The first week of art is the perfect opportunity to introduce creativity, build classroom routines, and help students begin thinking like artists. Instead of focusing only on rules and procedures, invite kids to observe famous artwork, experiment with the 7 Elements of Art, and create projects they are proud to display.
This first week of art guide includes five easy activities featuring well-known artists. Each project introduces an important art concept and links to a complete tutorial with printable templates and step-by-step instructions.
💡 Free Download: Grab the First Week of Art Starter Guide below! You’ll get a 5-day famous artist plan, a complete Kandinsky art activity with printable pages, and extra reflection and “meet the artist” sheets for your classroom.
First Week of Art Plan
These five projects introduce famous artists while focusing on one or more of the 7 Elements of Art. Each activity can be completed on its own or used as part of your first week of school plans.
Grades – Best For: K–2, 3–5
Easy to adapt for a variety of ages! Younger artists can focus on exploring materials and creating with simple shapes, while older students can discuss the featured artwork, identify the elements of art, and add more creative details to their designs.
Art Focus: Collage | Famous Artists | Elements of Art | Mixed Media
This activity combines art appreciation with hands-on creating, introducing students to a famous artist while exploring one of the building blocks of art through collage.
What Kids Learn
Through this project, students discover how artists use the elements of shape, line, color, pattern, and space to create expressive artwork while developing observation and creative thinking skills.
Kids will:
- Learn about artist Paul Klee and his artistic style.
- Explore several of the 7 Elements of Art.
- Identify geometric and organic shapes in a famous painting.
- Practice cutting, arranging, and gluing paper shapes.
- Build confidence by creating their own interpretation of a well-known artwork.
👉 Continue exploring with our 7 Elements of Art, Famous Artists for Kids, and Printable Art Projects collections for even more creative inspiration.
Day 1: Explore Line with Piet Mondrian
Introduce students to Piet Mondrian and the element of line.
Look closely at one of Mondrian’s paintings. What kinds of lines do students notice? How do the black lines divide the artwork into different spaces?
Then create a Mondrian-inspired artwork using bold black lines and primary colors. This simple project is an excellent introduction to abstract art while helping students recognize vertical, horizontal, and intersecting lines.
👉 Continue to the full Mondrian activity.
Day 2: Discover Shape with Paul Klee
Introduce students to Paul Klee by exploring his famous painting Cat and Bird.
Talk about how Klee combined simple geometric and organic shapes to create an expressive portrait. Students can then create their own colorful collage while learning about the element of shape.
This activity encourages observation, creativity, and imaginative thinking.
👉 Continue to the full Paul Klee activity.
Day 3: Experiment with Color with Wassily Kandinsky
Show students one of Kandinsky’s famous circle paintings and discuss how artists use color to create mood and interest. Then create colorful concentric circles while experimenting with warm colors, cool colors, or repeating color patterns.
This activity is a wonderful introduction to the element of color.
👉 Activity included in the First Week Art Guide (below).
Day 4: Create Bold Patterns with Romero Britto
Romero Britto combines bold outlines, bright colors, and playful patterns to create cheerful artwork. Students decorate a simple design using repeating patterns while reinforcing line, color, and pattern.
This project encourages creativity while introducing students to contemporary art.
👉 Continue to the full Romero Britto activity.
Day 5: Explore Space with Henri Matisse
Introduce students to Henri Matisse and his famous paper cut-outs. Students arrange colorful paper shapes to create a simple collage while exploring how artists organize shapes to fill space in interesting ways.
This project encourages experimentation with composition and creative design.
👉 Continue to the full Matisse activity.
Download Your First Week of Art Guide
Make planning your first week of school easy with our free printable art guide.
Inside you’ll find:
- Five featured artists
- Daily project overviews
- Artist observation sheet
- Creative line challenge
- All About Me self-portrait page
- 7 Elements of Art reference
It’s an easy way to introduce famous artists, artistic vocabulary, and creative thinking from the very first day of art class.
More Art Resources
Continue exploring with these popular collections:
- 7 Elements of Art
- Famous Artists for Kids
- Printable Art Projects
- Process Art Activities
- Drawing Ideas for Kids
Looking for ready-to-use lessons? Our Complete First Week of Art Starter Pack and Print & Go Famous Artists Bundle includes artist biographies, discussion prompts, vocabulary, printable activities, and hands-on projects featuring more than 25 famous artists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you teach during the first week of art? The first week is a great time to introduce classroom routines while helping students explore creativity. Simple projects based on famous artists or the 7 Elements of Art build confidence and encourage discussion without overwhelming students.
Which famous artists are best for the first week of school? Artists with bold, recognizable styles work especially well. Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Romero Britto, and Henri Matisse all create engaging introductions to line, shape, color, pattern, and composition.
What are the 7 Elements of Art? The 7 Elements of Art are line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space. These are the basic building blocks artists use to create artwork and are an excellent foundation for elementary art lessons.
How long should first week art projects take? Aim for activities that can be completed in about 20–40 minutes. Shorter projects leave time to introduce classroom expectations, discuss artwork, and allow students to share their creations.
Looking for more ways to explore ART?
Explore our Art Project Bundle; it’s filled with hands-on art activities inspired by well-known artists. Plus, you’ll find extras for collage, mixed media, printmaking, watercolor, and the 7 Elements!
