Place a large variety of art materials in an art center and allow young children to create any type of project they choose. Include painting materials, such as easels and watercolors or finger paint. Place other craft materials, such as clay, glitter and stickers, along with various sizes of paper, in the center. Encourage the students to explore all the materials, or use their favorite, and create a project of their choosing. Praise each child's creative art attempts and display the art pieces throughout your classroom.
Provide students with a plain sheet of construction paper, markers, glue and glitter. Ask them to design a card for someone they care about. The card might thank a friend for a gift or provide a get-well sentiment to a sick family member. Allow the children creative freedom when designing the card and encourage them to use a variety of materials and mediums to complete the project.
Cut large sheets of butcher paper and give them to the students. Set out a variety of stamps, both purchased and homemade. Create your own stamp by cutting a potato in half and using a knife to carve a design on the flat end of the cut potato. Give the students various inks or washable paints and ask them to create their own gift wrap for any occasion. Allow the children to take the gift wrap home or wrap a gift made in class using the paper.
Provide the students with a blank sheet of construction paper and paints, markers, crayons or colored pencils. Ask them to illustrate their "life dream" using the materials provided. They might paint what they want to be when they grow up or what they wish to accomplish in their lifetime. Young children's art may be abstract, so ask the children to describe their dream and write it somewhere on their completed drawing. Display these art pieces in your classroom on a bulletin board titled "Our Life Dreams."