Arts and Crafts Activities and Ideas

Arts and crafts activities combine fun and learning for all ages, including the adults. Here are some great projects and resource sites:

Paint 3D sculptures
Grade level: PreK
http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/03/3d-painting-toddler-i-just-love-spring.html

Make crazy colored swirls with salt and watercolors
Grade level: PreK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56cZQZXXJCk

Make almost anything with cardboard
Grade level: PreK-K
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/52717/30-cardboard-box-crafts

A spider play set
Grade level: PreK-1
http://mylittle3andme.co.uk/incy-wincy-spider/

Bug finger puppets
Grade level: PreK-1
http://lalymom.com/2013/05/bug-buddies-pouch-cap-finger-puppets.html#_a5y_p=1400216

Paint rocks
Grade level: PreK-1
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/stoneandrock/a/Rock_Crow_Craft.htm

A jellyfish made from a paper bag
Grade level: PreK-1
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/07/paper-bag-jellyfish-craft.html

Make street art with brooms and dust brushes
Grade level: PreK-1
http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/08/broom-painting/

Bee puppets
Grade level: PreK-2
http://www.housingaforest.com/yarn-wrapped-bee-craft/

Jungle and rainforest themed crafts and activities from DLTK’s Home lists
Grade level: PreK-2
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/jungle.html

62 summer crafts from Care.com
Grade level: PreK-2
http://www.care.com/child-care-62-summer-crafts-for-kids-p1017-q30457360.html

Tropical fish made from paper plates
Grade level: PreK-2
http://www.makeandtakes.com/paper-plate-tropical-fish

Arts and crafts activities from The Imagination Tree
Grade level: PreK-5
http://theimaginationtree.com

Art lessons from Kinder Art
Grade level: PreK-12
http://www.kinderart.com/index.html

Turn blank index cards into super projects
Grade level: PreK and up
http://artchoo.com/14000-blank-index-card-projects/

A styrofoam mosaic
Grade level: PreK and up
http://happyhooligans.ca/mosaic-project-kids-styrofoam-produce-trays/

Paint using baby oil and pastels
Grade level: PreK and up
http://lifewithmoorebabies.blogspot.com/2012/07/baby-oil-and-oil-pastels.html

Rockets made out of water bottles
Grade level: K-1
http://www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/2014/07/water-bottle-rockets.html

Bird feeders made with egg cartons
Grade level: K-2
http://thecreativecubby.blogspot.com/2013/06/egg-carton-bird-feeder.html#.U7q3E5RdVIE

Pop up books
Grade level: K-2
http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2014/04/how-to-make-a-pop-up-book.html

A paper plate aquarium
Grade level: K-2
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2014/01/paper-plate-aquarium.html

Homemade bath bombs
Grade level: K-2
http://club.chicacircle.com/homemade-bath-bombs-gift-idea/

Extensive list of arts and crafts from A-Z Teacher Stuff
Grade level: K-2
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Lesson_Plans/The_Arts/Arts___Crafts/_Grades_K-2/

Giant gooey reusable bubbles
Grade level: K-3
http://www.two-daloo.com/play-recipe-diy-gak-bubbles/

Jungle and safari themed crafts from Artists Helping Children
Grade level: K-5
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/junglesafarirainforestcraftsideasactivitieskids.html

Rainforest Arts and Crafts and activities from Child Fun
Grade level: K-5
http://www.childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/animals/103-rainforest-activity-theme.html#sthash.4IpbqXPG.dpbs

Education.com is a rich source of activity ideas
Grade level: K-12
http://www.education.com/activity/

Some of our favorites from Education.com:

A sparkly ABC water bottle
Grade level: PreK-K
http://www.education.com/activity/article/underwater-spy-alphabet-bottle/

Paint a watercolor piece with melted snow (could also be done with grated ice cubes)
Grade level: PreK-K
http://www.education.com/activity/article/melted-snow-watercolor/

Make your own fossils
Grade level: K-5
http://www.education.com/activity/article/fossils/

Bake cookie puppets
Grade level: K-5
http://www.education.com/activity/article/bake-cookie-puppets/

Use tea leaves as a medium for painting
Grade level: K-5
http://www.education.com/activity/article/abstract-tea-leaf-painting/

Kids Activities blog has many arts and crafts
Grade level: K-5
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com

PBS Parents crafts for kids section
Grade level: K-5
http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/

Art Projects for Kids
Grade level: K-5
http://www.artprojectsforkids.org

Disney Family craft ideas
Grade level: K-5
http://family.disney.com/crafts

Make a poison arrow frog sit on a bromeliad
Grade level: K-5
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/activities/bromeliad-tadpoles

A walking stick for hiking
Grade level: K-5
http://hideousdreadfulstinky.com/2014/06/animal-jam-walking-stick-tutorial.html

A utility belt
Grade level: K-5
http://hideousdreadfulstinky.com/2014/06/animal-jam-utility-belt-tutorial.html

Rocks made of chalk
Grade level: K-5
http://babbledabbledo.com/art-kids-chalk-rocks/

Zoo animals made out of toilet paper rolls
Grade level: K-5
http://patchworkparent.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/a-rhino-and-hippo-roll-up-to-zoo_9083.html

An astronaut costume from a paper bag
Grade level: K-5
http://hideousdreadfulstinky.com/2014/05/paper-bag-astronaut-helmet-tutorial.html

Faces created with twigs and leaves
Grade level: K-5
http://beafunmum.com/2014/05/nature-craft-foliage-faces/comment-page-1/#comment-268180

Build a mini tree house from cardboard
Grade level: K-5
http://www.willowday.com/2013/06/build-treehouse-printable.html

Butterfly house made from recycled materials
Grade level: K-5
http://www.willowday.com/2013/05/diy-butterfly-houses-with-chalk-lids.html

Plant markers
Grade level: K-5
http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2014/03/indoor-gardening-activity-kid-made-plant-markers.html

Faces made from old magazines (select language if it doesn't appear in English)
Grade level: K and up
http://dadaenfantterrible.blogspot.com/2013/08/art-face.html

Build a drawing robot
Grade level: 1 and up
http://www.filthwizardry.com/2009/01/drawing-robots.html

Printable finger puppets
Grade level: 1 and up
http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/printable-animal-finger-puppets/

Hands on Crafts for Kids has many art projects
Grade level: 2-5
http://www.craftsforkids.com/projects.htm

A rainbow batik
Grade level: 2-5
http://ourcreativeday.blogspot.com/2011/08/rainbow-batik.html

A rainforest habitat made from a shoebox
Grade level: 3-5
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/rainforestdiorama/rainforestdiorama.html

Game Mom has an app to make origami
Grade level: 3-5
http://igamemom.com/2014/06/06/app-went-free-animated-3d-origami-instructions/#_a5y_p=1784555

Kiwi Families has arts and craft ideas
Grade level: 3-7
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/articles/craft-activities-8-12-year-olds/

Camouflage lizards
Grade level: 5
http://elementaryartmoments.blogspot.com/2013/06/5th-grade-camouflage-lizards.html

Fold an origami bracelet
Grade level: 5 and up
http://krokotak.com/2014/02/paper-bracelet-origami/