12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year

Starting the school year with engaging and creative art activities sets the tone for an exciting and productive classroom environment. As an art teacher, you want to ignite your students’ imaginations and help them express their creativity from day one. Naturally 12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year help. Students will start day 1 thinking creatively, while you introduce them to the art room’s procedures and expectations. These12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year with scribbles, tours, games, drawing, collaging, painting, and building, which will set stage for fun and relationships.

Make the first day of art fun while establishing relationships.

12 interactive ideas that can be adjusted for different grade levels

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1. Finish the Picture: Drawing with Pre-Drawn Lines

Kick-off with those creative juices flowing and no defined outcome with this unique drawing activity: provide each student with a sheet of paper folded into eight sections. Begin by drawing a line on the board. Students copy the line inside of their eighths and it may be any size and in any direction inside the eighth section. Now students are challenged to incorporate the line into a drawing. Every five minutes, draw a new line for them to use in another section. Resulting in an exercise challenging students to think creatively within constraints and quickly generate ideas.

Also, it takes away the cookie-cutter assignments and gives students personal freedom to draw what they are familiar with along with their skills. Consequently you, the teacher, have a pretest completed on the first day. You will see who can generate ideas, who can elaborate and add details, and who develops their pictures beyond line and shape. Additionally, you may consider student ideas and skill as a method to design future art lessons or gear content to the class’s interests and abilities.

Additionally a variation on this assignment is to have students draw the pre-drawn lines in the eight sections first. Then list 24 ideas in which the students may turn those lines into. The ideas could stem from the lessons you have planned for the year. Again, this could serve as a pretest before the year starts. Later first day of art class assignment could be used as a reference to compare how a student had improved in their drawing skills.

2. Scribble Art: Kickstart the Year with a Basic Line

Fold a paper into eighths and let students scribble for 30 seconds in each section using different line types—curved, straight, bumpy, and wavy lines. Introduce various materials like pencils, markers, and crayons for diverse textures. After creating eight scribbles, students select half to transform into artwork, such as finding hidden objects, creating cut-out shapes, or forming abstract collages.

For younger students, have them scribble on 3” X 4.5” paper with a pencil.  Then give them another paper and scribble with one crayon color.  Pass out a third piece of paper and scribble with two crayon colors on the fourth paper.  Students have a choice of markers, crayons, pens, or pencils.  Then direct students to use a black crayon or Sharpie to draw eyes, arms, hands, legs, and feet in their scribbles.  Try to persuade them to include different emotions or personalities.  They could add extra things to the scribbles like hair, hats, etc.

Why It’s Exciting: These activities stimulate the imagination and help students see possibilities in abstract forms, breaking the ice with a fun, creative challenge. In addition, they think fast and take away the first day worries.

If you are interested in another scribble activity click here: How to Use Scribbles with Your Art Students

3. Draw and Pass Game

Inspired by the classic “telephone game,” students follow drawing instructions without knowing the final image. They pass their drawings to a neighbor after each step. The results spark creativity and emphasize listening to and following directions—key skills in any art class.

For example: The teacher will give directions to draw a teddy bear in the middle of the paper. The paper is passed to the next student in the group.  The teacher gives another direction to draw a rocket ship in the picture wherever that student thinks it should go on the drawing.  Then the paper is passed.  Another direction is given until the paper is returned to the original owner who will be challenged to complete the drawing with additional directions like background elements, details, color, and more.

4. Story-Telling Drawing

Start a collaborative story with a single sentence, then have each student add to the narrative and illustrate their contribution. This activity combines creative writing with illustration, encouraging students to think sequentially and work together to build a cohesive story.

For instance, you start the story with many typical opening lines like:

1. Once upon a time…

2. In a land far, far away…

3. Call me…

4. It is truth that a kid with lots of candy is in need of…

5. In a great green room…

Next, you fill in the blank at the end of the opening.  Then you start with a student to give the next sentence to the story.  The students draw for a few minutes, while you verbally prepare the next student to think up the next sentence.

For Example:

Therefore, the story could be played out as so:

Once upon a time, a gorilla was eating an ice cream cone.  The first student says that a pelican landed next to the gorilla. The students draw. Then the second student stated that the pelican had an umbrella. The students draw.  Eventually, you will encounter students who get stuck.  This is where you suggest, background elements, weather, setting, clothing, props, and even word balloons or written messages on signs and posters.  So, the story could end with a drawing showing two main characters in a hurricane, where toy cars are on the ground, rain is hitting them, and the pelican is asking why the gorilla is eating ice cream in a storm. And in the end, the story is silly. Also, it lightens up the tension on the first day of art class.

Why It’s Exciting: This collaborative game fosters a sense of community and teamwork, while also producing often hilarious and unexpected results. Combining storytelling with drawing keeps students engaged and adds a narrative element to their art, making it more meaningful and fun.

5. Portfolio Folders and Sketchbooks

Have students design and decorate their portfolio folders or sketchbooks. This activity sets the tone for the importance of organization and pride in their work. Furthermore, it establishes a practical tool for storing and showcasing their projects throughout the year. Also, it helps you get organized too.

At The following website: Inner Child Fun, I found a very easy straight forward way for making a basic mini-sketch book. Check it out here: How to Make a Mini Sketchbook from a Sheet of Paper (EASY)

6. Art Room Tour and Scavenger Hunt

Familiarize students with the art room layout, safety procedures, and materials. Follow this with a scavenger hunt or “I Spy” game, focusing on finding colors, shapes, or specific objects. This activity is a playful way to introduce classroom rules and expectations. Have students draw pictures showing rules and safety to reinforce the expectations.

Reflect:12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year

You are half way through the 12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year. Are you discovering how to start your first day with each grade level? The mixture of ideas are to aide you and with less stress to start the year by providing a variety of options that you may pair with your grade levels.

7.  Coloring Pages and Printable Activities for Younger Students

After a tour of the art room, give younger students printable activities and coloring pages. This helps them acclimate to the new environment while engaging in a relaxing activity. Incorporate games like “Simon Says” and a dance break to keep the energy high and fun. Since they are younger, you may want to play music when there is an independent activity to set the standard of studio time being focused and for creating.

Check out these coloring pages to get started with color theory: Coloring Pages for Kids Color Theory by Code

8. Name Art: Zentangles and Contour Line Shapes

Students draw Zentangles inside the outline of a shape like a fish, car, or flower. They can divide the shape and experiment with patterns inside. On the outside, they draw around the shape with spaced layers and decorate the layers with patterned Zentangles.  This activity gets students making art right away and helps them learn about line, shape, and composition while personalizing their work.

9. Designing Personal Items: Shoes, T-Shirts, Trading Cards

Provide templates for shoes, t-shirts, or trading cards, and let students unleash their creativity. They can design a set of trading cards themed around different seasons or create custom shoe designs. This activity allows students to explore fashion design and personal expression.

10.  Personal Drawing: My Hand, My Story

Have students trace their hand and arm on a narrow piece of paper. Inside the outline, they write their names in creative fonts and fill the space with symbols and images that represent their interests, hobbies, and personalities. This project helps students express their individuality and can be a great way to get to know each other.          

Why It’s Exciting: These activities are personal projects that allow students to express themselves.  They share their personalities to help everyone get to know each other. The fashion-forward activity taps into students’ love for trends and personal style, making it a hit with budding designers.  Making functional portfolios teaches that art and function work together.

11. Paper Bag Puppets

Students color, cut, and assemble paper bag puppets. This simple, hands-on activity is perfect for younger students and introduces them to basic construction techniques and character design.  You can simply print ideas found on the internet, copy them, and then hand them out.  Or use scrape supplies from the prior year.  Let students collage their puppet characters any way they can imagine. 

Why It’s Exciting: Simple and fun, this project allows for a wide range of creativity and can lead to impromptu puppet shows that spark laughter and engagement.

12.Guided Watercolor Painting

Introduce students to watercolor techniques by producing a series of painted paper. By painting simple subjects like tree rings, experimenting with primary colors, and filling the paper with painted lines, or textures, you are fostering a learning environment that includes everyone and sets everyone up for success. They can use these painted papers later for other projects, promoting a sense of continuity and purpose in their work.

Why It’s Exciting: Usually, it is a no-no to put paint out on the first day of art.  It can be risky with young ones.  However, the reward is happy students who will listen well because it is the first day.  Because the kids are invested in the activity, you can teach procedures during the painting process. By kid standards, painting is more fun than just a pencil drawing.

Concluding the 12 Promising Interactive Activities to Kickstart the Year:

These 12 Promising Interactive Art Activities To Kickstart The School Year helps break the ice. But also set the stage for a dynamic and creative school year. Engaging students from the start encourages personal expression and cultivates a classroom environment where creativity thrives. The goal is to teach art and inspire a lifelong love for creativity and exploration. And the best way to do that is to start day one with activities that build relationships and engagement. Have a great start to your school year.