior Vision Board Collage”
As they start their final year, students can create a vision board-style artwork that reflects their goals, hopes, and dreams for the future. Encourage them to combine hand-drawn elements, inspirational text, and collage. It becomes both a personal reflection and a motivating piece to carry with them.
Final Thoughts ✨
Back-to-school is all about setting the tone for a year filled with creativity, connection, and confidence in the art room. Whether you’re teaching kinders their very first art routines or guiding seniors to reflect on their vision for the future, every grade level offers an incredible opportunity to inspire. Remember—you don’t have to do it all alone. Having a library of ready-to-go resources can free up your energy so you can focus on what really matters: making art class the place where students feel seen, valued, and creative.
That’s why I’m so excited about the TPT BONUS Sitewide Sale happening August 26 & 27! 🛒✨ This is your chance to stock up on my fully planned art lessons, bundles, and curriculum resources for up to 25% off with code BTSBONUS25. Whether you’re looking for first-week activities, Elements of Art units, or long-term planning resources, you’ll find lessons that will save you time while keeping students engaged and inspired.
👉 Shop my store here: Ms Artastic TPT Store
Don’t wait until the last minute—get your carts ready in advance so you’re all set once the sale goes live. This bonus sale is the perfect chance to grab what you need and head into the new school year feeling prepared and supported. 💜
About Ms Artastic
Ms Artastic is run by Canadian artist and educator Kathleen McGiveron, who is passionate about making art education accessible, inspiring, and stress-free for teachers and homeschooling families. With years of experience in the classroom and a deep love for creativity, she designs engaging, ready-to-use art resources that help students of all ages build skills, explore their imagination, and connect with the world of art.
In her TeachersPayTeachers Store, Ms Artastic offers hundreds of resources—from fully planned art units and seasonal projects to sketchbook prompts, art history lessons, and assessment tools. Each resource is carefully crafted to save teachers time while still delivering meaningful, high-quality art experiences for students. Whether you’re looking to teach the Elements of Art, integrate art into core subjects, or spark joy in the classroom with creative projects, Ms Artastic has everything you need to bring art to life with confidence and ease.
Recommendations:
If you’re looking for resources to help you plan or teach either at home or in your classroom, then check out these resources to help you get ahead!
🖌️Streamline your lesson planning! Get on the waitlist for the Artastic Collective Art Curriculum, a treasure trove of resources designed to empower art educators: https://www.artasticcollective.com/membership
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🖍️Need engaging art lessons? Explore the Art Project Membership library to find creative resources for Teachers and Homeschooling Families: https://www.artasticcollective.com/artproject
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