Author: diane pagan

March Art Activities for Upper Elementary

Posted on by diane pagan

Encourage your students to explore their creative side this spring with these fun, low-prep March art activities. Calling all upper elementary teachers, homeschoolers, and parents! Are you looking for engaging art projects to entertain your kids this March? Look no further 🙂

These high-interest art printables also provide a brain break and an escape from screens. The resources pictured below are carefully designed to ensure that your students can relax, doodle, and enjoy interacting with their classmates.

Art is a fun and creative way for kids to express themselves, but it also offers many benefits for their physical and emotional development, from improving fine motor skills to fostering concentration and focus. Choose from a variety of spring-themed March art activities for upper elementary, including St. Patrick’s Day ☘️ Easter 🐣 and Mother’s Day 🌸

Check out these March coloring pages and art activities today and watch your students’ creativity blossom! (Mother’s Day is celebrated in February, March, May, August, and October in countries around the world)

2025 Easter falls in April, but you can always start early with egg and bunny art!

A Ball About Spring Art and Writing Project

Use this delightful ‘Ball About Spring’ art project to explore this magical, growthful season. These print-and-go coloring pages and creative writing prompt activities are engaging and fun for all abilities. Your students can collaboratively create a colorful and imaginative seasonal classroom display to be proud of!

spring images inside a soccer ball shape
spring images inside a soccer ball shape
spring images inside a soccer ball shape
spring images inside a soccer ball shape

St. Patrick’s Day Yarn-Wrapped Shamrocks

This St. Patrick’s Day Craft is a creative, hands-on fun March Craftivity. The shamrock doodle art activity involves a variety of creative challenges for hands and imaginations: gluing, careful cutting, yarn wrapping, and coloring abstract shapes and patterns.

shamrock template and yarns craft project

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Andrea says,
“I love this resource. It was an easy St. Patrick’s Day activity. Low prep, high output.”

St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Cell Phone

Spark imaginations with this fun fold-out cell phone St. Patrick’s Day art activity. Construct a fold-out booklet-style ‘cell phone’. Respond to prompts on the front cover with mini doodles and create fun leprechaun selfies and complete a word search inside.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jody says,
“My 6th/7th grade special education students LOVED this! I thought the 7th graders were going to be bored because they all have their own real phones, but they were excited to make them! Thank you!”

St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages, Posters and Banners

These fun St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages, posters, and banners are perfect for your March bulletin board. Use the colored posters and banners for instant classroom decorations or have fun coloring and creating your own – an easy last-minute lesson, ready to print and go!

FREE Easter Egg Template

Click on the file below to download and print this Free Easter Egg template 🥚

Free-easter-egg-template-1
free printable easter egg coloring template

Easter and Spring Abstract Coloring Pages

These abstract art Easter coloring pages encourage students to experiment with color, shape, line, and pattern. Create an inspiring collaborative classroom display for your March or April bulletin board with these imaginative spring art activities.

March Art Activities for Upper Elementary

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kristi says,
“My kids loved these and I liked how they incorporate famous artists that my students have studied.”

Easter Bunny Coloring Pages

Celebrate spring with these fun Easter rabbit coloring pages. Students will love taking a creative brain break with this abstract spring art activity. Experiment with watercolor paints and make a fabulous Spring or Easter classroom display. A fun way to learn about warm and cool colors this spring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Annette says,
“Simple to use and made for a great looking display. Also fitted in with our current work on hot and cold colours.”

Abstract Easter Egg Art Activity

This colorful abstract Easter Egg Art Activity makes a fun and creative brain break for your students. These print-and-go spring coloring pages are perfect for March and April bulletin board displays. Explore color, line, pattern, and shape, and aim for the egg silhouette to stand out from the background when the artwork is complete. Students can experiment with light and dark colors, warm and cool colors.

Fun Spring Coloring Pages – Splash into Spring! 💦

These fun spring coloring pages will help you splash into spring! The finished coloring pages are the perfect way to decorate your spring bulletin board or classroom door this March and April.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alison says,
“These pages went perfectly with our door decorations for spring. Students loved coloring a pair of rain boots and an umbrella to display as we transition into the spring season.”

Mother’s Day Keepsake Gift Box Craft Activity

Your students will love this Mother’s Day craft. They get to construct an adorable keepsake gift box and create handmade mini surprises to put inside! This is a low-prep and fun Mother’s Day craft activity where students can relax and be creative and take home a unique gift for their special person to treasure.

Mother’s Day in the UK is celebrated in March, with many other countries including the US, celebrating in May.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jan says,
“My fourth graders loved this craft for Mother’s day occasion. They were super engaged and was able to personalized each of their gift box and we added hershey’s kisses on them for an add in to give for the people they consider mom. I would definitely do this again with my students this upcoming school year.”

All About My Mom Mother’s Day Cell Phone Card

Are you looking for a unique Mother’s Day Art activity? Invite students to create a personal keepsake ‘All About My Mom Cell Phone’ Mother’s Day card for mom or your special person to treasure

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leslie says,
“Love, love, love! My students had to interview their dads to answer some of the questions. They loved doing this. I invited the dads to the school one morning for doughnuts and interviews. It was fun! My students made body scrub for a gift to go along with the card. Thank you.”

Download this FREE March Banner Activity

St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to explore culture, history and get creative. Make learning fun with this FREE March bulletin board banner activity. Encourage your students to research facts about St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland to create a collaborative banner long enough to go around your entire classroom!

Shop my resources securely at The Imagination Box Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Happy coloring!
If you try any of these March art activities, I would love to see your students’ artwork – tag me on Instagram!

See you soon,

Diane 🙂

April Art Activities for Grades 3 to 7

Posted on by diane pagan

Upper elementary and middle school teachers, homeschoolers, and parents. Give kids a break from screens and get creative with these print-and-go, imaginative April art activities!

Art helps kids to express their views, and celebrate their uniqueness. It also offers many benefits for their physical and emotional development, from improving fine motor skills to fostering concentration and focus. Choose from a variety of spring-themed April art activities for grades 3-7, including Earth Day 🌎 and Easter 🐣

Earth Day Art – Save the Sea Turtles!

Students love these ‘Save the Sea Turtles’ Earth Day coloring pages and art activities. Learn more about endangered species and ocean pollution. Students can explore and express their views on key global and environmental issues through art and lively discussion. Create an impactful Earth Day art display this April with these imaginative activities.

colorful sea turtle art

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Morgan says,
“My students were obsessed with these last year!! I printed them as poster size (4 pages) and backed with them black construction paper. I can’t wait to do them again this year for Earth Day. By far, my favorite project of all times.“

Design T-shirts for Earth Day

Kids love this Earth Day T-shirt design activity! Using the T-shirt templates and fun examples provided, encourage your students to explore and express their views on key global and environmental issues. Create impactful Earth Day posters and design earth-friendly T-shirts using bold colors, shapes, symbols, and words.

‘Save Our Planet’ Earth Day Posters Activity

Celebrate Earth Day with this ‘Save our Planet’ poster art activity. Create colorful globes, and experiment with shades of green for landmass and shades of blue for the ocean. Doodle over the finished artwork with words and symbols to create unique globes, while discussing the importance of caring for our planet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Melanie says,
“A great art activity for earth day that looks amazing when displayed. The kids really enjoyed mixing the colors! Thanks!“

Design Earth-Friendly Bags Art Activity

Invite your students to design a range of earth-friendly bags to create an impactful Earth Day display in the classroom. Students can use words and doodles to express their views on key global and environmental issues, including how the use of plastic impacts our world.

April art Activities

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Larissa says,
“LOVE these! The kids loved them! 10/10“

Earth Day Art and Writing Activities Bundle

Use this Earth Day art, writing and coloring activities bundle to explore and increase awareness of key environmental issues facing our planet. Bring your classroom to life with stunning, colorful displays and celebrate Earth Day creatively! Save 25% with this art bundle offer.

april art activities

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sarah says,
“My students loved this bundle for Earth Day and we used it to create a display. Such a simple and easy bundle suitable for all abilities and learning needs. Fabulous!“

Easter and Spring Abstract Coloring Pages

These abstract art Easter coloring pages encourage students to experiment with color, shape, line, and pattern. Create an inspiring collaborative classroom display for your March or April bulletin board with these imaginative spring art activities.

March Art Activities for Upper Elementary

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kristi says,
“My kids loved these and I liked how they incorporate famous artists that my students have studied.”

Easter Bunny Coloring Pages

Celebrate spring with these fun Easter rabbit coloring pages. Students will love taking a creative brain break with this abstract spring art activity. Experiment with watercolor paints and make a fabulous Spring or Easter classroom display. A fun way to learn about warm and cool colors this spring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Annette says,
“Simple to use and made for a great looking display. Also fitted in with our current work on hot and cold colours.”

Abstract Easter Egg Art Activity

This colorful abstract Easter Egg Art Activity makes a fun and creative brain break for your students. These print-and-go spring coloring pages are perfect for March and April bulletin board displays. Explore color, line, pattern, and shape, and aim for the egg silhouette to stand out from the background when the artwork is complete. Students can experiment with light and dark colors, warm and cool colors.

Fun Spring Coloring Pages – Splash into Spring! 💦

These fun spring coloring pages will help you splash into spring! The finished coloring pages are the perfect way to decorate your spring bulletin board or classroom door this March and April.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alison says,
“These pages went perfectly with our door decorations for spring. Students loved coloring a pair of rain boots and an umbrella to display as we transition into the spring season.”

Anzac Day Abstract Poppy Art Activities

Commemorate Anzac Day this April, with these abstract poppy templates and posters. Engage students creatively and produce a vibrant Anzac Day display for your classroom this April. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fiona says,
“This is such a great resource for Anzac Day. We discussed tones of red and green, the importance of the poppy and remembering our fallen, as well as the definition for purple, red and white poppies and what they mean. My students loved this activity. The final product was mounted on black card for display.“

Shop my resources securely at The Imagination Box Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Happy coloring!
If you try any of these April art activities, I would love to see your students’ artwork – tag me on Instagram!

See you soon,

Diane 🙂

May Art Activities for Grades 3 to 7

Posted on by diane pagan

Hello, I’m Diane. Thanks for popping by! In this blog post, let’s explore some fun May art activities for Grades 3-7. May has exciting celebrations and global events that offer your students many cultural and creative learning opportunities. To help you make the most of these events, I’ve put together a ‘May Around the World’ calendar featuring 16 diverse events that will spark everyone’s curiosity. Download it, and print it out for your bulletin board!

Classroom calender showing fun events to celebrate May 2024
Download the Calendar

This is a new idea I’m developing to help teachers, so I would love your feedback on whether you use it in your classroom or at home. If you have time, you can choose an event to focus on each week to bring more art into your classroom or homeschool room. Simple art activities and coloring pages are great for brain breaks.

Read on for some low-prep, high-interest art activities to keep the creativity flowing in your classroom throughout May! Regularly encourage students to get away from screens and do some art. They can enjoy building inspiring classroom displays, making gifts, decorating cards, and more while learning about the world around them. Have fun!

🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10th, is the perfect time to recognize all you amazing teachers who play a crucial role in shaping our kids’ futures! It’s a time for students to express gratitude and appreciation for their teachers’ dedication and hard work.

🌷International Mother’s Day

Sunday May 12th. Do you need help getting older kids to create Mother’s Day gifts in the classroom? It’s essential to make the activity fun, engaging, relatable, and relaxed for this tween age group. Consider their current interests and build them into the project. Maybe your students are into crafting, sports, music, or tech. I love to find ways to incorporate these passions into art activities that kids will approve of!

Your students will absolutely adore this craft idea for Mother’s Day. With this art activity, they will have the opportunity to construct an adorable keepsake gift box and create handmade mini surprises to put inside. This is a low-prep, enjoyable craft that allows students to unwind, be imaginative, and leave with a distinctive gift for their special someone to cherish.

Learn More

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Milka says,
“I used the resource to make Mother’s Day gifts with my students. We have been learning about volume of rectangular prisms so it fit in perfectly with our math lessons as well. The students were engaged and enjoyed making and decorating the boxes.“

Create an ‘All About My Mom Cell Phone’ Mother’s Day keepsake card – kids love anything phone related! Students cut out and make their own fold-out booklet-style cell phone and then complete the image-making on the front cover and the written elements inside – fun facts and doodles all about their special person ❤️

Learn More

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leslie says,
“Love, love, love! My students had to interview their dads to answer some of the questions. They loved doing this. I invited the dads to the school one morning for doughnuts and interviews. It was fun! My students made body scrub for a gift to go along with the card. Thank you.”

🧠 Mental Health Awareness Week

During Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, May 13-7th, open up discussion around self-care and wellbeing. Encouraging upper elementary and middle schoolers to discuss positive mental health ideas involves creating a safe environment.
Talking about scenarios from books, movies, or social media can break the ice, as kids often relate to stories about overcoming challenges. Encourage them to express their feelings through creative outlets like journaling, art, or music. Stress the importance of self-care, including regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and a good night’s sleep – and reducing screen time!
Group discussions about resilience, empathy, and kindness can also help normalize conversations about mental health, demonstrating that it’s okay to seek support when needed.

🐝 World Bee Day

May 20th. Celebrate World Bee Day in your classroom and help to raise awareness about bees’ vital role in our ecosystem and food production. Hands-on projects like building bee hotels, planting bee-friendly gardens, or creating bee-themed art helps students appreciate how hard working and clever bees really are! Promote a sense of responsibility and connection to the natural world, showing students that even small actions can contribute to a healthier planet.

a bee all about me printable back to school art activity

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jaclyn says,
“As a supplement to our study of honeybees, this All About Me Bee is a great display item for our Open House! The students loved the guidance of the labeled bee, but also the freedom to personalize the bee as they saw fit. Thank you for this!”

Learn More

🌊 World Sea Turtle Day

May 23rd.Let’s celebrate World Sea Turtle Day! Did you know that sea turtles have been around for over 100 million years, but their populations are rapidly declining due to human activities? These majestic creatures face numerous challenges, from ocean plastic pollution to coastal development and poaching. We must take action and consciously preserve their habitats and promote conservation efforts. 

sea turtle illustration with sea background

Students love this ‘Save the Sea Turtles’ art activity. Learn more about endangered species and ocean pollution. Students can explore and express their views on key global and environmental issues through art and lively discussion. Create an impactful World Sea Turtle Day art display this May with this fun-packed resource!

Learn More

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Morgan says,
“My students were obsessed with these last year!! I printed them as poster size (4 pages) and backed with them black construction paper. I can’t wait to do them again this year for Earth Day. By far, my favorite project of all times.“

colorful sea turtle art

🎖️ Memorial Day

May 27th. Use this gentle art activity to help students reflect on the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in military service.

memorial day poppy art activity for kids

Commemorate Memorial Day colorfully and creatively. Use these abstract, eye-catching poppy templates and posters to create stunning artwork and Memorial Day displays for the classroom.

Learn More

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end of the year student questionnaire

Hope to see you again soon,

Diane 🙂

Happy coloring!
If you try any of these May art activities, I would love to see your students’ artwork – tag me on Instagram or drop me an email, at [email protected], I always reply 🙂

You might also like to explore the posts below?
Thanks for visiting!

St. Patrick’s Day Activities FREE Printable

Posted on by diane pagan

Help kids celebrate this festival on March 17th, wherever you live in the world, with these St. Patrick’s Day Activities, FREE Printable coloring pages.

St. Patrick’s Day is such a great opportunity to explore Ireland’s rich history and culture.

Finding a creative pathway into a lesson or activity will always help to engage kids and spark their imaginations – I love to create resources to help make learning fun, both at home and in the classroom.

Free Facts Garland

I’ve designed a free St. Patrick’s Day garland activity to help kids learn and discover interesting facts about Ireland.

There are 10 flags to print, each with an interesting fact about St. Patricks day or about Ireland.

Encourage students to do their own research online, to create a collaborative garland long enough to go round your entire classroom!

I’ve included blank flags for students to add their own facts and doodles.

Ideas for Further Learning and Creativity

Develop ideas from the flag facts – for example…

  • Write about St.Patrick
  • Research and draw the Irish flag
  • Find out more about those cheeky leprechauns
  • Discover 5 fascinating facts about the history of Dublin, the capital city
  • Find out how and where St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated across the globe

Download this 9 page printable activity here

green printable garland with facts about ireland for st patricks day

Further Art, Craft and Writing Activities

If you are looking for more creative activities, take a look at these fun resources below!

shamrock paper and yarn craft
St. Patrick's Day themed backpack art
St. Patricks Day cell phone art
St Patricks day arts and craft printables for kids

See other fun resources for this time of year

Spring Coloring Pages

Mother’s Day Activities, Card and Gift Making

Earth Day Creative Learning

Celebrate Easter with Art

February Art Activities for Kids

Posted on by diane pagan

February is bursting with creative possibilities!

February is the perfect time to spark imagination and engage kids with hands-on creativity!
🎨 Read on for some fun February art activities and coloring pages for kids!

art activity images for kids with a February Valentine theme

Whether you are teaching in the classroom or homeschooling, there are many ways to bring art into learning as we transition from winter to spring. Explore Black History Month, the Lantern Festival, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Kindness Week, and more. Students, teachers, and parents can benefit from creative brain breaks. Let’s do some art!

Creative February Art Activities themes include:

• Black History Month

• Lunar New Year Lantern Festival

• Groundhog Day

• Valentine’s Day

• Random Acts of Kindness Week

• Presidents’ Day

• Winter to Spring Transition

Imagination Box printable resources are ideal for Grades 3-7: Upper Elementary and Middle School teachers, homeschoolers, and parents. Read on to explore ten low-prep, fun February art activities for kids and discover what teachers like you say about them!

1. The Year of the Snake Coloring Pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kelsey says,
“My students love this activity! I appreciate the various options for how students may want to colour the page and the example with a colour theme. As well, it is a reliable resource because it is updated every year!“

LEARN MORE

2. Lunar New Year Swirling Snake Mobile

Spiral snake craft image

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lauranna says,
“I found myself having to teach an elementary language arts class this year (I’m a 9-12 ELA teacher!), and this resource was engaging for my younger learners as they wrote acrostics (SNAKE) and did visual representation for the Lunar Year of the Snake.“

LEARN MORE

3. Lunar New Year Lantern Coloring Activity

Lunar New Year Lanterns Colorful Posters
LEARN MORE

4. Valentine’s Day Pop Art Gift Box Craft Activity

paper gift box craft decorated in a valentines day pop art theme

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christopher says,
“Lots of options. The students loved doing this and couldn’t get enough of the little things they could put inside the box.“

LEARN MORE

5. Valentine’s Pop Art Activities and Card-Making

Pop Art theme coloring pages for kids

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kavita says,
“Super fun for the kids and easy to prep for me!!! Works for many grades.“

LEARN MORE

6. Make Cool Sweatshirt Cards for Friends and Family

Valentine's Day friendship card printable templates to color in the classroom

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jessica says,
“This resource is perfect for Valentine’s day! I also love that it promotes kindness and can be utilized in a variety of ways.“

LEARN MORE

7. Make a Ball All About Springtime

spring images inside a soccer ball shape
LEARN MORE

8. Explore Spring Weather with These Fun Coloring Pages

Kids coloring pages, umbrella and rainboots

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alison says,
“These pages went perfectly with our door decorations for spring. Students loved coloring a pair of rain boots and an umbrella to display as we transition into the spring season.“

LEARN MORE

9. President’s Day Art Activities and Coloring Pages

Coloring page depicting the White House and the American flag

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christy says,
“My students found this resource engaging and they were able to work at their own pace and creativity level.“

LEARN MORE

10. Spring Art Activities Bundle

A bundle of spring coloring page images
LEARN MORE

How to purchase Imagination Box Resources

🍄 You can browse all resources and freebies on this website. Click the pink ‘Buy on TPT’ button on any product page to purchase safely via my TPT Store (Teachers Pay Teachers)

🍄 You can download and re-access all TPT resources by creating a free membership account. Your purchases will be available for digital access immediately after you purchase.

Get Weekly Activities and Save $$ with the Imagination Monthly Membership

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For $12, every month, you will receive an engaging interactive classroom decor kit and weekly detailed seasonal art and writing activities.

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The Year of The Snake 2025 Coloring Pages

Posted on by diane pagan

Happy Lunar New Year, 2025. Let’s dive into The Year of the Snake!

Celebrate the Lunar New Year 2025 with these Year of The Snake 2025 coloring pages, art activities, and decorations. Use these snake coloring page worksheets to create an eye-catching Lunar New Year art display in your classroom or homeschool room.

These printable resources are ideal for Grades 3-7: Upper Elementary and Middle School teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.

1. THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE COLORING PAGES 🐍 $3.00

This no-prep print-and-go Lunar New Year abstract snake coloring pages activity encourages students to use their imagination and sense of color. The challenge is to see if The Year of The Snake silhouette stands out from the background when all the shapes have been filled with color.

Year of the Snake colorful abstract poster for kids
Year of the Snake colorful abstract poster for kids

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kelsey says,
“My students love this activity! I appreciate the various options for how students may want to colour the page and the example with a colour theme. As well, it is a reliable resource because it is updated every year!“

The Year of the Snake 2025 Coloring Pages

Facts for The Year of the Snake 2025

  1. With its unique characteristics, the Snake is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Previous Years of the Snake include 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, and 1977.
  2. Individuals born in the Year of the Snake are revered for intelligence, thoughtfulness, and wisdom. They possess a unique ability to solve complex problems and excel in analytical thinking. Lucky colors for those born in the Year of the Snake include black, red, and yellow.
  3. According to Chinese astrology, those born in the Year of the Snake find their best matches in the Rooster and the Ox, fostering strong and harmonious relationships. Snakes are often seen as symbols of good luck and prosperity. They are believed to protect against misfortune and evil.
  4. Snakes are often considered good at communication but say little. They are supposed to have a good sense of humor and are usually seen as good financial managers.
  5. Each Chinese zodiac year is associated with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. In 2025, the Snake will be related to the wood element, representing growth and vitality.
  6. The Snake is deeply associated with wisdom and is seen as a symbol of renewal and good luck in the Chinese zodiac. Some famous people born in the Year of the Snake include Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, and Sarah Jessica Parker, highlighting this zodiac sign’s diverse talents and personalities.

2. THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE SPIRAL MOBILE 🐍 $2.50

Spiral snake craft image
Spiral snake craft image
Spiral snake craft image
Spiral snake craft image

Facts about the Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year 2025 begins on January 29th.

  1. Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar.
  2. It is celebrated for up to 15 days, with different traditions observed daily.
  3. In addition to China, countries such as Vietnam (where it’s called Tết), Korea (Seollal), Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines also celebrate the Lunar New Year.
  4. Each year is associated with one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, including the dog, rat, horse, pig, and sheep.
  5. Giving red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults is customary, symbolizing good luck and warding off evil spirits.
  6. Fireworks and dragon dances are popular traditions. Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the start of the lunar calendar. It’s a fun-filled time.
  7. Families gather for a special reunion dinner the night before the New Year. This meal is one of the most important parts of the celebration!
  8. Before the New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes to remove bad luck and make room for good fortune.
  9. The celebration closes with the Lantern Festival, where everyone displays beautiful lanterns and gets to solve fun riddles written on them!

3. LUNAR NEW YEAR LANTERNS $2.50

Lunar New Year Lanterns Colorful Posters
Lunar New Year Lanterns Colorful Posters
Lunar New Year Lanterns Colorful Posters
Lunar New Year Lanterns Colorful Posters

4. LUNAR NEW YEAR 2025 COLORING PAGES $5.50

Celebrate and learn about Chinese New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake. These engaging Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year coloring pages and art activities make an impactful classroom display.

Lunar New Year snake illustration

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Taylor says,
“I used this resource in a 6th grade classroom that I was covering and they loved being able to create something to go with our Lunar New Year lesson. Thank you for such an awesome resource!”

How to purchase Imagination Box Resources

🍄 You can browse all resources and freebies on this website. Click the pink ‘Buy on TPT’ button on any product page to purchase safely via my TPT Store (Teachers Pay Teachers)

🍄 You can download and re-access all TPT resources by creating a free membership account. Your purchases will be available for digital access immediately after you purchase.

Save with The Imagination Monthly Membership

Multiple art activities shown on devices

The Imagination Monthly Membership is a flexible and affordable way to regularly build art into your classroom or homeschool curriculum.

Would you love to do more art activities but are short on time or unsure where to start?

For $12, every month, you will receive an engaging interactive classroom decor kit and weekly detailed seasonal art and writing activities.

LEARN MORE HERE

Stay in touch!

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February is just around the corner! ❤️

See you soon,
Diane

Diane Pagan, Founder, The Imagination Box

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting,
and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
Stanley Horowitz

5 FUN NEW YEARS ART ACTIVITIES

Posted on by diane pagan

Happy New Year, 2025! Check out these fun New Years Art Activities. Enjoy celebrating 2025 in your classroom and ease kids back into January after their winter break with these creative print-and-go art, reflection, and goal-setting activities!

These printable resources are ideal for Grades 3-7: Upper Elementary and Middle School teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.

Here at Imagination Box HQ, I love to help teachers, parents, and homeschoolers bring more art into kids’ lives without the stress of lots of prep! Art is more than a fun project—it’s a tool for self-expression, community-building, and finding calm. Engaging in these imaginative art activities for January can motivate your students and build excitement for this month of new beginnings.

Read on for five engaging ways to ignite creativity at home or in the classroom this January 🎉

1. NEW YEARS 2025 FIREWORKS 🎇 $4.00

Welcome New Year 2025 with this fun fireworks art activity and January goal-setting writing activities. Ease kids gently into the first week back, reflecting on 2024 and focusing on setting goals for 2025 in a creative way. Invite students to create an energizing fireworks display. Use these worksheets to explore warm and cool colors and experiment with making confident, expressive marks. I update this activity each year, so you can download free updates if you want to continue using it beyond 2025.

New Year 2025 Fireworks January Art Activity
New Year 2025 Fireworks coloring pages and Writing Activities

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Colleen says,
“Excellent resource that offered a variety of different ways to complete an assignment for students on different levels.”

2. NEW YEARS 2025 CELL PHONE ART ACTIVITY 🎇 $4.25

Creatively kickstart New Year 2025 in your classroom! This fun fold-out cell phone art and writing activity is a fun way for students to reflect on 2024, set new goals, and make resolutions for 2025. Engage your students with this relatable New Year’s, ‘All About Me’ Instagram-style cell phone construction, art, and writing resource. Kids love cell phones and drawing their own app images!

New Year cell phone art and writing activity for kids
New Year cell phone art and writing activity for kids
New Year cell phone art and writing activity for kids
New Year cell phone art and writing activity for kids

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christina says,
“My students absolutely loved this resource. It was a wonderful back from winter break activity for them to do. I look forward to using it for years to come, They personalized their phones and were excited to set new goals for the new year.”

3. NEW YEARS SELFIE COLORING PAGES 🎇 $4.50

Kickstart New Year 2025 with these cool selfies and help students focus! These engaging New Year coloring pages, art, and writing prompt activities are perfect for reviewing 2024, goal setting, and making resolutions for 2025. Students can choose their favorite glasses or spectacles, create a unique self-portrait, and then complete the review and resolution activities that encourage a balance of art and writing.

New Year 2025 self portraits activity for middle school kids

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Natalie says,
“This was a really great twist to the usual New Year’s Resolutions. My students are enjoying creating their “selfie”. I am loving how different and creative each student has created their character. Thank you for this product.”

4. 2025 WARM & COOL COLORS ART ACTIVITY 🎇 $3.75

Celebrate New Year 2025 with these no-prep, fun coloring pages. With this creative, warm, and cool colors art lesson, you can gently encourage students to set goals and work imaginatively this January. This resource is updated for free each year at the end of November. The challenge is to see if ‘2025’ stands out from the background when the coloring page is finished. Your students’ artwork will make an eye-catching January bulletin board display for the beginning of the new year!

2025 New Year Warm and Cool Colors Art Activity for Kids
2025 New Year Warm and Cool Colors Art Activity for Kids
2025 New Year Warm and Cool Colors Art Activity for Kids

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Catherine says,
 “My students loved starting the year revising warm and cool colours, and showing off their brilliant colouring skills. On a hot afternoon, this is the kind of task that is easy for them to engage with, and we now have super colourful display boards!”

 5. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025 DOOR DECOR KIT 🎇 $1.00

Welcome your students back to school with this Happy New Year 2025 Classroom Door Decor Kit. Add some welcoming New Year sparkle to your classroom door this January with these Happy New Year 2025 posters. This kit includes US Letter-size numbers posters 2-0-2-5, abstract ‘Happy New Year’ fireworks posters, and Happy New Year titles in 3 color options….why not try it for just a dollar? 🙂

New Year 2025 classroom door decorations and posters
New Year 2025 classroom door decorations and posters

How to purchase Imagination Box Resources

🍄 You can browse all resources and freebies on this website. Click the pink ‘Buy on TPT’ button on any product page to purchase safely via my TPT Store (Teachers Pay Teachers)

🍄 You can download and re-access all TPT resources by creating a free membership account. Your purchases will be available for digital access immediately after you purchase.

Save with The Imagination Monthly Membership

images showing the imagination box monthly membership content

The Imagination Monthly Membership is a flexible and affordable way to regularly build art into your classroom or homeschool curriculum.

Would you love to do more art activities but are short on time or unsure where to start?

For $12, every month, you will receive an engaging interactive classroom decor kit and weekly detailed seasonal art and writing activities.

LEARN MORE HERE

Stay in touch!

Instagram

Pinterest

February is just around the corner! ❤️

See you soon,
Diane

Diane Pagan, Founder, The Imagination Box

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting,
and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
Stanley Horowitz

First Week Back To School Ideas and Activities

Posted on by diane pagan

First week back to school ideas and activities are great for soothing anxious students and teachers. Icebreakers do just that – they break the ice!

How do we build a strong classroom community for the year ahead?

  • Engage kids in fun group discussions
  • Set goals for the year, talk about hopes and fears
  • Get creative and decorate classroom walls, doors, and bulletin boards for an inspiring learning environment

We’ve gathered some fun facts, exploring what back to school looks like, in different countries around the world.

This could be an interesting back to school idea – open up a global conversation with your new class. Get students chatting and researching in small groups about back to school customs and traditions in different countries.

Back to School Around the World – First Week Back Customs

Children all around the world are experiencing their first week back to school too at different times throughout the year.

  • In Japan, parents give their children a randoseru (a specific type of backpack made from leather) on the first day of elementary/primary school to prepare them for their new school year.
  • In India, a back to school tradition is the giving of a small gift. This is often an umbrella, as the school year starts in May/June which is the monsoon season in India.
  • In Russia, the first day back to school is always September 1st. Even if it falls on a Saturday the children will still attend school! This first day is known as ‘Knowledge Day’. Teachers receive a bouquet of flowers from the students as thanks and the student each receive a balloon in return.
  • In Saudi Arabia, back to school celebrations can take several days. New students are invited to socialize through activities and the sharing of food.
  • In Germany, first-grade children are given a giant cone made of paper, cardboard, or plastic and filled with treats such as candy and useful items such as crayons and pens. The cones are called ‘schultüten’ which translates to ‘school bag’.
  • In Vietnam, a countrywide festival ends with a guest beating a drum three times to signal the start of the academic year.
  • In Kazakhstan, education starts at age 7 and first day of school is known as Tyl Ashar which translates to ‘initiation into education’. Children honour their ancestors around family and friends at a ceremony where each child delivers the Zhety ata, reciting the names of their seven generations of grandfathers.
  • In Brazil, the school year starts in February.
  • The USA has the biggest number of home-schooled children at 2.5 million.

What are School Uniforms Like Around the World?

  • Japanese uniforms, known as ‘seifuku’ look like a sailor suit with a bow and a flat panel across the back. 
  • In France, school uniforms aren’t compulsory but some schools have a casual hoodie with the school logo. Children can choose their own trousers.
  • In China, school uniforms are often tracksuits for comfort.  
  • In the UK, trousers or a skirt, shirt, tie and blazer are worn – sometimes a straw hat.
  • In Australia, dresses or shorts are worn with a large hat to protect children from the sun.
  • In Italy, children traditionally wear a smock or apron called a ‘grembiule’ on the first day back to school. This can be personalised with a unique pattern or name. A specific colour ribbon is worn on the Grembiule to show what grade you are in.

Ideas for your class:

Research and design your own Italian grembiule or Japanese seifuku

Discovering Unusual Schools Around the World

  • In Ziyun County,China, the Dongzhong Cave, housed a primary school from 1984 until 2011!
  • Bangladesh has many floating schools due to regular flooding. For this reason, schools are boats which also transport the children home, at the end of the school day.
  • Denmark started forest schools where children are educated outdoors using nature and natural materials

A question for your class:

How would you welcome another student from a different country to your school?

Back to School Ideas – My Resources

Browse back to school art activities on The Imagination Box Website

Here are some popular back to school printable resource ideas, ideal community builders for the first week back. They are carefully designed to help kids express their uniqueness, reflect and set goals in a safe and creative way – ready to print and go! Kids love sharing their finished t-shirts, hoodies and backpacks with their friends!

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Diane 🙂

Back To School Art Projects That Kids Can Relate To!

Posted on by diane pagan

Back to school art projects can be a really useful way to spark interesting conversations and get kids engaged in a fun way during their first week in a new class.

This is especially important after kids have been at home or receiving a hybrid education for some time.

In my experience, kids are more likely to engage with cool, modern and relevant activities that reflect their interests in and out of school.

Kids love modern themes

Here are some themes that I have experimented with when creating back to school art projects for kids.

  • Modern Technology – phones, tablets, watches, gadgets, computers, social media, instagram, facebook. Tech Geek is the new cool! 
  • Sport inspired – always a great cross over with art, and can help engage reluctant artists, energetic boys and girls. Kids love expressing themselves through the clothes they wear and the sports they participate in and watch – prints, logos, t shirts, hoodies – all part of their developing identity.
  • Graffiti, Street Art – Banksy, ‘tags’, spray can art, reflections of the world today
  • Pop Art – bright colors, bold imagery and graphics, simple eye-catching patterns

Through designing and road testing art resources for the classroom, grades 3 to 8, I’ve learnt that kids – both girls and boys – really do love to engage creatively with current, relevant themes that reflect their ‘tech savvy’ lives and ‘appy’ pursuits!

Many pre teen kids now own cell phones or ‘mobiles’ as we call them here in the UK.

Most parents, including me, are keen to limit screen time and remind our kids about pastimes from ‘the olden days’  including engaging with ‘books’, ‘paper’, ‘pens’ and ‘pencils’!

So my mission is to keep art going in the classroom and combine the two  – Good Old Art with a Modern Tech Twist! – 

Through art, kids can express themselves in an abstract way, explore their feelings, how they fit in the world, their hopes, fears, goals, likes and dislikes – often in a deeper and more meaningful way than using only words.

Art activities can be especially useful at the beginning of a new year when anxiety may be running high – for both teachers and students!

My classroom and homeschooler/parent art activities are designed to engage kids of all abilities, are low prep, include finished examples for inspiration, require limited workspace and basic art materials

You can browse back to school projects here by or by clicking on these best sellers below:

Graffiti All About Me
A Hoodie All About Me
A Sneaker All About Me

Why is Art Important in our Classrooms?

Posted on by diane pagan

Why is Art Important in our Classrooms?

art activities for middle school

I’ve come up with 10 reasons, but in reality, the list is endless! I’m a great believer in the positive power of art on our mental well-being. Art is a fantastic vehicle for learning, communicating feelings, and exploring outside-of-the-box thinking.

In this blog post, I’d like to explore why I feel including a good dose of art and creativity can be really beneficial to kids and their new teacher during the first week back to school – and throughout the rest of the year!

​I wonder….do kids feel more comfortable or free to express themselves in a deeper way via creating imagery rather than just using words?

Posters are available to download for FREE at the end of this post.

Recently, I asked teachers and homeschoolers on my mailing list,
“Why do you feel art is important in your classroom?”

I loved reading their responses!

Homeschooler, Grades 3 and 5
“Art is important in our homeschool for many reasons. It allows my children a chance to creatively express themselves and to demonstrate what they’ve learned. Often times it helps serve as a visual reminder of specific topics we’ve covered, cultures we’ve explored, etc. My younger son is currently coloring your 2024 Chinese New Year Dragon. He is proudly taking his time and wants to include it in his end of the year evaluation portfolio. (Thank you!)”

Teacher, Grade 3
“Art instruction in school is important because many children learn through art activities in ways they cannot in other subject areas. We all learn in different ways and, for many, those ways are not math, science, or reading. We need to teach the whole child. (Even those who succeed in the “core” subjects benefit from art!)”

Teacher, 6th Grade
“Art is important because it’s a way kids can express themselves! If they struggle with a concept, using art is a great way for them to demonstrate learning.”

Teacher
“Art is important in the classroom because it is able to help students express themselves in outlets they typically don’t have access to. It gives meaning to words unexpressed and unlocks doors that are difficult to open in other traditional ways.” 

 Art Teacher, Pre K-8
“I teach Pre K-8 art and I think are is important because it helps us connect to each other and the world in ways that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. It’s a universal language.”

Special Education Teacher
“I think art is important in the classroom for self expression and learning appreciation for a variety of art mediums.”

Teacher, Grade 5
“Art gives students an outlet and a way to express their creativity.” 

Homeschooler, Grades 5,8 and 11
“I am a homeschool mom.  My kids are currently in 11th, 8th, and 5th.  Art is important because it’s a way for us to be creative together.
My youngest son and I recently took a class on collage and made some mini books (he made four, and I made one.)  It was so fun, and I can’t wait to make more! It’s also something where my kids can learn new skills and make something they are excited about.
My daughter (17) won an art contest sponsored by our military library last week, and she was so proud of herself. It’s also a chance for community.  We attend homeschool art classes at our local library, and participate in a homeschool art show there too – both are so much fun!

10 Reasons Why Art is Important – for kids and adults too!

  • ​make sense of our thoughts
  • connect with our feelings
  • tell our story, explore our internal world
  • encourage play, stimulate our imagination
  • relax, quieten our minds, aid concentration
  • relieve stress, reduce anxiety
  • develop self-awareness
  • build confidence and self-esteem
  • lower blood pressure
  • express complex states of mind

So, let’s imagine it’s Back To School Week….
The class meets up again after the long holiday. Students get to reflect on their summer memories, catch up with their friends, and start to get to know their new teacher.
They explore their learning preferences, where they excel, the challenges they face, and they set new goals for the coming year. And the new teacher starts to build a picture of each child

What a lot is going on!!

How are the children really feeling on their first day back to school?
And how are teachers feeling? A mixture of excitement and apprehension?
We are all unique and can feel happy, sad, scared, anxious, and excited all at the same time.
Excited to see friends again. Sad, or maybe glad that the summer holidays are over. Anxious about building a relationship with a new teacher. Scared that maths might be too challenging this year.

This is where we can introduce icebreaker games, ‘all about me’ activities, student surveys and teacher questionnaires.

Researching ‘Back to School’ activities on the web (mainly pinterest because I love it), I found an abundance of printable pages and activities, teacher surveys and questionnaires.

Most of them involve answering questions with words.

Being a visual, creative type who sees the world in pictures, this information gave me the inspiration to fill what I see, as a gap – to design some relevant, modern, imaginative back to school activities that involve illustrating our answers, exploring color and imagery, alongside expressing ourselves with words.

Why is art so important? Download
10 ways art helps kids Download

You can view my popular Back To School art and writing prompt activities here on my website or at my Teachers Pay Teachers store where you can securely purchase these downloads, from anywhere in the world.

T-shirt all about me art activity
a soccer ball about me printable art activity
All about me back to school printable camera and selfie snapshots art activity
all about me printable cell phone art activity
Back to school art and writing prompt activities bundle
a printable backpack all about me back to school art and writing activity for kids

Have a great start to the new school year!

All the best,
Diane

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