Inspiring their creativity helps children ease back into school routines.
Going back to school can be a happy time or an experience children feel nervous about. With new teachers, new friends and for some a new school, it is easy to see why students feel anxious. Entertaining art projects may be just what you need to keep your students or child amused and enlightened. Engaging students in projects that allow them to be creative is a good way to help students adjust to being back to school again after a summer away.
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Decoupaged Pencil Box
Pencil boxes are handy for holding school supplies, and a decoupaged pencil case is a useful tool students will enjoy making. For this project, have each child bring one empty cardboard school supply box, cigar box, or chocolate box. For each workspace, fill a pie tin with a mixture of 1 cup of glue and 1/2 cup of water. Have students cut out pictures from magazines or cut shapes from colorful tissue paper, scrapbooking paper or gift wrap. Dip the paper in the glue mixture and position it on the pencil box, making sure the paper pieces slightly overlap each other. Allow to dry, then have the students paint the box with one more coat of glue. Add some small jewels or beads for some pop and write the child's name on the back.
Handprint and Footprint Peacock
Use your students' handprints and footprints to make a colorful peacock. Trace each student's footprint on a piece of dark blue paper to make the peacock's body. Then trace each student's hands multiple times on different colors of green and blue paper. The more handprints you use, the fuller the peacock will be. Cut out the handprints and footprints. Glue the handprints in layers under the footprint for the feathers. For some added sparkle, glue on sequins or outline in glitter glue. Write the child's name on the back.
Egg Carton School Bus
An egg carton school bus is an easy-to-make art project. Paint the top half of an egg carton yellow and set aside to dry. Cut two circles (for wheels) out of black construction paper. Either have the students draw people or cut pictures of people out of a magazine. Glue the people behind the windows of the bus (the holes in the carton lid) and glue on the wheels. Help students to write the words "School Bus" along the top of the bus. Have students write their names on the back of the bus.
Paper Plate Apple with Worm
Apples are symbols that are often associated with teachers and going back to school. A peek-a-boo apple paper plate is a very easy art project perfect for the first day back to school. Paint a large paper plate red and let it dry. Cut a worm shape out of green construction paper. Draw on a nose, mouth, and eyes with a black marker. From the top of the apple, draw two lines angling down towards the center of the plate to form the crown of the apple and cut along the line. Cut a 1 1/2-inch slit where you want your worm to be. Insert the worm about ½ inch through the slit, tail end first, and glue from the back of the apple. Cut out a stem about 2 inches long out of brown paper and glue on from the backside at the center of the crown. For some added dimension, cut some seeds out of black construction paper and glue on.
