Back to school art activities help students settle in, get to know each other and show who they are. Good first-week ideas include drawing self-portraits, turning names into monsters, all-about-me drawings, a class mural and a simple directed drawing that every child can succeed at. They also give you a quick look at each child’s fine motor skills and interests.
10 first-week drawing activities
- Draw yourself. A cartoon self-portrait. Try a free cartoon people lesson.
- Name monsters. Turn the first letter of your name into a monster. See alphabet drawing activities.
- All about me. Draw your favorite food, animal, place and activity in four boxes.
- My summer. Draw the best thing you did this summer.
- Class mural. Each student draws a square; put them together into one big picture.
- Find a friend who drew... Students draw a favorite thing, then find classmates who drew the same.
- Directed drawing. A simple, confidence-building lesson for day one. See directed drawing.
- Dream school. Draw the school of your dreams.
- My goals. Draw yourself at the end of the year.
- Class mascot. Each student designs a mascot; the class votes.
Why drawing works in week one
- Everyone can join, including new English learners. See drawing activities for ELL students.
- Kids talk about their drawings, which breaks the ice.
- You learn interests that help you connect.
- You see skills like pencil grip and following directions.
Make a back-to-school display
A wall of self-portraits or name monsters makes a cheerful bulletin board. Save a self-portrait from week one and draw again at the end of the year for a powerful before-and-after. See growth mindset art activities.
Plan the rest of the year
See the best drawing books for a classroom library, art center ideas and the teacher resources.
The book that helps
Alphabet Monsters makes name art fun, and the Cartoon People books help kids draw themselves and their new classmates.
How to Draw: Alphabet Monsters
Trace Then Color: Cartoon People
Draw by Grid: Cartoon PeopleAs an Amazon Associate, FirstArtBooks earns from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
What art activity is good for the first day of school?
A simple directed drawing or a cartoon self-portrait, both easy for every child to succeed at.
What are good icebreaker art activities?
Name monsters, all-about-me drawings, find-a-friend drawings and a class mural.
How can art help in the first week of school?
It helps students settle in, share who they are and talk to classmates, and it shows teachers each child’s interests and skills.