11 Creative Art Activity Ideas For Primary School Teachers

As primary school teachers, we play a crucial role in nurturing the creativity and imagination of our students. By providing them with opportunities to explore and express themselves through art and creative activities, we can help them develop important skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-expression. However, coming up with new and engaging ideas for these activities can be a challenge. 

That's why we've put together this list of art and creative activity ideas to inspire and assist primary school teachers in bringing the joy of creativity into their classrooms.

1. Collage making

Collage-making is a fantastic activity for kids as it helps with their creativity and imagination. Here's how you can run a fun and engaging collage session with primary school children.

- Introduce the activity by explaining what a collage is and showing some examples. Ask the kids to think about what they want to create before they start.

- Provide materials such as magazines, scissors, glue, and paper. Encourage kids to look through the magazines and cut out images and text that they like.

- Set aside some time for creating. Remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. They can stick their cutouts onto a piece of paper to make their collage.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's collages.

- Once the collages are complete, have the kids present their work to the class. Encourage them to explain their thought process and what inspired their collage.

- End the session by telling the kids how proud you are of their hard work and creativity. You can also display their collages in the classroom for everyone to see.

You will need:

- Magazines

- Tissue paper

- Paper or card

- Glue.

2. Drawing with perspective

Drawing with perspective is a great way for kids to learn about spatial relationships and how objects look from different viewpoints.

- Introduce the concept of perspective by showing some examples of drawings that use it. Explain that perspective helps us make our drawings look more realistic and three-dimensional.

- Start with simple shapes, such as a cube or a house, and have the kids draw them from a bird's-eye view and a worm's-eye view. This will help them understand the basics of perspective.

- Next, move on to more complex shapes, like a street scene or a building. Show the kids how to draw the objects in the foreground smaller and those in the background larger to create depth.

- Provide materials such as pencils, erasers, and plain white paper. Encourage the kids to experiment with different techniques and try different perspectives.

- Walk around the room and offer guidance and support to the kids as they draw. Encourage them to ask questions and share their ideas with each other.

- At the end of the session, have the kids present their drawings to the class. Explain that everyone's drawings are different and that's what makes them special.

You will need:

- Pens

- Pencils

- Paper.

3. Paper sculptures

Paper sculpture is a great way for kids to use their creativity and imagination to make something unique and special. Here's how to run a fun and educational paper sculpture session with primary school children:

- Introduce the idea of paper sculpture and showing some examples. Explain that they will be using paper to create their own sculptures.

- Provide materials such as coloured paper, scissors, glue, and other decorative items (such as markers, glitter, stickers and rubber stamps). Encourage the kids to think about what they want to create before they start.

- Set aside some time for creating. Remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. They can fold, cut, and glue the paper to make their sculptures.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's sculptures.

- Once the sculptures are complete, have the kids present their work to the class. Encourage them to explain their thought process and what inspired their sculpture.

- End the session by telling the kids how proud you are of their hard work and creativity. You can also display their sculptures in the classroom for everyone to see.

You will need:

- Paper

- Scissors

- Coloured paper

- Glue

- Decorative items.

4. Printing with found objects

Printing with found objects is a fun and engaging way for kids to explore their creativity and experiment with different textures and shapes. How to run a session of printing with found objects with primary school children:

- Provide materials such as paper, ink pads, and a variety of found objects (such as leaves, rubber bands, sponges, and bottle caps). Encourage the kids to think about what they want to create before they start.

- Set aside some time for creating. Remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. They can experiment with different objects and techniques to make their prints.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's prints.

- Once the prints are complete, have the kids present their work to the class. Encourage them to explain their thought process and what inspired their print.

You will need:

- Found objects such as leaves, sticks, stones eaves, rubber bands, sponges, and bottle tops.

- Ink or paint

- Printing paper or card

5. Watercolour painting

Teachers can start by explaining the basics of watercolour painting, such as mixing colours and creating washes. Then, students can practise their own watercolour paintings, with teachers providing guidance and support as needed.

You will need:

- Watercolours

- Brushes

- Watercolour paper or card.

6. Modelling with clay

Clay modelling is a fun and engaging way for kids to use their imagination and creativity to make unique sculptures.

- Tell the class that they will be using clay to create their own sculptures.

- Provide materials such as air-drying clay, tools (such as rolling pins, sculpting knives, and shaping tools), and other decorative items (such as paint, glitter, and stickers).

- Encourage the kids to think about what they want to create before they start.

- Set aside time for creating.

- Remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. They can shape, mold and carve the clay to make their sculptures.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's sculptures.

- Once the sculptures are complete, let the clay dry and then have the kids paint and decorate their sculptures as desired.

- End the session by telling the kids how proud you are of their hard work and creativity. They may be surprised by what they can create with just some clay and imagination!

You will need:

- Clay

- Tools such as rolling pins, sculpting tools and wire cutters.

7. Collaborative murals

Collaborative mural making is a great way for kids to work together and create something beautiful and unique. Here's how you can run a session of collaborative mural making with primary school children:

- Start by introducing the concept of collaborative mural making and explain that the class will be working together to create a large painting or drawing on a wall or large paper.

- Choose a theme or subject for the mural. Encourage the kids to think about what they want to include in the mural before they start.

- Provide materials such as large sheets of paper, paint, markers, and other decorative items (such as glitter, stickers and cutouts).

- Set aside some time for creating. Encourage the kids to work together and to share their ideas and techniques. Remind them to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's contributions to the mural. Encourage them to work together, share ideas and support each other as they create something beautiful.

- Once the mural is complete, have the kids present their work to the class. Encourage them to explain their thought process and what inspired their contributions to the mural.

- Display the mural in the school for everyone to see.

You will need:

- Large sheets of paper (the back of wall paper works well)

- Paint

- Marker pens

- Customised rubber stamps

- Collage materials such as magazines.

8. Rubber stamps 

Crafting with rubber stamps is a fun and creative activity that kids will love! Rubber stamping is a fun and educational activity that kids will love. They may be surprised by what they can create with just a little bit of imagination and some rubber stamps!

Here's how you can run a session of crafts with rubber stamps with primary school children:

- Introduce the idea of rubber stamping and tell them how it can be used to create unique and decorative designs.

- You will need a range of rubber stamps as well as ink pads and paper. You might include other decorative items such as stickers, glitter and marker pens. Encourage the kids to think about what they want to create before they start.

- Set aside some time for crafting.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's designs. Encourage them to experiment with different stamps and ink colours to create unique designs.

- Once the designs are complete, have the kids present their work to the class.

You will need:

- Large sheets of paper

- Rubber stamps (why not personalise some for your class?)

- Ink pads

9. Stop-motion animation 

Stop-motion animation might seem a bit involved, but it can be a fun and engaging way for kids to bring their imagination to life as well as learn about techniques and software. What, twenty years ago, would have been beyond a teacher’s ability to deliver to a class of children for reasons of cost and expertise is now achievable due to modern technology.

- Start by introducing the concept of stop-motion animation. Explain that they will be making their own short animation using a camera or device.

- Provide materials such as playdough, paper cutouts and props (possibly their own toys).

- Encourage the kids to think of a story idea before they start - possibly even writing it down before they start.

- Set aside some time for creating. Remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. They can create the different frames for their animation by taking pictures of their playdough, paper cutouts and props in different positions.

- Use a camera or device to take the pictures and a computer program to string the pictures together to create the animation.

- While the kids are working, wander around and offer help if needed. Encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions about each other's animations.

- Once the animations are complete, have the kids present their work to the class. Encourage them to explain their thought process and what inspired their animations.

You will need:

- Playdough

- Paper cutouts

- Props such as toys or clay figures

- A camera and a computer with stop-motion animation software OR

- A phone with a stop-motion app installed.

10. Sketching from life 

Teachers can start by explaining the importance of sketching from life and demonstrating how to sketch objects from life. Then, students can go outside and sketch objects from life, with teachers providing guidance and support as needed.

You will need:

- Pencils

- Erasers

- Sketch Pads.

11. Mixed media compositions 

This is a great way for kids to experiment with different materials and techniques and create something unique.

- Provide materials such as paper, paint, markers, collage materials, and other decorative items (see above for examples). Encourage the kids to think about what they want their composition to be about before they start.

- As they work on their creations, remind the kids to be imaginative and to let their creativity run wild. Encourage them to experiment with different materials and techniques and to find new ways to use them as well as sharing their ideas.

- Once the compositions are complete, have the kids present their work to the class.

You will need:

- Pencils

- Marker pens

- Collage materials

- Found objects

- Rubber stamps

These are just a few examples of art and creativity activities that primary school teachers can conduct. The goal of these activities is to provide students with opportunities to express themselves creatively and develop their artistic skills, while also learning about different materials, techniques, and concepts in art. By using a variety of materials and techniques, teachers can help students to expand their understanding of art and develop their creativity and critical thinking skills.