Middle School Art Projects

Whether you are an art teacher teaching middle school students or have kids in middle school that you want to introduce to the world of art, today we are sharing tons of fun middle school art projects for you to do with your young artists.

Free & Fun Art Projects For Middle Schoolers

Art teachers and artsy parents this blog post is for you! If you are looking for art class ideas for your middle school students, you are in the right place. Art plays an important role since it helps with the development of motor skills, language and social skills, creativity, decision-making… plus, art lessons are known to improve students’ self-esteem and social skills.

You’ll find a bit of everything in these lesson plans: color theory, art history, elements of art, art class ideas, easy art projects made with tissue paper, oil pastels, acrylic paint, tempera paint, and so many other fun things.

Truth is, we have the best art projects you can do either in a classroom setting or at home, as long as you have the materials and a young student ready to learn and create works of art.

If this sounds like something you’re looking for, then continue reading!

1. Free Printable Expanded Form Place Value Math Worksheet Game for Kids

Let’s start with a math game that explores place values with expanded form worksheets. This free printable is also an easy way for kids of all ages to grasp, practice and play with the expanded form of the number they are learning about!

Let’s learn math with a visual art craft.

2. Picasso Inspired Tree Ornaments Kids Can Make

Toddlers, preschoolers, and even elementary aged children will have so much fun making these Picasso inspired clay tree ornaments. Especially if they enjoy getting really creative with their art projects and following famous artists’ steps.

It’s time to get creative with these crafts.

3. Fun Watercolor Resist Art Idea Using Crayons

This Kids Crayon Resist Art using watercolor paints is so cool, and works great for kids of all ages, even toddlers, preschoolers and high school students. It’s a timeless art & craft project for kids that they’ll have fun doing over and over again!

You can make so many different shapes with resist art.

4. Fun Art Project Activity to Explore Paint Brushes

Want more painting projects for kids? Here’s a kids art idea that is part observation, part exploration and part art project that works for kids of all ages especially those just being introduced to art. This is one of our favorite middle school art lessons to do

Take a look at these painting techniques.

5. Make a Handmade Gratitude Journal with Your Kids this Thanksgiving

We love artworks that double up as useful crafts, such as this gratitude journal. With a gratitude journal, kids can record all the things they are thankful for. The best thing is that it’s so much fun to make and only requires a few basic supplies. This is also the perfect way to start the new school year.

Make this journal and write down what you feel grateful for!

6. Paper Pumpkin Craft for Kids

We love this paper pumpkin craft because, besides being super cute and simple for kids, it is great practice for fine motor skills – and makes the cutest fall and Halloween decor. They’ll have a great time making them and the result is a beautiful work of art.

You could use the finished pumpkins to create a garland, too.

7. Butterfly String Art Patterns Using Coloring Pages

What kid doesn’t love butterfly crafts? Let’s use coloring pages as string art patterns to make a butterfly. This craft is perfect for beginners and even younger kids. Simply download and print the free pattern and get your supplies.

This butterfly craft is easy enough for kids of all ages.

8. Your Kids Can Create A Paper City And Learn About Architecture

If your kids love to build and are looking for a new challenge, they’re going to love building a paper city! This art craft combines art and STEM activities so it’s not only fun, but also educational. They won’t even know they are learning.

Why not build a small replica of your own city?

9. How to Draw an Alien’s Point of View Perspective Drawing with FREE worksheet

This is a very fun way to learn about linear perspective! Follow the step by step directions, download the free worksheet, and have fun making a drawing of an alien’s point of view perspective. You can also follow the YouTube video – from Make a Mark Studios.

10. LINE PAINTING FLOWERS

If you are looking for a fun way to create art with watercolor paintings, you’ll love these line painting flowers from Kinder Art. This tutorial will teach middle schoolers to paint like Geoff Slater, using one single line.

11. How to make a sugar skull mask

Sugar skull masks are a great way to express your creativity! This tutorial from Make a Mark Studios features all you need to know to make your own mask including a video tutorial, a free printable mask template and some completed photo examples to get inspiration from.

12. How to draw a glowing light bulb with colored pencils

No matter your skill level, this tutorial from Make a Mark is a great way to learn about creating light in art work. You will find all you need to know to create glowing light bulb with colored pencils on black paper including steps to create, a video tutorial, gridded reference image, materials list, key art terms, and finished examples to inspire the process!

13. Every Single Student Paints One Rock For The Coolest Elementary Art Project, Ever

This colorful schoolwide art project has a powerful message from Scary Mommy combines creativity and literature to create a beautiful piece of art. The goal is to encourage students to be true to themselves. You’ll love that the only supplies needed are rocks and glossy acrylic paint.

14. My Paper Heart Chain

Art With Mrs. Nguyen shared a fun art craft that is also perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s an art project where everyone can participate regardless of grade and skill level, but older kids such as those in middle school might enjoy it more than little ones.

This craft doesn’t take a lot of skill and the finished result is so beautiful.

15. In The Art Room: A Chalked Ceiling Event

Try this art project from Art Teacherin’ 101 that will be part of a permanent display at your school instead of the typical chalk street art. Kids can use their creativity to make beautiful works of art that will be proudly displayed for years!

Just imagine how beautiful the ceiling will look now!

16. Cube Mural Inspired by Street Artist Thank YouX

Let’s make a cube mural together, inspired by street artist Thank YouX! Each student will paint one cube in their own style and the end result will be a collaborative mural that everyone helped created. Take some inspiration from Art Is Basic.

17. Diwali Rangoli Art From India: Chalk + Colored Sand

Here’s another collaborative art project to do with all of your students. Have you ever seen the decorative floor art called rangoli? In this tutorial from Kid World Citizen, kids will learn about rangoli art from India and then try out this colorful project.

18. A Painted Branch – Collaborative Art With Kids

You’ll love how easy this art project is to set up. Simply take some branches inside, mixed some tempera paint, get paintbrushes, and let the students have fun painting it. From Art Bar Blog.

Collaborative art is a great way to connect with children.

19. Painted Paper Trees Mural

Looking to decorate your classroom or home with an adorable winter project? Painted Paper Art shared 2 projects that are very easy, low cost and make a big impact. For the first one, you’ll need craft paper and oil pastels, while the second one needs thin cardboard sheets and tempera paint.

20. Colorful plastic bottle caps mosaic

Get some inspiration from this colorful plastic bottle art in Bulgaria, and take it to your classroom. Get all the detailed information and the supplies needed in Krokotak.

21. In The Art Room: Fourth Grade Pizza Pillows

Looking for a fun sewing project? Try huge pizza pillows and add funny faces, different felt toppings, and anything they can come up with. They will love this craft. From Art Teacherin’ 101.

22. How to Make String Art with 100+ Kids

Here at Kids Activities Blog, we love string art – String art is so fun and fairly simple to make. Here’s a tutorial to make string art with many, many kids. From Creating Really Awesome Fun Things.

23. Tissue Paper Art

If you haven’t tried bleeding tissue paper crafts yet, this tutorial is for you. This craft is also perfect to do with many students, and you only need basic art supplies (bleeding tissue paper, a white canvas, scissors, etc). From Creating Really Awesome Fun Things.

Another art project everyone can help create.

24. A Simple & Unique Painting Technique Your Teen Will Love

Make a lovely handmade card with a simple and unique painting technique with paint made with the juice from frozen blueberries – Yes, it’s true! From Education Possible.

25. Easy How to Draw Baby Yoda Tutorial and Baby Yoda Coloring Page

Every teen and kid we know is basically obsessed with Baby Yoda – that’s why we’re sharing an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw Baby Yoda and a Baby Yoda Coloring Page. An easy tutorial will show you how to draw all his cute features. From Art Projects For Kids.

26. Easy How to Draw a Laurel Burch Cat Tutorial and Laurel Burch Cat Coloring Page

Laurel Burch has inspired many people across the globe. Today we are learning how to draw a Laurel Burch cat- You can fill it with all kinds of fun patterns and colors, just like Laurel Burch did. From Art Projects For Kids.

27. How to Draw a Cake

This option shows how students can make a rainbow cake, by dividing the inside into seven layers, but it would be fun making more filling patterns inside too. Maybe a fantasy cake with all their favorite fillings? From Art Projects For Kids.

A delicious-looking cake without all the sugar high.

28. American Flag Op Art Drawing Tutorial for Beginners

Let’s look at how to make an American flag opticalillusion drawing. This makes them the perfect drawings for beginners of all ages. They are fun to make and drawing anything should be fun. From Art By Ro.

We love optical art projects like this one.

29. Rose Art Watercolor Painting Project

Here’s a fun and easy watercolor rose painting idea for kids, teens, and adults. Learn how to paint a rose with watercolors and black paint to create gorgeous faux stained glass art! From Rhythms of Play.

Watercolor painting is always so much fun.

30. Rainbow Shaded Silhouettes

Let’s create rainbow-shaded silhouette paintings on this two-day art project. You’ll need one day to paint, and the second day to cut and assemble the pictures. Grab your acrylic paints, a sheet of paper, and paint brushes. Let’s get out of our comfort zone! From Highhill Homeschool.

31. Cactus Acrylic Painting Lesson

Try out this simple cactus acrylic painting lesson! It focuses on blending colors directly on the surface and painting a simple object from direct observation. It only takes 3 steps to make. From That Art Teacher.

32. Easy Art Projects: Art At The Beach

Bring the beach to your house! To make this fun art project you’ll need chalk pastels, paper, and wipes. That’s it! Enjoy your chalk art. From Education Possible.

What will you create with this chalk art tutorial?

33. Process Art Scrape Painting With Bunny Silhouettes

Angela from Projects with Kids shared this super fun art scrape painting. She took scrape painting process art and turned it into a super fun (and messy!) bunny art project that is perfect for spring or Easter.

This is a creative way to make an Easter craft.

34. Rainbow Shamrock Salt Painting Art Project

Kids will love making this rainbow shamrock salt painting art project idea for Saint Patrick’s Day at home or in the classroom. They can draw their own Shamrock or use the free printable from Rhythms of Play.

35. Earth Melted Crayon Rocks Craft

Here’s another exciting art method for kids and teens. Let’s make Earth melted crayon rocks – they’re a great craft for Earth Day or any other day of the year that you’re celebrating Mother Earth. From Left Brain Craft Brain.

We can’t believe how fun these were to make.

Blind contour drawings are the most fun you can have drawing with another person. The rule is that you can’t look down at your paper and you can’t lift your pen. The result? Super fun and unique abstract portraits or even self portraits. Give it a try and then color them with watercolor paints! From Art Bar.

Isn’t this portrait a super cool art craft?

37. Egg Carton Flowers

If you have egg cartons left over from your Easter activities, then why not make some fun Spring themed crafts with them? In this tutorial from I Heart Arts n Crafts, we’ll learn how to make egg carton flowers.

38. Recycled Plastic Flowers Art and Science Project

Here’s a beautiful science project! Through the magical chemistry of polymers, you can turn recycled plastic into a beautiful flower garden or bouquet. So save your plastic cups and plates and make some pretty flowers. From Left Brain Craft Brain.

These flowers will last much longer than real ones.

39. Geometric Art With Circles

Combining math with art can be so much fun! Teach Beside Me shared a way to combine geometric math art with circles. Let’s make flowers using math! You’ll need lots of colorful markers, a pencil and eraser, a compass and graph paper.

We love mixing up art and science together.

40. Metal Art STEAM Project – Science + Metal = Art!

For this STEAM project, we’ll be combining science, metal, and art together. There’s a lot to learn from it and the end result is also very unique and beautiful. Get ready to make some steel art! From Steam Powered Family.

The best projects are the ones you can learn from.

Want more art projects to do with older kids?

Everyone loves rainbows! Try these Rainbow DIY projects and have a colorful day.
Let’s celebrate Earth day the right way – with fun Earth day activities for kids.
Make a DIY bubble wand for hours of exciting play. It’s super easy.
Jet off into an adventure with these super cute and fun jet coloring pages.
These DIY friendship bracelet patterns don’t need a special loom or equipment.
Have a little one obsessed with cars? Give these cool cars coloring pages a try.

What was your favorite art project for middle schoolers?