We found the best middle school art projects online! 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 at home or in the classroom.
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.
Related: Easy art projects
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.
Kids Art Projects We Love
1. Start with Easy How to Draw Lessons for Kids
Kids Activities Blog has over 50 different easy drawing lessons for kids that you can print and use at home or in the classroom. Here are a few of our favorites that might give inspiration or you can see them all –> How to Draw for Kids:
- How to draw a dragon
- How to draw a unicorn
- How to draw a frog
- How to draw Sonic the Hedgehog
- How to draw a snowflake
- How to draw a spider web
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.
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!
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
Related: Butterfly painting ideas for kids
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.
Related: Try making bubble art
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.
Related: How to draw a pumpkin
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.
Related: More butterfly arts & crafts
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.
Related: City made with paper bags
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.
Related: How to draw a star
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.
Related: How to draw a flower
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.
Related: How to draw a sugar skull
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!
Related: How to draw doodles
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.
Related: Rock painting ideas
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.
Related: Origami heart kids can make
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!
Related: How to draw a butterfly
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.
Related: Make paper cube art
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.
Related: Make paintable chalk
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.
Related: Start with a nature scavenger hunt
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.
Related: Winter painting ideas
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.
Related: Recycle magazine art
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.
Related: Make this hand sewing project
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.
Related: Easy string art projects for kids
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.
Related: Tissue paper ideas for kids
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.
Related: Ways to make flowers
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.
Related: How to Draw Baby Yoda
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.
Related: How to draw a cat
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.
Related: How to draw a cupcake
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.
Related: Be inspired by American flag coloring pages
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.
Related: How to draw a rose
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.
Related: Warhol inspired art for kids
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.
Related: Make cactus art out of ping pong balls
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.
Related: Beach arts and crafts
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.
Related: Easy toddler art projects
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.
Related: Make a salt painting
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.
Related: Melted crayon art
36. Blind Contour Drawings With Kids
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.
Related: Make shadow art
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.
Related: Easy origami 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.
Related: Paint flowers with water bottles
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.
Related: Colorful math art inspired by Klee
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.
Related: Make paper plate sculptures
Want more art projects to do with older kids?
- Try these Rainbow DIY projects and have a colorful day.
- We love these handprint art ideas for kids of all ages.
- Let’s celebrate Earth with fun Earth day art & activities.
- Oh so many arts and crafts for kids…hours of creative fun.
- These DIY friendship bracelet patterns don’t need a special loom.
- We have over 100 spring crafts for your kid!
- Make your own backpack tag!
- Check out these music activities for middle schoolers!
- I love this super cool posterization grape art project for older kids!
- Make a beautiful wax resist fall trees art project for kids!
- This leaf printing art project is so fun!
- Make the coolest mixed media monster art project for kids!
What was your favorite art project for middle schoolers?
There are many great art project ideas in this post! I teach art at our homeschool co-op so I am always looking for ideas. The students are amazed each year by watercolor and creation wax resist projects!
Yay! I am so glad! If they like watercolor/ wax resist projects, have you tried salt painting with them? It’s the coolest!
Love love love all these ideas for super simple middle school art projects!