I love easy art projects for young learners because they're fun, beautiful, and the kids really enjoy them.  You can adapt these two projects for any time of the year.  We used them this year for our valentine art.

Stained Glass Valentine Heart

These will add a pop of color to any classroom or home.  You can make these year round, by creating different thematic templates.

Materials

• tissue paper
• wax paper
• liquid glue
• water
• bowl
• paint brush
• permanent marker
• scissors
• heart template

 

The activity

I like to do this valentine art activity in small groups.  I pass out a piece of wax paper to each child and have them trace a heart using a sharpie.

Students will spread the glue-water mixture onto the was paper.  Make sure to spread it all the way to the edge.  Then, students will get a strip of tissue paper and lay it down.  Spread the glue mixture on top so that it's wet, but not too wet.  You'll need to remind the kids to make sure every piece is covered in the mixture.

I love giving my kids creative freedom so they can create any design that they'd like.

Once students write their names on the wax paper in sharpie, we lay it out to dry.  I tried using a drying rack this year and it didn't work out very well since the wax paper isn't sturdy.  I'd suggest finding an open spot to let them dry out.

Once they're dry, cut them out hang them up in a window.

Love Art

You can do this project with any {short} word.  Peace, happy, spring, a name, you get the idea!  We used them this year for a valentine art project for our memory books. I am paid a small fee from Amazon for sharing some of my favorite ELA resources with you!

Materials

• construction paper or card stock
• permanent marker
• letter templates for the word you want to spell
• bleeding tissue paper (it's different than the regular kind and they don't have it at Hobby Lobby)
• water
• paint brush
• bowl

Activity

I was lucky enough to have a parent draw the lines on the paper for us.  I had her draw 4 rectangles. I had the letters in ziplock bags and passed them out to the class.  Each pair had their own bag to trace. Once everyone traced their letters, I modeled how to add lines with different curves, edges, thickness, etc.  Have students draw their design but DO NOT go inside the letter.

Now here's the fun part!  I had my kids get into groups and I passed out bowls of water and paint brushes.  I showed students how to dab water onto the paper before adding the bleeding tissue paper. It's important to put the tissue on straight, rather than diagonal.

Students were required to use like colors in each box so that each box really stands out.  It was a great time to review warm and cool colors.

Students loved peeling off the dry tissue paper and throwing it away.  They were so impressed with each other!

We added them to our memory book for a nice valentine art display.  I'm hoping to do this again for an Open House project.