100 Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Here is a list of 100 art ideas for middle schoolers that you can do in your classroom this year. If you are a middle school art teacher who has run out of ideas and not sure what ideas to do in your art classroom you will want to check out this list of 100 art ideas for middle schoolers. Make sure to save this list of 100 or ideas for middle schoolers for later.
Do you teach high school? You’ll love my 100 art ideas for high schoolers-read that here!
100 Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Be sure to download my free figure symmetry drawing for middle schoolers.. You will also receive wonderful art lesson ideas straight to your inbox.
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Drawing Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Self-portraits with a twist (e.g., as an animal or robot). Or try self portrait with different materials like collage, paint, or mixed media
Zentangle designs on paper or objects. - You can try my popular Zentangle art activity for early finishers here!
Draw an imagined cityscape. - You can teach about one point perspective drawing first!
Cartoon characters or comic strips. -You can collaborate with the language arts/English teacher and do some illustrating related to story writing.
Design a new species of animal. Get students to complete a drawing as a plan and then they sculpt it!
Optical illusions.
Sketch the contents of their backpack.
Create a mandala.- Check out my mandala symmetry drawing here or my nature mandala art.
Draw a surreal scene combining random objects.
Create a blueprint of their dream house. -Check out my house symmetry drawing here!
Painting Projects for Middle Schoolers
Abstract watercolour resist paintings. You can do watercolour resist painting with white crayons. You can also use glue and draw a design with white school glue, let it dry and add water colour paint over top.
Paint an underwater scene.
Sunset or sunrise landscapes. Check out this sunset painting tutorial here from my YouTube
Stencil painting - check out my tips for painting with stencils here!
Galaxy paintings with stars and planets. - Check out this galaxy sky painting here!
Paint a scene from their favourite book or movie.
Monochromatic painting (one colour in various shades).
Splatter painting in Jackson Pollock's style. -this is fun, be sure to do this outside to avoid the mess in your classroom or to make sure to lay down a box of garbage bags, or a cardboard box for students to splatter paint in.
Paint on unconventional surfaces (rocks, wood, glass).
Impressionist-style painting of a flower or landscape.
Need help teaching acrylic painting? Check out my acrylic painting bundle here! Filled with worksheets and tutorials to help your students.
3D Art and Sculptures
Paper mache masks. - You can design a theme for the masks like animals, robots or surrealism. You can get students to plan their mask design in their sketchbook first.
Clay animals or mini figurines.
Cardboard cities or buildings.
Recycled material sculptures.
Miniature dioramas.
Air dry clay sculptures. You can also use an air dry clay ball, and you can show them how to create a simple pinch pot. This bowl can then be painted once the air dry clay has dried after applying paint and having it dry, you can steal the paint by using Marge podge to create a nice shine on the students, bowls, or sculptures.
Wire sculptures. You can also add paper Mache over top of the wire sculptures to give it a cool texture afterwards and then once the paper, Mashay is dry, students can paint the wire sculptures.
Create a 3D hand sculpture using string art.
Nature-inspired sculptures using twigs, leaves, and stones. Check out my popular nature mandala lesson here.
Plaster hand casts
Collage and Mixed Media Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Vision boards or mood boards. This is a great art project to do in the month of January to celebrate the new year. You can also do it at the beginning of the year so that students can plan their year and their vision or you can do it at the end of the school year so students can plan their summer bucket list ideas or their plans and dreams for the next school year.
Magazine cut-out collages.
Torn-paper landscapes.
Found object assemblages.
Mixed media portraits using fabric, paper, and paint.
Create a cyanotype
Layered collages with transparent materials.
Abstract collage with textured papers.
Use old maps or sheet music for a creative backdrop.
Create a story using images and words.
Printmaking Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Stamp-making with erasers or potatoes.
Foam board prints.
Lino printing (for older middle schoolers).
Gelatin plate printing.
Leaf and nature prints.
Handprint art turned into animals or landscapes.
Create a repeating pattern design.
Mono-print with acrylics and plastic sheets.
Bubble wrap prints.
Use found objects for texture printing (e.g., forks, sponges).
Fiber Arts
Weaving with cardboard looms.
Create small embroidery projects.
Tie-dye shirts or fabrics.
Yarn-wrapped sticks or objects.
Macrame plant hangers or wall art.
Fabric painting or stamping.
Finger knitting or crocheting.
Create soft sculptures using old clothes or fabric scraps.
Sew simple plushies or pillows.
Design a patchwork quilt square.
Digital and Technology-Based Art
Create digital collages using free apps. I like using canva.com
Design a logo for an imaginary business. You can use Canva for this and teach students about media arts and logo design.
Create pixel art.
Stop-motion animation using clay or paper cut-outs.
Photo editing with free online tools.
Create an album cover design.
Digital self-portraits.
Use photography to capture a day in their life.
Draw with an online drawing app or tablet.
Create GIFs or simple animations.
Themed Project Art Ideas for Middle Schoolers
Design their superhero and costume.
Create art inspired by a famous artist (Van Gogh, Kahlo, etc.).
Illustrate their favourite song lyrics.
Holiday-themed crafts or decorations. Check out my fall/Halloween symmetry drawing here!
Create art inspired by different cultures (e.g., Aboriginal dot painting, Chinese calligraphy).
Time-travel art: Design what the world might look like in 100 years.
Fantasy maps of an imaginary world.
Illustrate a fairytale scene.
Art inspired by the seasons.
Mythical creatures (dragons, unicorns, etc.).
Fun and Experimental Projects
Draw with their non-dominant hand.
Blindfold drawing or painting.
Create a nature journal with sketches.
Exploding paint balloons on canvas.
Use straws to blow paint into unique designs.
Ice cube painting with food coloring.
Marbling paper with shaving cream and food dye.
Spin art with a DIY spinner.
Shadow tracing using light sources.
Paint with unconventional tools (forks, toothbrushes, cotton swabs).
Group or Collaborative Projects
Group mural on a large piece of paper.
Create a class quilt with individual squares.
Collaborative doodle drawing.
Symmetry drawing competition to see who can complete their drawing realistically - check out my symmetry drawing bundle for middle schoolers
Big art project using recycled materials.
Create a timeline of art history with illustrations.
Collaborative mosaic made of paper tiles.
Create an art installation for their school.
Community art project like kindness rocks.
Group storytelling with illustrations.
Art Resources Mentioned:
Symmetry drawing bundle for middle school, you can save 30% by clicking here
Mandala symmetry for middle school
House symmetry drawing for middle
Zentangle art- a great early finisher task for your middle school students
Portrait symmetry drawing for middle schoolers
My colour mixing bundle to help your middle schoolers with acrylic painting
Here is a link to my YouTube channel all about acrylic painting
Conclusion:
Whether you are a new teacher starting out, figuring what projects to do with your art students or you’re a veteran teacher looking for something different- it’s important to include variety in your projects. Students should have the opportunity to learn new art materials, techniques ques and art styles to be able to create better art and learn.
Make sure to download the free figure symmetry drawing pages for middle school students. You will receive 14 pages of symmetry drawing for free. Click the button below to download!
Group or Collaborative Projects
Group mural on a large piece of paper.
Create a class quilt with individual squares.
Collaborative doodle drawing.
Symmetry drawing competition to see who can complete their drawing realistically - check out my symmetry drawing bundle for middle schoolers
Big art project using recycled materials.
Create a timeline of art history with illustrations.
Collaborative mosaic made of paper tiles.
Create an art installation for their school.
Community art project like kindness rocks.
Group storytelling with illustrations.
Art Resources Mentioned:
Symmetry drawing bundle for middle school, you can save 30% by clicking here
Check out my popular nature symmetry drawing again you can save 30% by clicking here
Mandala symmetry for middle school
House symmetry drawing for middle
Zentangle art- a great early finisher task for your middle school students
Portrait symmetry drawing for middle schoolers
My colour mixing bundle to help your middle schoolers with acrylic painting
Here is a link to my YouTube channel all about acrylic painting
Conclusion:
Whether you are a new teacher starting out, figuring what projects to do with your art students or you’re a veteran teacher looking for something different- it’s important to include variety in your projects. Students should have the opportunity to learn new art materials, techniques ques and art styles to be able to create better art and learn.
Make sure to download the free figure symmetry drawing pages for middle school students. You will receive 14 pages of symmetry drawing for free. Click the button below to download!
Related Articles:
100 Art Ideas for High Schoolers