Reinforce shape recognition with this house-themed art project. Provide students with templates of a large and small square, a small rectangle and a large triangle. Instruct them to trace each template onto a piece of construction paper and to trace the small square twice. After tracing them, instruct students to cut out the images. Have them assemble the shapes together to form the shape of a house; the large square serves as the base for the house, the rectangle is the door, the two small squares are the windows and the triangle is the roof.
With this art project, students create paintings of their own homes. Set out artist paper, different colors of tempera paint and paintbrushes. Encourage children to use the paints to create a replica of their own houses. After painting their houses, invite children to share their creations and ask them what their favorite features of their homes are. Discuss the similarities and differences between the paintings. Display the paintings around the classroom to instill a sense of pride in your students.
Have your students create house ornaments out of craft sticks. Provide children with six craft sticks and instruct them to glue four of the craft sticks onto a piece of paper in the shape of a square, forming the base of a house; have them glue the two remaining craft sticks to the top of the square, forming a triangular-shaped roof. After gluing their sticks to the paper, instruct children to cut off the paper around their houses. Encourage them to use crayons or markers to decorate the paper inside the house shape to look like the front or the inside of a house. Tie a piece of yarn into a loop and glue the loop to the top of the house. Use the loop to display the completed house ornament.
You may inspire your students to become architects with this art project. Set out a variety of containers, such as empty tissue boxes, empty oatmeal canisters, cereal boxes and shoe boxes. Provide children with scissors, tape, glue, crayons, construction paper and any other type of craft material you think is appropriate. Encourage your students to use their creativity and the art materials to assemble the containers into houses. After they've created their houses, invite them to share what they have built.