Cassie Stephens

Favorite Art Lessons Featuring Vincent van Gogh!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:19:00 +0000

Hello, friends!

I'm not sure where you are in your school year...but I hope it's going fabulously! I know here, teachers just wrapped up their spring break and are quite possibly starting the countdown to summer. Is it too soon? I say NEVER!

I know some of y'all are like "spring break?! It's still snowing here!" and, yeah. Same. Well, it was 80 over the weekend and then we did get sleet and 30 degree temps here in Tennessee. But...this is just how we do spring in TN; we like to keep everyone dressing for all seasons!

Regardless, I put together a blog post today featuring art lessons based on Vincent van Gogh. Did you know that March is his birthday month?! Yep! And, in honor, I am also doing readings from my book Find Your Way! I'm posting it to my YouTube in case you wish to share it with your students. Have them vote and then be sure and visit daily (or as close to daily as I can get) for the adventure to continue!

In my art room, I would read this book while my 2nd through 4th graders worked and...it worked WONDERS. I always seemed to struggle with my older students after spring break...the sun is out, the summer vibes are approaching and the kids (and me!) are itching for a break. BUT it's the stretch to the end! We are usually doing weaving and clay at that time so I still need 'em to focus and create. Reading while they worked helped with that TREMENDOUSLY. While I was at NAEA a couple of weeks ago, I meant so many art teachers who said they were skeptical at first and now...they can't imagine their class without Find Your Way. Trust me, I think you and your artists will love it.

And now, let's talk lessons! Kicking things off first with my latest discovery: you can fill those bingo daubers with tempera paint for a variety of paint markers! I'll walk you through how as well as where to get your empty bingo daubers here.

Are you in the mood for clay? We used Vincent's sunflowers as our inspiration for these clay florals. You can use kiln fire clay OR...these were made with salt dough clay! I'll share with you how I create that clay and more lesson details here.

For details on how to make them out of kiln fire clay, visit here!

For even more sunflowers, check out this lesson! This project was created with Payons...have y'all ever used those? They draw on the paper like a crayon but react like watercolor when water is added. The colors are super vibrant. However, in a pinch, markers could also be used in this same way. For details and product info, visit this lesson!

If you are looking for a lesson that is ALWAYS a kid-favorite, then you gotta check out this James Rizzi meets van Gogh lesson! I have a lesson video here as well as some totally free downloads!

Find the free downloads here! I keep mine in plastic sleeves, one visual on each side, so that students don't get em too dirty when creating. They LOVE creating the funny faces on the buildings. Can you blame them?!

My second graders had a fun time looking at van Gogh's cherry blossom trees before creating their own. We used huge sheets of tag board for this one...but even construction paper would work. I know...this time of year, it's 'we use what we have left' time! Lesson details here.

Ready for another artist mashup?! Then check out this Charly Harper meets van Gogh lesson!

Looking for an art show-show stopper?! Here's a HUGE collaborative lesson I did with my second graders one year!

One lesson I ALWAYS did, year after year, was this van Gogh sky/super hero lesson! My students loved drawing themselves as superheroes!

Of course, the kids can't have all the fun! Why not create some earrings or buttons to wear as you teach about van Gogh?! Here's how!

Looking for even more van Gogh lessons?! I have some here!

Not sure how to go about reading a book like this while students are working?! No worries, I have my tips and tricks for making it happen right here!

AND if you want to keep the art adventure going, check out my book here...and stay tuned to my YouTube channel!

Let's Paint with Watercolor: Folk Art Flowers!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:54:00 +0000

Hey there, friends! I'm excited to share a new lesson with ya! I partnered with my friends at Prang to create a project using their new line of watercolor: The Color Wheel Watercolor set!

Prang has been working for a long time to perfect this set and you can try it out now! Especially if you happen to be at NAEA next week...Prang will be hosting a "Build Your Own Palette" Party where you can craft your very own watercolor paint tray to take home.

And I'll be there too!

I'll have my books with me that I'll be signing and selling BUT you don't have to buy a book to drop by! I'd love to see you, snap photos and chat! So be sure and visit if you are attending. I can't wait to see you!

And if you need a lesson while you are at NAEA then this one just might work! If you are up for letting your students use watercolor while you are away. I don't know if I would be that brave UNLESS I knew my sub and my students REALLY knew my expectations. OR...

You could start the painting portion this week before you leave and have the kids create the flowers while you are away. Regardless, here's the video:

And here's a free download just for you and your artists!

I don't know if you can tell based on the last two lessons I've shared here but I'm currently ADDICTED to doing this wet on wet technique!

Check out my lesson on organic shapes here.

And my lesson on geometric shapes here!

Also!! This lesson could be used to create planets for a fun space themed project!

Or a marble still life (check out one of my lessons on that here!)

Regardless, I hope you have fun! And if you can't make it to NAEA but still want to check out my books...I sign ALL of them before popping them in the mail! You can see them here.

Let's Learn Shapes: Funny Face Geometric Shapes!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:14:00 +0000

Recently, I shared a lesson on organic shapes. Today I thought I'd share one on geometric shapes!

Both lessons are inspired by my book Alfred the Ape Knows his Shapes. You can check it out here!

And before I forget...I did create a BIG post of my top 12 favorite lessons on shape! You can check out all of those lessons here.

Back to the lesson at hand! In this one, students will use watercolor paint and a wet-on-wet technique to create their jumble of geometric shapes! For my favorite watercolor supplies, you can visit here. Here's the video lesson:

This lesson pairs perfectly with my previous one on organic shapes so they are fun to do together. And they are quick lessons, so no need for a lotta days set aside for this!

Transparency film is totally not necessary BUT...I have found that kids love to draw on the slick surface of a dry erase board. With that in mind, I thought of my stash of transparency film when it came to these projects. If you ask around at school, there is usually a ton under a pile of dust somewhere in the librarian's closet! Or you can pick it up here.

OR students could simply draw directly onto their paintings!

This shape sheet can be found in the back of my book!

OR you could just totally leave 'em like this! I love the look of these with the watercolor dots!

Regardless, I do hope you and your amazing artists have fun!

Let's Learn Shapes: Organic Shape Exploration

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:34:00 +0000

Hey, y'all! I'm coming to you this week with two new fun lessons with a focus on SHAPE! I'm super stoked about these and how they tie in with my book Alfred the Ape Knows His Shapes. Now, you don't need my book for the lesson as I share some images from the book in the video but...it would really suppliment the lesson for sure!

For this project, you'll need the following supplies:

* Paper cut to 8.5" X 11"; I like to use 80 lbs mixed media paper

* Watercolor paint; I'm using Prang's new Color Wheel Palette!

* Cup of water (I love these no-spill cups!)

* Paintbrushes

* Transparency Film (not necessary but fun to draw on!)

* Permanent markers

The focus of this lesson (and the one I'll be sharing in the next couple of days) is SHAPE. In particular, the difference between ORGANIC and GEOMETRIC shapes. In this lesson, the artists will be creating an organic shape painting while learning a fun watercolor technique called Wet-On-Wet.

By the way, my book explores ALL things shape! I wrote it because...while there are a lot of books on shapes they seem to focus namely on teaching the names of shapes. Often, they seem geared to ward a very young audience. I wrote this book with the second grade curriculum in mind and all of the knowlege that children that age should know. To take a look inside my book, watch the video or...visit here!

I was recently sharing with some art teachers during a virtual PD (did you know that I host those? Yep! You can always contact me at cassieart75@gmail.com to learn more!) and we were talking about 'early finishers'. For this lesson, students who finish painting early can always...create another painting! I like to offer smaller papers for my early finishers. This saves paper and, if students are given a smaller brush, they are also forced to WORK smaller!

Often, I'll ask my early finishers to be 'art helpers' and ask their friends "do you want some help?" before assisting them on their work. Some students love the help of their friends while others prefer to work independently. It's important that students have that choice.

Just a couple of thoughts on those early finisher friends!

Going on a SHAPE walk, especially outside, can be fun when introducing organic and geometric shapes. Or! Just press pause on my video and let the students see if they can identify the difference between the two.

Personally, I think the paintings without the lines are a lot of fun! My students LOVE the wet on wet watercolor technique. It's also great for teaching paintbrush control.

Of course, a great book for that would be....The Paintbrush Ballerina!

Don't forget I have a TON of free downloads that go perfectly with this book!

Not sure about using watercolor paint with your students or looking for some tips on how to improve your watercolor game? Then...check out this blog post! I cover it ALL!

Now no matter what the thickness of paper, unless you are using watercolor paper (and who has the budget for that?!), it's gonna wrinkle. This is why I keep a thrift store iron in my art room to stack and flatten the artwork. Just a hot tip of ya, in case you too are a little wrinkly (I blame the children for each of my wrinkles).

Now, once the paintings are complete and dry, the kids could draw directly on their artwork OR...they could use transparency film.

I like the transparency film because the slick surface is super fun to draw on AND....if the kids draw something they don't like, you can 'erase' the lines with a dry erase marker! Just trace over the lines with the dry erase and wipe off with a tissue. Boom! It's gone!

WARNING! I made the error of not making my paper the same size as the transparency film...so don't make that mistake! Be sure and cut the paper to a 8.5" X 11" before letting the kids paint. Trust me! It will make things a whole lot easier.

Have fun and stay tuned for the GEOMETRIC shape lesson.

Oh! And!

Just a reminder that I'll be at NAEA next month, signing and selling my books. Hope to see you there!

25 of My Favorite Sub Plans for the Art Room!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:50:00 +0000

Hey, friends!

I'm so excited to be heading to Chicago in a couple of weeks for the National Art Educator's Association conference. Will you be there? It's March 4th - 8th and I'm stoked. Mostly I'm excited because I get to see YOU (hopefully!). I'll be with my friends at Prang in their booth on Thursday, March 5th and Friday, March 6th from 11am-2pm. I'll have a limited number of my books with me to sell and sign...but you don't have to buy a book to drop by. Prang is hosting a Build Your Own Palette party where you can create your own watercolor tray. So be sure and stop by...say hi and grab some swag!

While I LOVE going to NAEA, I hate the preparation for the event. Cleaning my art room, prepping supplies and...coming up with sub plans that I know will be a success for my sub and my students.

For that reason...I put together a HUGE blog post with all of my favorite sub plan lessons! All of these are totally free, many come with free downloads and videos for your sub to play. So! Just click on the link and visit the post for each of these plans. I've used them all in my art room with success so I know you will too!

First up, we have this Colorful Village sub plan that can be done any number of ways...so feel free to customize to what suits you, your supplies, your sub and your students! In this lesson, my students used neon oil pastels and watercolor paint.

Now, watercolor is NOT something I would have my sub use (unless I knew the sub and trusted they would have success) so...for the few days that you are gone, the students could work on this portion of the project: drawing 3-D houses and adding color. When you return, you'll have a project ready to jump right into...with watercolor!

An updated version of this lesson is one I did with markers! Instead of using oil pastels or watercolor paint, this lesson, which comes with a free download, makes for fewer supplies. This means less prep for you and your sub!

This lesson was always a wild hit with my students as they loved learning about the artist James Rizzi as well as created their own fun face buildings. This lesson calls for permanent markers and regular coloring markers...and that's it!

For this lesson, you can check out the video as well as the two free downloads here!

To see my students' creations, visit this post!

This fun lesson gets your artists creating drawings of their favorite art supplies! This lesson has two versions: one of the supplies with funny faces and personalities and another one a little more 'realistic'. Find the video lesson as well as free drawing downloads here.

Tis the season for selfies! Here's a fun self-portrait drawing lesson that is inspired by the artist Romero Britto. You can find the lesson video here!

My students love creating castles! This lesson also involves limited supplies which is perfect for a sub!

This lesson not only comes with a video lesson BUT...tons of free downloads! This lesson is perfect for 2nd grade and up! Check it out here.

My first graders drew themselves as scientists for years and they are ALWAYS the cutest drawings ever! You can check out the full lesson here.

To go along with that lesson, why not have your artists create these exploding beaker bottles?! I love these pop-up style drawing that transform...and so do the kids. Find the lesson here.

One year, I had a pirate themed art show and had my students draw themselves as pirates. It was easily one of their favorite activities! You can check out the drawing video here.

For some coloring sheets to go along with this lesson, check this post out!

To go along with the pirate selfies, here's a fun collage project you and your artists will enjoy!

How about drawing a pirate map?! I've got a video where I'll show your artists how to create their own. Find it here.

How about a superhero selfie?! Another art show theme that I did was a superhero one. To kick things off, why not have your artists create a superhero selfie?! Find the video lesson here.

This lesson can be tied with a book like The Dot (I always love having books for my sub to read that tie in with the lesson) and is a fun way to get students to really thing outside the box. I have a free download for this as well as a drawing video. Check all that out here.

How about having students create little selfies that can later be used to create a school-wide selfie collab! Check out the video lesson here.

Feeling a little more ambitious? These collages are so much fun for kids of all ages! Check out the video lesson here.

These collages inspired by contemporary artist Greg Mike always give me so much joy as they are so much fun for the kids to create and funny to put on display. Lesson video here!

A CLASSIC that I did year after year with my students is this pop-up star lesson. It's a great line review. It also involves a writing activity that is precious: the students write about what makes them a star. This is the perfect art show piece so if you are looking forward to that and need a sub plan...here ya go!

This is a lesson that I created for as a sub plan years ago...you can find the details here!

How about a little origami? Man...if you want kids to go bonkers, just teach them how to create these cute cats and dogs with a little drinking dish! All the video lesson details here.

How about this sweet origami lesson?! It's precious and the kids will love creating it. Video lesson here.

Let's create some positive word posters to bring cheer to the hallways? Check out this lesson to do just that!

Are these not the cutest little wizards ever?! Let me show your artists how to create them here!

Aren't these Wayne Thiebaud-inspired cakes just the coolest? Wanna have your artists create them while you are away at NAEA? Then just click here!

Alright, friends! There's 25 sub plans for ya, hopefully you'll find something here AND...I do hope to see you at the Prang booth at NAEA on Thursday and Friday 11-2pm! We'll chat, take selfies and create!

Line, Color, Shape Review: A Colorful Village Collage!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Hey, friends! I'm coming to you from a snowed and iced in middle Tennessee! I hope you are staying warm and cozy where you are. We lost power for several hours on Sunday but thankfully (due to the hard work of those linemen and county workers) we are back, baby! Just in time to share this new lesson with you: A Line and Shape City Collage Review!

For this lesson, I'm using the latest product I created with my friends over at Prang: The Dry Erase Spinner! A couple of years ago, I created my own spinners for my students to do a line review. I used cardboard and they worked fine...but what I really wanted was one that was long-lasting and I could change the theme of. So I chatted with my friends at Prang and they made it happen! You can check out how I used the original spinner in this LINE lesson here.

Now if this lesson looks familiar that's because it's an extention of one that I shared recently! It was a simple drawing lesson but I decided to elevate it. You can check out the orginal lesson here.

I always find that after the holidays is a fun time to do an Elements of Art review. That's why I incoorporated lines, shapes and color into the lesson. Here's a peak into my book on SHAPES!

And now...for the lesson video:

Did you know that I always post my videos to YouTube first? If you'd like to be alerted to when new videos are shared, you might want to subscribe!

Did I mention that this lesson comes with a free download? You can access it here!

If you prefer a typed up version of this lesson plan, Prang always shares 'em! You can find it here.

AND if you'd like to take a closer look at my book on SHAPES, check it out here!

For my book on LINES, you can check it out here!

20 Valentine's Day Themed Lessons!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:06:00 +0000

Howdy, friends! I put together a blog post full of my very favorite Valentine's-y lessons just for you. These are perfect project for any time of the year but with Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I thought they'd be perfect.

However, if you are looking for winter-themed lessons, I packed a ton of them into this post here!

First up, printmaking! This is a lesson that the kids love...and I think one year I may have gotten a wild hair and done this printmaking project with first grade. They can do it...but it's a little easier with second graders.

Complete lesson details here!

Okay, now this project, believe it or not, I did with KINDERGARTEN! Yes, I swear! BUT then all of my classes saw these giant hearts and they asked to do it too. I'm a sucker for doing lessons with all of my classes if they work. The problem with that is...then the lesson has to be shelved for a couple of years to cycle through the students. Oh well! This one is wildly fun and, tap this link, a video lesson is provided.

My firsties LOVED creating these critters! I got a wild idea to have each class create a different animal and I made a how-to video for each. You can check out the videos and details here!

Aren't they so cute!?

Looking for a fun sculpture project? My fourth graders created these with tagboard and plaster strips.

You can check out the details here, video tutorial included. For a follow up, check out this blog post.

I created this lesson for my fourth graders who happened to be early finishers for the sculpture lesson. However, it also would work as a sketch for the sculpture too! Details here.

A project that my third graders loved was this one! We used our tempera sticks, tempera paint and...PUFFY PAINT. This is the one time the kids could go nutty with the puffy paint and the results were so fun! Lesson and video here.

This lesson, inspired by the artist Chris Uphues, has long been a favorite with art teachers and artists alike! I have this lesson and a free download that can be found here.

Want to make it into game?! Free download lesson here!

The lesson for this optical illusion can be found here. Doing these is always a hit with my third grade and up!

Need a fast one day lesson? Then I think you'll love this one!

Looking for a clay alternative? My second graders created these with aluminum foil and celluclay! Celluclay is an air dry clay that I love. You can check out how I prepared it for my students and lesson details here.

If you are looking to elevate the lesson a little with some plaster to add wings, which is surprisingly easy to do!, then check out this post!

I had always wanted to do this lesson but struggled with it until I figured out a solution! I have all the details on how to create these sweet beauties with your students here.

If you are looking for a fun clay project then look no further than here!

Every year, I do a paper weaving lesson with my first graders. This one is perfect as it ties in with positive and negative shapes! We use the negative shape to act as a frame for our weavings. Lesson details here.

Another first grade lesson is this one...we made these on HUGE pieces of tagboard and they were a show stopper in the the hallways. Check out how we created these with bleeding tissue paper here.

Looking for a lesson that introduces students to artists who also love LOVE?! In this one, my fourth graders learned about four different artists who use the theme of love in their artwork and then they created their own! Details here.

By the way, start saving those boxes of candy hearts! Turns out the plastic packaging that holds the chocolate makes for great molds! My third graders used the molds to create their own plaster chocolate. Details here.

Thinking now would be a good time to do a school wide collaborative project? I couldn't agree more! I have the details on how we created this big beautiful beast here.

Or how about this collaborative? My students created this one WITH A SUB while I was on jury duty. It helps to have videos, I tell ya! Find the lesson here.

It's that time of the year when the messy mats are looking more like art than anything else...so why not put them to use!? You can see how my first graders did that here!

Thinking of introducing kindergarten to printmaking?! WHY NOT? I'll show ya how we did it here.

And look what we created with their printing plates!

And if you are looking for the perfect book to teach about shapes, since we are focused on hearts around here, might I recommend this one! I packed in to much from organic to geometric shapes, the names of shapes, what defines a shape and how to count sides and verticies and SO MUCH MORE! You and your artists will love it!

Have fun, friends! I'll be back with more brand new lessons super soon!

20 Winter Themed Art Lessons!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:20:00 +0000

Hey there, friends! It's that time of year where the days might be cold and a little gloomy but the art room can be a bright and colorful place...especially with these projects!

I thought I'd round up some of my very favorite winter art lessons that are (totally free!) kid tested and approved and share them with you. You are welcome to use them in your art making world (although I do not grant my permission for any of these lessons to be repackaged and sold on Teachers Pay Teachers). Nearly all of these lessons come with a video for you and your artists and some come with free downloadable drawing sheets. So be sure and follow the link to the blog post.

Without any further chattin', let's dive in!

Kicking things off with this lesson of wintery penguins from my first grade artists!

This is the perfect Back to School after winter break lesson as it focuses on a review of LINE and PAINTBRUSH CONTROL. Of course, to kick things off for that, you might find my books Larry the Line and The Paintbrush Ballerina very handy!

Both books are rhyming books which make them super fun to read. Larry the Line will introduce your artists to the names of lines and ways to remember them and there is a free line guide to be shared with students in the back. The Paintbrush Ballerina has a strong focus on how to use, handle and care for a paintbrush. I created a ton of free downloads to accompany that book and you can find them here and here!

Once line and brush practice is complete, early finishers practice their penguin drawing on dry erase boards. The following glass, we dive into large paper and draw with our beloved bingo dauber! If you have not used them yet in your art room, here's more details!

Chalk was used (sparingly!) to add a little shadow and color to these cuties! From there, we cut them out and added them to the spiral line painted backgrounds.

Now this kindergarten snowman lesson was very similar in the lesson format! We reviewed lines and painting and created the background. We practiced drawing snowmen and then created our own with an ink filled bingo dauber. Then we cut then out and attached to the background!

If you are short on time or are uncertain if your kindergarteners won't accidently decapitate their snowman in the cutting out process (it happens) then you could...simply have students decorate the background! This early finisher made a second snowman and just added spots of color for snow. So do what works! Save your sanity!

If you do have some early finishers who are looking to practice their snowman drawing skills then I might have a fun game for y'all! This one is FREE WITH DOWNLOADS and I promise your students will love it. This works for all early finishers so be sure and have it on hand for your artists as they work.

Looking for a little something that would serve as an in-between project? Maybe a short lesson that is sure to yield big results? This winter pup and kitten lesson was a kid favorite! Each one was so cute and the artists just follow along drawing with me in the video! Check it out here.

After winter break is usually when I start hyping myself up for upcoming clay projects! I definitely don't do those right after a break...I like to ease back into a routine. So to get the kids excited about clay and the annual Clay Mug Lesson, we create these big ole hot chocolate paintings! Of course, we use our ink-filled dauber. For color, I love to use neon oil pastels and liquid watercolor.

Looking for a quick collage lesson? This one is perfect! And we created them in a smaller format (I think it was 6-8" squares?) so we were able to use up paper from the scrap bin. This is a great lesson to remind students on how to use their scissors and glue too! Need a book about that? I might be able to help...

I wrote Scissors, Glue and YOU! to help all artists learn to use this supplies without waste or, worse, injury! It's another fun rhyming book that features Larry (from Larry the Line) and Alfred! Kids love to see these two in art class. You can check it out here.

Speaking of collage...here's one I do with kindergarten every year!

If you do decide to venture into the clay mug lesson, I've got ALL of my tips and tricks for you! I did this with my whole school for several years and they LOVED it. It was an outrageous hit and I think I figured out the best way to go about teaching it. You can check out all the details here!

A lesson that I love to do each year with my third grade artists is this one! We used to create these pieces on cardboard pizza rounds until I convinced my friends over at Prang to create ROUND PAPER! You can now buy it here.

Speaking of round paper...that brings me to all of the snow globe lessons I've created! Turns out...I've made a lot! This lesson was designed for my fourth grade students. They loved getting detailed with all of the buildings for their snow gloves! Lesson here.

Because we explored MANY concepts in this lesson, it was a long one! So for some shorter snow globe projects...

Let's start here! This one is also great for a sub because I have a free video as well as two free downloads to go with this lesson!

With these two free downloads, your students can also create the following snow globe lessons:

This marker print snow globe project!

And this floating chalk print snow globe!

Okay, question: are Gingerbread or Candy Houses JUST for the holidays?! If your answer is no then add THIS fun lesson to the mix!

Did I mention that there's a free download?!

I don't know about you, but I love to sneak in a short lesson after a long one! So...if your students have just wrapped up a big project, they may enjoy this two day art project for kids of all ages!

Learning to draw 3-D is always a hit with the kids!

Just when you thought this blog post was done...I have more! Here's a rapid fire of all the other winter themed lessons I have for you for free!

This selfie with printmaking thrown into the mix. My second graders loved this one!

I know chalk can be a bit of a mess and that's a big reason so many of us steer clear but...would you look at these beauties by my fourth grade? Lesson details here!

Looking to get those kids out of their seats and work on a large scale project together? Then you might want to check out the details of these big and beautiful beast!

Making snowflakes is always fun but have you ever tried EMBOSSED snowflakes?! You can check out how we did these here!

AND for those of you that are feeling ambitious, why not try tree weaving on for size?! You can see the details here!

Still want more?! Then...visit this blog post and this one! Have a great week, friends!

Let's Draw Wonky Winter Houses!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:11:00 +0000

Happy New Year, friends!

If you are heading back next week and looking for a lesson that the kids will love, have I got one for you! I did a variation of this lesson years ago and my students, first through fourth, LOVED it! You can see the different spin I put on that lesson here. There's a video for that particular lesson and you can find it on that blog post.

If you are like me, when I come back from a break, I feel completely out of sorts. Supplies are scattered, nothing is where I remember it to be...and I'm just trying to get used to getting up at a 'normal' hour. So! For this updated spin, I decided to ONLY use permanent markers and markers, water and a paint brush. Not only that but...I shrunk the paper! That way, this is an abreviated lesson that will help you regain your sea legs so you are ready to dive into the new year...but maybe in a week or two ;)

By the way, in this lesson, I'm using my Prang markers which ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Seriously. I've not turned back since I started using them. The colors are SO juicy and perfect for this kind of spin on painting with markers. You can check them out here.

Did I mention that I have a free download for you and your artists?! Yep! My students loved this download! I never made it available before...but had many requests so...ask and you shall receive! Here it is!

I hope y'all have fun and have a wonderful start to your new year!

AND...if you are looking for some new methods for starting your new school year, my book Art Teacherin' 101 is full of them!

Have a great rest of your break, friends!

How to Draw (and Paint!) Gingerbread Houses!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:45:00 +0000

Hi, friends!

Coming to you with a new, fun and wintery lesson just in time for the holidays. Here's a How to Draw (and Paint!) Gingerbread lesson that you and your artists will love. Added bonus: this one comes with a FREE download! Just check it out below. But first, the video:

Because I know you may be short on time (and attentio span), I thought it would be fun to do this lesson a copule of different ways. One, why not make 'em little? By folding a square of paper in quarters, you end up with four little squares for practice drawing your houses. When finished, I used watercolor pencils (my new fave!) for a quick painting project.

This idea sheet will break down the steps easily! So you and your artists can either follow along with me as I draw in my video OR...they can simply use the drawing sheet! You can find it for free here!

Now, I've not played around with these watercolor pencils from Prang very much until recently. I was VERY suprised how bright and colorful the colors were once paint was added. I did like that the set of 10 pencils came with a paintbrush too. It was the perfect size for this activity! AND...I was even able to add color and paint to the popsicle stick frames!

I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!

If you are still hunting around for the perfect Christmas gift, I have some super fun books that you and yours may enjoy! I've been packing the up and getting them out as the orders come in so they make it in time for the holidays. Now's the time! Here's a link to my books.

Stay cozy, friends!

Five Fast, Fun and EASY Lessons to do Before Break!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:52:00 +0000

Well, y'all, it's time. Time for a BREAK! And time to take it easy with some fun lessons that not only will the kids LOVE but also mean low prep/stress for you. So here are my Five Fast, Fun and EASY lessons for before Christmas break!

Okay, for this first one, I've got two TOTALLY FREE downloads and a video for you and your artists! You can find the downloads and video here.

These lessons are for you and your artists. You do not have my persmission to create, repackage or sell them on Teachers Pay Teachers (yes, I have to say this because yes, people do that). I share because I love y'all and I want the best for you and your artists. It makes me sad when folks take advantage of that to make a quick buck.

I did THREE variaions of this snow globe lesson because I just loved it so much! For this next one, you'll need a basin of water (I use a plastic container) and some chalk for FLOATING CHALK SNOW GLOBES!

I promise the kids will love this one!

Got just a little time to spare? I promise you, all of your students will love some Snow Man Bingo! This is another totally free download! You can find it right here!

This drawing activity is one that my students really loved. We learned to draw cute winter pups and kittens by following my video! You can check it out here.

Have you ever tried MARKER PRINTS?! This one is also a huge hit! I've got all the details and a video demo here.

By the way...if you are still shopping the artist, art teacher or favorite creative in your life, you might want to place your order for any of my books now. This will (fingers crossed) hopefully get them here in time for the holidays! I would say to order no later than this week!

My books can be found here. Have a great week, y'all!

Creating a Give Thanks Painting!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:34:00 +0000

Hey, friends!

If you are looking for a fun painting project that encourages artists to consider the idea of giving thanks, then have I got one for you! I created this lesson for my friends at Prang and I used some specific supplies BUT this lesson can easily be adapted to what you have on hand. So, let's talk about it! For this lesson, I used:

* Prang's 9" X 12" canvas boards that come in a pack of 3 BUT 9" X 12" white paper would work as well! I prefer Mixed Media paper as it is thicker and can hold the paint.

* Tempera paint is what I'm using in the video. Acrylic paint also works well on canvas although I would not recommend it for use with children. It stains clothing and dries quickly. If you plan to do this project on paper, then tempera paint, tempera cakes and watercolor would work well. If you'd like some tips and tricks on using tempera paint with children, check out this video here. And my recommended supplies for painting with children can be found here.

* Ink-filled bingo daubers are legit my fave thing in the art room. You can buy daubers here. For more lessons using bingo daubers, I have tons here.

* Paintbrushes and a cup of water.

* Chalk for drawing. Select a light color like yellow, peach or light blue that can easily be erased with a tissue if need be.

Now, one thing I was not expecting was how long it took the ink to dry on the panel before I could start painting. Just a heads up that you'll want to make sure that the ink is totally dry before painting as it could smear.

However, if you are using the bingo dauber on paper, it will dry immediately. So you should be in good shape!

When I have done a similar lesson with students in the past, a few didn't understand the concept of making the letters stretch. The reason we do this is to create separate shapes that students can fill with color. You might want to make sure they have your stamp of approval before going over their chalk lines with ink.

Okay, here's the lesson:

Have fun!

Now, stay tuned. I have a couple of variations of this lesson coming soon. Until then!

Looking for a fun drawing sheet instead? Here you go!

And for another, look no further then here!

Woodland Creature Collage Lessons Inspired by Charley Harper!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:28:00 +0000

One of my favorite contemporary artists is Charley Harper. I love his retro style (well, it probably wasn't considered 'retro' at the time!), his flat design and his subject matter: creatures! A while back, I created two fun fall lessons for my second and third graders featuring Charley Harper. These are quick lessons that you should have time to create just before Thanksgiving break.

I love creating mashup lessons with a mixture of artists. Including a nod to Vincent van Gogh just seemed appropriate for this nocturnal bandit. Of course, you could read about Vincent while the kids create by using my book Find Your Way!

What better way to learn about an artist and their life then by...going on adventures with them!?

This lesson does include an intro to Charley Harper so your students can become familiar with his work. They had so much fun drawing their raccoons!

Supplies needed and more details can be found in this blog post!

Both of these lessons are guided drawing projects. For this lesson, you can read more here.

Both lessons use the same art supplies which makes prep SO much easier!

If you are low on time, you could always shorten the project by eliminating the collage portion and just draw and add color straight to the construction paper. Also, cutting down on the size of the paper might help too.

No matter what you and your artists decide to create, I know you'll love learning about Charley Harper and creating your own woodland creature collages!

4 Fun Lessons on Gratitude!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:24:00 +0000

Hey, friends!

I gathered together a handful of my favorite lessons for showing gratitude...always a fun thing to do ANY time of the year but especially terrific as we approach Thanksgiving.

So here you'll find a couple of lessons on creating faculty and staff portraits to surprise and thank those in your building, courtesy of your amazing artists!

For the other two lessons, I've got a daily doodle or a grati-doodle and a fun drawing activity that can be worked on by your early finishers. Did I mention I have a free download for you? Yep! Two, actually! So let's dive in!

First up, we have these modeling clay portraits! These were so much fun to create and made especially fancy with our Hobby Lobby metallic plates/frames!

Now, the ONLY thing that was tough...connecting the students to the staff. Many of the kids have favorite teachers...and those teachers tend to be mighty popular. So I had to come up with a system where it was fair and where all the teachers and staff were chosen. To learn how we did it, you can check out the process here.

Now the key for this: work small. On our first day, we covered our mat board with a solid color for the background and then began adding layers of clay for the face shape, neck and shoulders. I created a video to walk the artists through the process and you can find it here:

My students who finished early either helped their classmates OR...many of them wanted to make a self portrait! These were so fun.

We even wrote about the faculty and staff members before hanging them all up for the display. To check that out, you can visit here.

Now...I will say this: when we created these, we used modeling clay. Modeling clay never dries out, it always remains workable. That's not great for what we're going for here. Initially, I coated each piece with a hardening solution made by Crayola...that they no longer carry. So! Now, I would recommends something made by Mod Podge. They have a huge line of varnishes in a variety of finishes that would probably do the trick. The clay will ALWAYS be a little squishy. Just an FYI.

The lesson that inspired the clay portrait was this one! I had done a Gallery of Gratitude and it was a huge hit! It's much less prep and work...as you can see it involved the students drawing a portrait and writing up a statement about the person whose name the selected.

For details on this lesson, I've got it all right here.

Now if you are looking for some lessons that are a little less involved...you might be interested in these couple of FREE downloads! This one was created for my 3rd and 4th graders and can easily be used for a sub plan. So keep it in that sub tub, y'all!

If you are looking for a download that might be easier for your kindergarten through second grade students, I have that free download here!

And if you are looking for a continuing practice of gratitude by maybe doing a daily doodle (this is something fun just for you, if you like!), you can check out that process here.

Have a great week, friends!

4 Easy Ideas for {Surviving} Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:23:00 +0000

Hi, y'all!

With Halloween (thankfully!) falling on a Friday this year, I thought I'd share some make-n-take art lessons with you for the big day. One thing I learned REAL FAST as a teacher is that ya never want to bust out those beautiful projects the kids have been working for days on at a time like this. Instead, let 'em have at it with some quick lessons. So! I'm sharing some of my faves with ya today!

Let's start with this Mixed Media How to Draw Silly Pumpkins lesson! You can find my draw along video here!

Got some construction paper, glue and scissors? Then this lesson is a fun one that always yields the cutest Frankensteins! Check out this lesson video here.

Why not just let 'em draw?! I have this totally free download and a quick video that you can check out here.

Now one of my fave things to do was to set up CENTERS on Halloween (and any major holiday when I knew the kids were gonna be 'touched'...and not by an angel!). You can see how I do that right here!

Here's to survivin' and thrivin' this week, friends! You can do it!

Let's Draw Sunflowers (and 3 Bonus Sunflower Projects!)

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 19:01:00 +0000

Hey, friends! I'm coming to you with my second sunflower themed lesson because, well, they are just so perfect for this time of year!

Recently, I shared a sunflower printing collage project here that I know you'll love:

This lesson is also perfect for a line and shape review as well as an introduction to collage!

Making your own sunflowers is also super fun! I have done projects like this with my students with kiln fired clay...but this one was done with salt dough clay. Recipe and details here!

If you are looking for a fun printing sunflower lesson with a nod to Warhol, you may want to check this lesson out!

Speaking of artist inspiration, this one was clearly inspired by Vincent van Gogh! To watch the full drawing video, just go here:

Now, more on Payons and how I use them in a moment! I have lots to say about this art supply from Prang. But first...

Did you know that Vincent is one of the seven artists featured in my decide-your-direction art adventure titled Find Your Way? There are seven world famous artists for you to go on adventures with!

I wrote this book for my students...as they worked, they loved to be read to. But I always struggled to find the perfect art history book for them. So...I wrote one! My book also includes art activities and biographies of the seven artists featured. To read snippets, find out more and get a copy, visit here.

Oh! Did I mention that I created over 80 illustrations to bring the book to life?! Yeah...this was a huge project and one that I know you and your artists will love. To learn more about how I read chapter books in my art room, visit here!

I also included actual quotes from the artists...that's what you see here in bold print. The other artists featured are: Hokusai, Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet, Augusta Savage, Leonardo da Vinci and Salvador Dali!

What better way to create artwork inspired by Vincent van Gogh than while hearing all about him in art class!?

Okay, now let's talk art supplies...

For this lesson, I am using Prang's Payons which are water soluable or watercolor CRAYONS! I had never played with them much before until the last couple years and I love them! They go on just like a crayon BUT...with the addition of water, the colors transform into watercolor. The colors are super vibrant and fun.

However...if you don't have those on hand or they are not in your budget, you can do THE SAME THING with Prang's markers! I used ton only buy a certain brand of markers (ahem, I think you know the ones I mean) until I discovered that they seemed to dry out quickly and just seemed like they didn't last as long. When I got my hands on Prang's markers, I was suprised: they are juicy and bright...AND work perfect for a project like this where you just add water! If you aren't familiar with this method, you can see it in action in this lesson of mine here.

Anyway, have fun friends! I hope there's a sunflowery lesson here that you and your artists enjoy!

Sunflower Still Life Collage

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:15:00 +0000

Hey friends! Today I'm sharing with you a fun sunflower still life lesson that is the perfect review for lines and shapes...while introducting collage and monoprinting! This lesson is perfect for your 1st grade and up...and I'm going to share with you a bunch of alternative art supplies just in case you are on a cart or don't have the supplies I am using on hand. So, like many of my videos of late, I'll walk you through a 'teacher talk' at the start of the video to help you think through how you can best make this lesson work for you. Here you go:

Before we dive in, I do want to share...my book, Art Teacherin' 101, has been sold out for the last month. I'm happy to say that I now have it back in stock! If you have been waiting to get a copy or just want to find out more details on my book, you can find it here.

I'm so excited that my book has sold 10K copies! It's so amazing to think that I've been able to share with so many incredible art teachers. A big thanks if you have ordered a copy! And...just so you know...I sign all copies before packing them up. That's right...my books are packed and sold by yours truly. I'm an independent book publisher and seller. If you ever have any questions about that, feel free to reach out!

And now...back to the lesson:

To begin, I used my tempera paint filled bingo daubers! You can pick up your empty daubers here. And my preferred paint (and supplies) are here.

Knowing that not everyone has bingo daubers or the time to fill them, in the video, I share a couple of alternatives. Students could use tempera sticks to create their line papers or...they could paint the lines! So even if you are on a cart or short on supplies, I got you.

This lesson could be done on 9" X 12" paper as the final result or, my preference, 12" X 18" paper. I like the larger format only because it allowed more room for the bigger flower prints.

For the flower prints, I would recommend using a pizza pan. I got a class set at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each and use them ALL THE TIME. We print on them so much!

By the way, if you are new to using tempera paint with students and are looking for some pointers, I got you covered right here!

I would split this lesson into three days:

Day #1: Creating the line papers! Do a Line Review with my friend Larry the Line, of course!

Day #2: Flower Printing! You could include a shape review here! In the video, I talk about both organic and geometric shapes. Alfred the Ape Knows his Shapes would come in handy here!

Day #3: Collage it all together! On the final days of this lesson, it's time to create a collage! If students need a reminder on how to use their scissors and glue...well, I think I can help!

AND...if you are looking for a way to have a Calm and Focused art class, you may want to check out my tips here...and my book that kids LOVE to hear while they work...here!

Have a great week, friends!

Top 12 Art Lessons on SHAPE!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:28:00 +0000

For your older students, like 3rd and 4th grade, this lesson is a great way to not only review line and shape but also...color! This lesson is one that I do every year as a fundraiser. The results are always absolute show stoppers. HOWEVER...I no longer make black glue that I mention in this lesson. You can, of course, but it's a total pain! So...be sure and check out this hack on that here as well as my tips and tricks for using chalk in the art room.

Looking for a fun and colorful painting project to teach students about geometric and organic shapes? This one is so fun and the results are so happy! You can check out the full lesson (with video!) here.

No bingo daubers? No problem! Check out how we did this lesson with kindergarten before I had bingo daubers!

This Paul Klee/Mary Blair-inspired shape lesson was apart of a rotating stations that I did with my students. For my first thru fourth grade, my students rotated from station to station making a variety of shape-inspired art. These castles were one of the stations. The following art class, we added color and designs to these castles. You can check them out here!

Looking to dive into a little printing? This lesson is one I do with my kindergarten students but kids of all ages have enjoyed it! All you need are some foam stickers and a large foam shape for the background. I found these hearts at the dollar store but I've also used foam stars too! You can check out this lesson here.

Here is a little look at the printing plates created with stars in the background. This was apart of my shape making stations! Details on that here.

I also did a variation of this lesson with my older students as they learned about shape and radial symmetry! You can check out the lesson and video here.

After students are finished printing with their plates, the plates can be turned into some super cool metal art! You can check out that process here.

If you are interested in doing elements of art stations in your art room, I made a video to walk you and your students through the process. You can find it here.

During 2020, I did a series of videos on robots...that all feature the element of art of SHAPE. This first one is all about drawing robots and using shapes. You can find that video here.

Did I mention that there are several TOTALLY FREE downloads? Yep! Check them out here!

Collage is the perfect way to introduce students to shape! You can find the video lesson for this robot collage project here.

I always love doing collagraphs with my students. Start hoarding those cereal and snack boxes as that cardboard is thin and easy to cut. These can be created by doing crayon rubbings as I did here or you could use brayers and printing ink. Find the video lesson here.

You could also take it in a totally different direction by covering the collagraph with foil and doing marker prints! This type of printing is always one the kids love! Details here.

Looking for a fun LINE and SHAPE review that also ties in with this spooky time of the year? I have a lesson for you then! You can find the full lesson video and lesson details here.

Looking for a fun shape sculpture lesson? This is a fun way to not only use up some scrap paper but also...it's a nice follow up to my line sculpture project! You can find this lesson video here.

AND...if you are looking for the perfect book to share with your students as they explore shape...have I got it for you! Check it out here, friends, and have a great week!

Line and Shape Monster Collage!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Hi, y'all!

I recently created a lesson with my friends over at Prang using (my favorite!) their Tru-Ray construction paper and Prang's white school glue. You can find the lesson, with the step-by-step process here!

For a link to my favorite Tru-Ray paper and glue used in this lesson, check it out here.

To dive into the video, here ya go:

I hope you like it!

This lesson is perfect if you are wanting to do a line and shape review and create something a little fun and silly for the Halloween session.

I shared a variation of this lesson a couple years ago that is more line focused. It's the perfect lesson for pre-K and you can find it here.

Need some shape books for the lesson? You can find my book Alfred the Ape Knows his Shapes here.

And another fun book to read would be this one. It's always a hit with the kids!

I hope your artists have fun with this one!

Simple Shape Sculpture Lesson!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:18:00 +0000

One of my VERY favorite lessons of all time is teaching my kindergarteners how to make LINE sculptures. And we do this lesson on the very first day of art class!

Several years ago, I started doing these shape sculptures with my students when we were finished with our unit on LINE. And I realized...I never shared that lesson with you in video form!

So, I thought I'd create a new video for you and your artists in case you are ready to dive into the wonderful world of SHAPES!

Some troubleshooting for this lesson:

* You'll probably want to start with either a 12" square of paper or a sheet of 9" X 12" construction paper to create the cube.

* So that your students will be able to create shapes that are a good size for the cube, you'll want rectangles of paper that are 12" X 2"

* You'll need glue! Glue sticks may work in a pinch...but I find that the hold is better with glue.

* OF COURSE, you'll probably want a good book to read for your shape lesson. How about THIS ONE?! ;)

You could do this lesson any number of ways!

For a quick version, you may wish to leave the construction paper blank. This allows the shapes to really take center stage.

OR...you could use paint sticks or ink-filled bingo daubers and have students do a little bit of a line review. In the video, I wanted to share all three versions! Personally, I like the plain background best but I am always looking for a good review and the lines in the background does just that.

Don't forget! I just shared a super fun SHAPE painting lesson that is a great tie-in with this project.

No matter what, I do hope you and your amazing artists have fun! Please let me know if you do this lesson, I would love to see their awesome artwork!

A Printed Shape Castle Lesson!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:27:00 +0000

Hello, friends! I'm coming to you with another SHAPE-themed art lesson. Earlier this week, I shared a super fun painting lesson when introducing the element of art, shape. You can check out that free painting lesson (with video!) here!

A while back, I created this printed castle lesson and shared it when I was doing shape stations with my students. If you'd like to check out more about my shape stations, I have lots of info here.

One of the lessons that came out of those shape stations was this Paul Klee meets Mary Blair inspired castle project. Today, I thought I'd repackage the lesson into one video that will walk your artists through the process.

Now, this lesson can be as simple as making printed castles all the way up to using chalk pastels and adding a background. I'll leave that up to you! Just know that I wanted to cater the video to your art teacherin' needs. So keep it a one-day activity with castle printing or take it beyond (as I did with my older students) and add more art supplies.

Regardless, here's the video for you:

For this, you'll need the following supplies:

* Construction paper. I only use Tru-Ray!

* Cardboard, lots of cardboard for printing. ALWAYS have students print with the wavy edge of the cardboard. Check out how we did that in this fun line printing painting!

* Tempera paint. Check out my fave painting supplies here.

* Tissue paper shapes.

* Chalk and oil pastels.

By the way, using puffy paint with students IS NOT for the faint of heart. You gotta keep an eagle eye on those kids when they are using puffy paint or they will ruin their artwork in a blink. So...I recommend doing it in small groups with you or a trustworthy student as the monitor. Trust me on this one!

This lesson is a long one...if you decide to go the whole thing, just so you know! But the results are pretty fun.

Of course, you can also skip the cutting out of the castles and adding to the background. Instead, simply have students add "snow" or stars to the background paper to add a little more interest. Maybe even glitter!? BUT that might be a little too much.

Of course, if you are introducing students to shape, might I recommend MY book?! You can find it here!

No matter what you do, I hope you and your artists have fun creating!

(EASY!) Abstract Shape Painting!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:04:00 +0000

Hi, y'all! I know, I can hardly believe it either: two blog posts with two lessons in one week?! What can I say, when the ideas start rollin', it's hard to stop 'em!

So, truth be told, every since I started adding slightly diluted tempera paint to my bingo daubers, I've been coming up with all sorts of fun art lessons! I have several 'in the can' and I'm working to bring them to you and your artists as fast as I can. To always stay up-to-date on my free video lessons, you may want to join my email list! You can do that here.

Like my most recent videos, I'll start this one with a bit of a Teacher Talk to walk you through the prep for this lesson. I would say this project is appropriate for kindergarten through 3rd grade, depending on what it is you hope to cover with your students. Meaning, if you find that you have older students who need a simple project to remind them of your painting procedures, this may be it! And if you have younger students who are ready to dive into the land of shapes, this one's for you.

OF COURSE, the best book for the job is Alfred the Ape Knows his Shapes! This book covers EVERYTHING...I really wanted to create a book that wasn't your basic baby shape book like so many out there. I wanted to dive in to organic, geometric, the difference between a form and a shape and so much more!

And now, for the lesson video:

I found that for this lesson, the prep was pretty easy. I mean, filling those empty bingo daubers was not fun BUT...once they are done, they do last. You can find the empty bingo daubers here.

I also found that tempera paint works well with this project althought, tempera cakes would work too. For my favorite painting supplies including the paint trays and more, visit here.

I created this lesson because I thought many of you may be moving on from LINE themed lessons to now...shapes! If you'd like to see my Top Ten Line Themed lessons, visit here!

And in case you missed my other super fun and colorful painting lesson, see it here.

Oh! AND my cardboard line sculpture lesson! It's here.

I just love how colorful these are. I think what really does it is that different colors used for the outline.

For my personal art, I kinda want to paint some funky still life paintings using this method. Kind of a pop art meets cubism. What do you think?!

I hope you have a chance to try this lesson out! If you do, please lemme know, I would love to see.

Happy Friday!

Line and Pattern Collaborative Painting!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:04:00 +0000

Hey, friends! I'm coming to you today with a lesson that has been rolling around in my head for a while. I know this time of the school year, so many of us focus on LINES and I thought this painting project, that could serve as a school-wide collaborative, would be perfect!

Like my more recent lesson videos, I'm doing a little bit of a teacher-talk at the start of the video to walk you through the prep process. There isn't much but I do think it's important.

By the way, for A TON MORE line lessons, check out this blog post!

Okay, let's dive in!

For this lesson, you'll need:

* 9" square paper

* 9" square template if creating a collaborative mural

* Paint-filled bingo dauber, 1 per 1-2 students

* Tempera paint

OF COURSE you're gonna need a copy of my book, Larry the Line, right?!

I find that templates work great and just make one per table! Then the kids can add the tick marks so they know where to start and end their first lines. I think the mural would work best if those first lines were all the same. I decided to use a dark blue.

I've been using the Prang Tempera Paint and really loving how bold and bright the colors are. Looking for a crash course in using tempera paintin the art room? Check out my Top Ten Tips for Tempera Paint here!

If you do this lesson and post on social media, please be sure and tag me, I'd love to see what you and your artists create! Please do not rewrite this lesson and sell on TPT as your own...I hate to say that every post but, it happens!

Have a great week, friends!

20 of My Favorite Fall Lessons!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:11:00 +0000

Fall is upon us, y'all! Thank goodness as I'm just about over these super hawt Tennessee temps! For the occasion, I thought I'd put together a big ole blog post of my very favorite lessons for fall. Some of these are advanced and would work well with older students too!

To find each of these lessons, just tap on the links. Nearly all of the lessons have a instructional video for your artists and some come with free downloads. As always, these are for you to use with your artists and I provide them for free. PLEASE do not reuse/repackage them and sell them as your own on TPT. I hate that I have to say that...but it happens.

Okay, grab those fall leaves and let's dive in!

Let's kick things off with this here sculpture lesson! These little pumpkins would be fun for any lil pumpkin to create and they are super easy! Sculpt in one class and paint the next. Done! Find the lesson here.

My students LOVED anything spooky! This lesson is inspired by a contemporary artist. I know your students will also love the paint smearing aspect of this project! Find it here.

Need a quick in-between-lessons project? Or one that's perfect as a sub plan? Then you may want to try this one with your students!

My students LOVE drawing sheets and love creating silly characters! This sheet (and video!) is totally free! Have students practice draw along with me on a dry erase board before diving in on their own Candy Corn Characters. Find the video and this free download here.

Oh man! Did my students love this lesson! We used Gelli plates and Dollar Tree sunflowers to print these on bright and bold copy paper. To give them an Andy Warhol look, we used puffy paint for the outline. These are always show stoppers! You can find the lesson details here.

If you want to share printmaking with your students but don't want the mess...than have you ever tried Marker Printing?! It's so fun and easy! Check it out here, you'll be amazed!

To deck the halls with a little bit of spooky, why not try these big-eyed owls on for size? This lesson incoorporates weaving, collage, watercolor painting and more! You can find the lesson video and details here.

I'm a HUGE fan of Celluclay! For your older students, they could make a pumpkin head planter! Any plastic planter will work...or even a plastic water jug! All the details can be found here.

If not a pumpkin, how about a skull?! I loved making this big guy...and the spider palm plant at the top was just so funny! I think I need to add some eyes to him though, what do you think? All the details here!

Did someone mention eyeballs?! All you need for this is plaster wrap, aluminum foil and paint! I made tons of these for my Halloween tree. You can check out the process video here. Middle schoolers would LOVE this!

Aliens and monsters are always fun to create during this time of the year. I love this lesson because students work BIG and use their bingo daubers (you know I love 'em!). You can check out the lesson details here.

Did someone mention monsters?! These Loud Mouth monsters are inspired by the artist Greg Mike. I also paired it with a lesson for students to have choice in what their monsters could be saying. You can find the handouts for this as well as the video here.

Looking for some collage lessons?! This one is a riot! I love how all of the Franks turn out differently. Let me walk your artists through the process here!

Here's a lesson I did every year because it was always such a hit!

Need a lesson on painting landscapes? I loved this one and each turned out so colorful and happy. We looked at many fall landscapes and the colors of the fall. You can find the lesson details here.

One of the most popular lessons on my blog is this one! When I did it, I used homemade Gelli plates which are a total pain to make! So if you have Gelli plates you'll love this lesson...and it will be so much easier! You can find the details here.

Need a fall collage lesson? I did this one with my first grade and they loved it! We painted, printed and collaged. You can check out the details here.

Need a fun fall weaving lesson? This is it! I would recommend this with small groups if you are working with children in second grade and younger. I did this with my third graders in the spring...so maybe, for this time of year, this would be best suited for fourth grade and up. Lesson here!

More monsters, you say?! Look no further! Here's a lesson I used as a sub plan!

And I saved one of my All-Time Faves for last...this Vincent van Gogh, Starry Night inspired hauted house lesson! All the details here!

And there you have it! Happy fall, y'all!

Top Ten Tips: Scissors in the Art Room!

noreply@blogger.com (cassie stephens) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:46:00 +0000

Last month, I released my latest children's book Scissors, Glue and YOU! While working on my book, I thought through everything I cover when teaching my students how to use these supplies. All of that info was poured into my book with large, bold visuals in a fun-to-read rhyming format.

To celebrate, I wanted to share with you my Top Ten Tips for using Scissors in the Art Room!

While this may seem like a bit of a dry subject, I promise you, this videos is PACKED with info from how to clean and sharpen your scissors to the difference between leftie and rightie scissors to how to build student hand strength and SO MUCH MORE! I had so much to share...I hope you like the format. I wanted to be super clear on each of these tips so that you and your young artists have success.

Because I share some of my favorite supplies, like these leftie scissors, I did include links to each in my video. If you don't see them in the copy of the video, I've got them for you here. Starting with these scissors for our left handed friends.

In the video, I also share several scissors that are perfect for friends who may need assistance. I find these loop scissors to be great.

For students who may benefit from the loop scissors, these adjustable scissors are great. When the arrow is pointed toward the thumb opening, they provide a spring action. When the spring action is not needed, the arrow can be pointed toward the blade and the scissors will operate like traditional scissors. Check them out here.

These scissors can be used like table top scissors or by squeezing the handle. I like that the plastic case provents the blade of the scissors from harming young artists. You can see them in action in my video and check them out here.

In my art room, I had a couple of variations of these hand-over-hand scissors. They really helped my students who were learning how scissors work. You can check out these here.

Another tip I share is to teach our students to have a separate 'home base' for their scissors and glue. This keeps the scissors from getting glue on them and prevents our students from using scissors on a clogged glue bottle. This has happened in my art room too many times...I learned that keeping these two supplies on opposite ends of the work area works well.

In the video I also share that scissors storage can be expensive if you buy from the online retailers. If you have a limited budget, toilet paper tubes work great! You can even number the tubes and the scissors so students know exactly where to place them.

I also share how to clean and care for your student's scissors! Goo Gone is a great thing to have in the art room as it removes sticky tape and glue from scissors.

I hope you find the video helpful! It was a lot of fun to create...just for you and your artists!