Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Valentine Name Art for Kids w Bonus Word Search

 Valentine Name Art

Here’s a lesson plan from the TPT shop: Cool Classroom Stuff. If you want student art to hang on a bulletin board or decorate a Valentine folder, this activity could be just what you need. $3.20* for this lesson saves you hours of work trying to create a lesson on your own. *(This shop is having a sale Jan. 25 - 28, so this lesson plan is 20% right now.)

 
name art for kids w valentines

name art for kids with valentines



This lesson plan is fully scripted with visuals. It can be projected or printed out.

There are templates provided for the students to use. One is for the general classroom and another is for students who might need a little more assistance. 



Students write their names in large letters on the templates and then use symmetry to add designs. 

The lesson is fully scripted, so you only have to read and show the images to teach the lesson. 

Simple materials used are paper, pencils and crayons.



It also includes a bonus Valentine word search for those early finishers!

Check out this lesson here:  Valentine Name Art Lesson




Friday, January 16, 2026

Art Lesson Plan for Subs - Kaleidoscope Symmetry Valentine

Art Lesson for Valentine's Day


 Don't you hate having to plan last minute for an art lesson. This one is fully scripted and easy to use. If you need a sub lesson, here's one for upper elementary, middle, and high school. Check it out here on TPT: Cool Classroom Stuff - Valentine Activity for Art or Math

Want to see other blog posts for Valentine's Day art sub lessons? Check these out:

Monday, January 12, 2026

Valentine Art Sub Plan - Doodle Monsters


Looking for an art sub lesson you can use NOW???? Here’s a fun one you can use for elementary, middle, AND high school. Your sub will love you for it!

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Valentine Art Sub Plan - Free Elementary Lesson

Easy Free Valentine’s Day Art Lesson







Do your “big kids” sometimes beg you to let them do a lesson that the “little kids” do? A sub day is a good opportunity to let students do an easy, no-fail lesson.


They also beg to let them do valentine cards around the holiday, so why not let them? This can be done on printer paper and using just crayons. The paper can be folded in half if they want to make a greeting card or just done on a full sheet of paper.


  • Prepare the Paper

    • Students can either fold their paper to create a greeting card or use the entire paper as a flat surface.

  • Draw the Heart

    • In the center of the paper, students should draw a heart shape. It doesn't have to be perfect.


  • Add Random Lines

    • Next, students should draw random lines that cut through the heart and travel around the paper.





  • Trace the Heart

    • Students then trace the heart shape heavily with a crayon.

  • Color Inside the Heart

    • Color the spaces inside the heart shape heavily. Students can use a particular color scheme or random colors. Each shape should be filled with a different color than the one next to it.


  • Color or Pattern Outside the Heart




    Saturday, January 25, 2025

    Kindergarten Art Sub Lesson Plan - Klee’s “Cat and Bird”

    Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - “Cat and Bird"

    child drawing of a patterned cat and background
    When creating a sub plan that needs only simple instructions and materials, Klee's painting, "Cat and Bird," might be just the foundation upon which to build.  

    Paul Klee Idea Emphasizing  Shape, Pattern, and Warm and Cool Colors 


    The teachers at Jamestown Elementary, Ms. Worden and Ms. Teitsma have written a blog post that suggests rich resources from which to teach this lesson. 

    child drawings of patterned cats and background


    Since my older students would often ask if they could do a lesson that the little kids did, I know that sometimes they like the simple lessons too. The perfect time to let them do one of those simple lessons is when they have a substitute teacher in art.

    Check out this lesson at Jamestown Elementary Art Blog.



    Wednesday, December 11, 2024

    How to Draw a Gingerbread Man - Free Directed Drawing Art Lesson

    Let's create a festive gingerbread man! Grab your paper and drawing materials, and follow these steps:



    1.  Head - Draw a large oval or circle for the head. Make sure it's centered at the top of your paper.


    2.  Body - Just below the head, draw a slightly elongated oval or rectangle for the body. It should be about twice the height of the head. 



    3. Arms - From the top sides of the body, draw two curved lines extending outward and s lightly upward to form the arms. They should be about the same length as the body. You can erase the top of the oval inside the body.



    4. Legs  - From the bottom of the body, draw two slightly curved lines extending downward for the legs. They should be a little longer than the arms.



    5. Face  - Add two small circles for the eyes and a larger circle or oval for the mouth. You can add a small dot in each eye for the pupils. Draw a curved line or small oval for the nose





    6. Buttons - Draw three small circles down the center of the body for buttons. You can make them different colors to add some fun detail. Also, erase the bottom curve of the circle head.



    7. Details - Add wavy lines around the edges of the arms, legs, and head to represent the icing.

       - You can add more decorations like a bow tie, stripes, or patterns on the gingerbread man's body.



    8. Coloring - Color the gingerbread man brown to represent the cookie.

       - Use bright colors for the icing, buttons, and other decorations.



    And there you have it—a delightful gingerbread man ready for the holidays! šŸŽ„šŸŖ


    Enjoy your drawing, and feel free to add any additional details to make it even more festive! 




    For fun holiday early finishers worksheets, visit my TPT SHOP: Art Sub Lessons.

    Tuesday, December 10, 2024

    Keeping Students Engaged as Winter Break Approaches

     Keeping Students Engaged as Winter Break Approaches: The Perfect Art Activity Collection

    As winter break approaches, teachers everywhere face the challenge of keeping students focused and engaged. The excitement of the holidays can make it tough to hold their attention with regular lessons. This is where our Winter and Christmas Art Worksheets collection comes to the rescue!



    Why This Collection is a Game-Changer

    Our collection is designed with teachers in mind, offering a variety of engaging art activities that are perfect for the festive season. Here’s how it can help:

    1. Engaging and Fun: Each worksheet is packed with creative prompts and sample details that inspire students to create their own unique designs. The festive winter and Christmas themes add a touch of holiday magic that captivates their imagination and keeps them engaged.

    2. Versatile Use: These worksheets are perfect for a wide range of uses. Whether you need activities for early finishers, a ready-to-go sub plan, or engaging tasks for your learning centers, this collection has you covered. It’s also great for classroom teachers who want to add a little extra fun to their lessons as the holiday season approaches.

    3. Easy Implementation: The worksheets include lightly drawn designs that serve as templates for students to build upon. This makes it easy for students of all skill levels to participate and create beautiful, symmetrical artworks without feeling overwhelmed.

      4.  Skill Development: While having fun, students are also learning important concepts like radial symmetry and enhancing their design skills. This makes the activities both enjoyable and educational—a perfect blend for any classroom.

      5.  Stress-Free Prep: As a teacher, your time is precious. These no-prep worksheets mean you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying the holiday season. Simply print and go!

      Don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what teachers who have used this resource have to say:

      "This was great for any class and fun to leave for a sub!"

      "I put this in my early finishers bin and the kids were excited to complete the activity!"

      "My younger grades love this and the other products like it. They are so excited when I pull them out. "

      Check out this bundle at the TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons


    Wednesday, December 4, 2024

    Winter Art Sub Plan: Beyond the Gingerbread Man

     Ready-Made Gingerbread Man - Winter Art Sub Plan




    Tired of scrambling for sub plans? This gingerbread house art sub lesson is your perfect solution! Ideal for Christmas or any time of year, it's designed to be no-prep and fun.

    In this Lesson Plan:

    • Explore various gingerbread houses and unique gingerbread creations like robots and dinosaurs.

    • Students draw their own creative designs using simple materials: paper, pencil, and crayons.

    • Optional writing prompt worksheet to extend the lesson.

      To find out more about this lesson, click here:  TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons

    Tuesday, December 3, 2024

    How to Draw a Christmas Tree - Free Directed Drawing

     How to Draw a Christmas Tree - Directed Drawing

    drawing of a Christmas Tree


    Let's create a festive Christmas tree. Grab your paper, pencils, and perhaps some colorful markers or crayons:

    1. **Triangle Outline**:

       - Start by drawing a large triangle in the center of your paper. This will be the outline of your tree. Draw it lightly so that you can erase it easily later.

    2. **Branches**:

       - Along the sides of the triangle, draw several curved lines to create the look of pine branches. These lines should fan out slightly and get smaller as you move up the tree. 

    3. **Tree Trunk**:

       - At the bottom center of the triangle, draw a small rectangle for the tree trunk.

    4. **Decorations**:

       - Erase the lightly drawn guidelines you drew in the beginning. Draw strings of lights or garlands by adding curved lines that wrap around the tree.

    - Add circles and ovals for ornaments, scatter them throughout the tree. You can also add a star at the top of the tree by drawing a small, five-pointed star.

    5. **Presents**:

       - Draw small rectangles and squares at the base of the tree to represent presents. Add bows and ribbon details to make them festive.

    6. **Coloring**:

       - Color the tree green, the trunk brown, and the ornaments in a variety of bright colors. Use yellow for the star and different shades for the lights and garlands.



    7. **Background**:

       - Add some background details like snowflakes, a snowy ground, or even a fireplace with stockings.

    And there you have it—a beautiful, festive Christmas tree! šŸŽ„✨


    Would you like some easy and fun worksheets for the Christmas season? Check these out at my TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons

    Here are some examples: 

    Create an Elf in Disguise.    Only $.99

    Create a Reindeer in Disguise.   Only $.99

    Doodle a Nutcracker. Only $.99

    Draw a Gingerbread House. Only $.99

    There also some full length art sub lessons there for you to buy.

    Doodle Monsters in Winter. Only $4.00

    Doodle Monsters at Christmas.  Only $4.00





    Friday, November 29, 2024

    Upper Elementary & Middle School Christmas Art Lesson-Doodle Monsters

    Emergency Art Sub Lesson Plan: Doodle Monsters with a Winter/Christmas Theme

    This art sub plan is a lifesaver for those unexpected days when you need to take emergency leave or sick days from school. Keep it in your emergency sub binder and have peace of mind knowing you’re prepared.


    Check out the in-depth preview here: Middle School Christmas Art Lesson: Doodle Monsters and add it to your WISH LIST.  TPT Cyber Sale is Dec. 2 and 3!!!

    The lesson is fully scripted and comes with plenty of visuals to guide students through each step. It's perfect for keeping students engaged and learning, even when you can’t be there in person.

    It can be taught as a projected lesson or printed out and shown up close.




    Students will learn about overlapping and shading while drawing something fun.


    This Lesson Contains:

    • 15 Pages of Scripted Lesson Content: Full of engaging visuals. The teacher just reads the script and shows the pictures.
    • Instructions for the Teacher: How to begin and end the lesson.
    • 3 Student Examples: Print and hang these up for inspiration if you like. 
    • 2 Black and White Line Drawings: Print as coloring pages for students who need extra help or differentiation if you like. Pages 23 and 24.
    • 1 Page of Details to Add: Includes a variety of eyes, mouths, hats, candies, and doodle monsters. Print them out and display or place a copy on each table if you like