“First Week of Art Lesson Plan – A Quick Jumpstart for your Middle School or High School 2-D Art Curriculum!
Hello, fellow art teachers! As we gear up for a new school year, I know how important it is to start things off on the right foot. And what better way to kick off the year than with an engaging, fun-filled, and structured art lesson plan that will not only foster connection and creativity but also create a positive classroom environment? Look no further; I have a great lesson idea for you
A Smooth Start to the School Year:
The first week of school can be quite a whirlwind for both teachers and students. But don’t worry; this art lesson is here to make your life easier! Designed to fill your entire first week of art class, this lesson plan incorporates various activities to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Getting to Know Your Teacher – The Guessing Game:
To kick things off, you can start with a fun and interactive “Guessing Game.” Students get the chance to know you on a personal level by guessing fun facts about you, including your education, family, pets, hobbies, and even favorite foods. Not only does this activity break the ice, but the student with the most correct answers wins a prize, adding an element of excitement that kids enjoy. If your first day of school is a 1/2 day, this activity can fill your shortened class sessions easily!
Building Connections with Sharing Time:
It’s only fair that the sharing goes both ways! You will also get the opportunity to know your students better through a “Share & Connect” activity. Students can share something special about themselves with the class, fostering a sense of belonging and making everyone feel valued.
Unleash Creativity with the “All About Me” Drawing Worksheet:
One of the highlights of this lesson plan is the “All About Me” drawing worksheet.
- Spanning multiple class sessions or extending as an engaging bell ringer activity for the first two weeks, this worksheet encourages students to explore their creativity and self-expression.
- Students get to choose their favorite geometric design worksheet and draw their name large in bubble-style or block lettering, adding a splash of color and personality.
- The accompanying direction sheets guide them on where to incorporate their favorite foods, family, pets, interests, hobbies, or sports, making each artwork uniquely personal.
- Encourage your students to take their time creating their lettering.
- Expand the portraiture lesson the following day with the provided handout or, alternatively, your own favorite resources to teach them about the rules of Portraiture.
🎨Benefits for You and Your Students:
As teachers, we all know how important it is to make the first week fun AND meaningful. This resource offers a range of benefits:
For You:
- Fun Content: Keep your students engaged with a variety of exciting activities, setting the tone for the rest of the year.
- Icebreaker Activity: The “Guessing Game” and sharing activities foster a positive and inclusive classroom environment from day one.
- Structured Art Experience: By providing a structured art activity, you can make the first week productive while ensuring fun and creativity.
🎨For Your Students:
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- Connection Building: The guessing game and sharing activities help students bond with you and their classmates, easing any first-day jitters.
- Creative Expression: The “All About Me” worksheet empowers students to showcase their creativity and express themselves through art.
- Flexibility: With ample time provided, students can work on their artwork in between other projects, ensuring each piece is a masterpiece.
- Practice Art Skills & Persistence:
- Color pencil blending techniques: Learn to blend colors for smoother transitions and visual appeal.
- Lettering skills: Practice and improve lettering and typography abilities.
- Analogous color schemes: Understand and apply harmonious color combinations.
- Drawing and coloring: Develop fine motor and hand-eye coordination and control through drawing and coloring.
- Exploration of portraiture: Learn rules and techniques for drawing human faces.
- Attention to detail: Foster patience and precision by focusing on artwork details.
- Creativity: Unleash imaginative thinking and originality with open-ended design options.
- Gain Emotional Benefits:
- Confidence building: Boost artistic confidence and self-awareness.
- Emotion regulation: Experience therapeutic benefits and emotional release through art.
- Cross-disciplinary learning: Integrate language arts and research elements into the art lesson.
- Appreciation for diversity: Celebrate the diversity of interests and experiences within the class.
- Self-expression: Explore creativity and self-expression through personalized artwork.
Easy Prep and Convenient Materials:
I know how busy art teachers can be during the first week of school, and that is why this resource is designed for easy prep. Simply print out the packet, gather coloring materials, and you’re ready to go.
The packet includes:
- Directions for each worksheet
- Color examples
- Self-portrait drawing tips
- Lettering handouts,
- design support tips.
- You’ll have everything you need to create a structured and fun first week of art class!
More Exciting First Week Art Lesson Ideas:
And that’s not all! Additionally, if you’re looking for more first-week art lesson ideas, you can find more name-design activities to choose from HERE!
From encoded radial name designs to graffiti name designs, you’ll find plenty of creative options to keep your students engaged throughout the year.
Get Your First Week of Art Lesson Plan Today:
Start the week right! Make the first-week fun and low-stress for you and your students. Get your copy of this “First Week Art Lesson Plan” for an enjoyable art class experience!
Set the stage for connection, creativity, and self-expression with easy prep and a structured approach.
Have a fantastic first week of art class and happy teaching!
🎨If you enjoyed this post you also might find this colorful First Art Lesson idea interesting
