First Week of Elementary Art | Back-to-School Lessons & Activities K–5

Start the school year with creative, purposeful activities designed specifically for the elementary art classroom. This 50-page First Week of Elementary Art pack includes four complete lessons plus flexible back-to-school activities that help students get comfortable in the art room, express their identities, work collaboratively, explore classroom spaces and materials, and build confidence as young artists. The lessons can be taught in sequence during the first several art classes or used individually to fit rotating schedules, shortened class periods, early-finisher time, or unexpected schedule changes. Rather than spending the first week only reviewing rules, students begin creating, communicating, exploring, and thinking like artists from the start. Lesson 1: My Artist Identity Complete teacher lesson plan Learning goals and materials Artist identity vocabulary Discussion questions Artist identity brainstorming page Artist badge activity Student reflection Lesson 2: Collaborative Art Challenge Complete teacher lesson plan Teamwork expectations Student challenge directions Collaborative drawing starter Group planning page Team reflection Lesson 3: Art Room Scavenger Hunt Complete teacher lesson plan Picture scavenger hunt Written scavenger hunt Art-room observation challenge Student reflection Lesson 4: Mystery Shape Challenge Complete teacher lesson plan Student directions Two mystery-shape drawing pages Add-details challenge Artist statement Additional First-Week Activities All About Me as an Artist pages Student art-experience survey Materials exploration page Art goal-setting activity Art-class feelings check-in Quick drawing challenge cards Art-themed Would You Rather activity Art conversation prompts Early-finisher choice board Sketchbook cover design Creative doodle prompts Art-room promises First-week reflection Participation certificate Why Teachers Will Love It - Includes four complete first-week art lessons - Designed specifically for elementary art classrooms - Combines creativity with community building - Helps students become comfortable in the art room - Includes activities for different ages and ability levels - Works with rotating and shortened art schedules - Includes additional activities beyond the four main lessons - Provides reflections and goal-setting opportunities - Includes early-finisher options - Requires manageable classroom materials - Can be reused every school year Perfect For - Elementary art classrooms - Grades K–5 - First day of art - First week of art - Back-to-school lessons - Community building - Shortened class periods - Rotating art schedules - Art centers - Early finishers - Emergency backup activities - Homeschool art programs Skills & Concepts Students practice: - Artist identity - Creative expression - Using colors and symbols to communicate ideas - Collaboration - Sharing materials - Group planning - Observation - Art-room awareness - Creative problem-solving - Drawing - Transforming shapes - Reflection - Goal setting - Communication - Building confidence as an artist Materials Needed Materials vary by activity but may include: - Drawing paper - Pencils - Crayons - Colored pencils - Markers - Basic classroom art supplies - Printed activity pages Estimated Time The four primary lessons can each be adapted to approximately 30–45 minutes, depending on grade level and class schedule. Additional activities can be used independently throughout the first week or beginning of the school year. Teacher Tip You do not need to complete every page during the first week. Choose the activities that best match each grade level and your schedule. The remaining pages work well as early finishers, centers, backup activities, or activities for the next several class meetings.