Activities or Art Projects for the First Day or Week of School

The first week or day of school for new students can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time. By providing students with fun art activities, they will have something about themselves to share with others. These projects are appropriate for the elementary school classroom and can be done as a group with basic materials.

Expressive Collage

Define collage with students, which is an artwork using many different media such as paint, cut out images from photographs and magazines, pencils, markers or oil pastels. Provide students with large pieces of white paper and magazines, glue and scissors. Allow new students to look through magazines and cut out items from magazines. Encourage students to incorporate words into the collage that describe themselves along with images of things they relate to and like.

When new students are finished cutting and pasting, have them fill blank areas of their collage with other materials such as paint or oil pastels. Encourage students to use favorite colors. When new students are finished, put up the expressive collages around the room for the other new students to look at.

Pattern Names

A name tells a lot about a person. New students may have a hard time remembering other student's names, making the first couple days challenging. Creating a name card to put on the front of desks or tables helps others out.
Give each new student a sheet of white 8-by-10-inch paper. Provide students with colored pencils and markers. Have students write out their name, making sure to fill the entire paper, in block letters. Encourage students to color in names using color pencils or markers creating a different pattern in each letter. Discuss what a pattern is with students and that it is something that repeats itself. Patterns can be man-made, such as bricks on a wall, and found in nature like veins on a leaf. When new students are finished, have them tape their patterned names on the front of their desk.

Self-Portraits with Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh created many self-portraits using vibrant colors and interesting lines. Discuss what a self-portrait is with new students and how it is an artwork with the artist as the subject. Look at examples of Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits (see "References") and learn more about his life.

Provide each student with a large sheet of white paper and crayons. Explain to new students that they will be creating their own self-portrait, making sure to include all the details of their faces. Encourage students to use their favorite colors in the background. When self-portraits are finished, have students sign their work using their full names. Display self-portraits around the room.

References

• Self Esteem Art Activities
• Who Am I?: Self-Portraits in Art and Writing
• Vincent van Gogh Museum

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