Students learn about art while improving their hand-eye coordination and logic skills in this puzzle-making activity suggested by Kinder Art. The project requires 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch card stock, a black magic marker, markers of other colors and scissors. Introduce the students to the idea of cold and warm colors. Fold the card stock into four strips vertically, then horizontally. Show students how to draw along the creases to draw the outlines of interlocking puzzle pieces. Have students color the pieces different warm and cold colors. Photocopy each puzzle in color to make a guide for students to use when they assemble their puzzles. Supervise the students as they cut out the pieces of the puzzles.
The Incredible Art Department suggests a simple activity with shaving cream to introduce the idea of secondary colors. Explain to students what happens when each of the primary colors mixes with another primary color. Provide each student with a small mound of shaving cream and with dry tempra paint in the three primary colors. Have the students mix the primary colors, using the shaving cream. Begin a class discussion concerning the colors that result from their mixtures.
Have students create a trash collage in conjunction with poetry and end with a discussion on trash and recycling in this activity suggested by the Incredible Art Department. Begin by reading Shel Silverstein's "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out." Either provide pre-drawn templates of a trash can or have students draw their own. Have them search through magazines to find nonsensical items that might end up in the trash, in the style of the poem. Have the students glue the trash can picture to the bottom of a sheet of construction paper and build their trash mound of silly items over it. Use this activity to discuss with students which items are trash and which are recyclable.
Students combine learning about music and other cultures with art in this activity suggested by Kinder Art. Discuss various kinds of drums and their cultural and musical roles with children. Give them pictures to study. Have the students draw or paint on construction paper as desired. The students will cover empty coffee cans with lids in construction paper. Encourage them to add beads, feathers, glitter or other decorative materials to the outsides of their drums.