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10 Fun Kindergarten Projects: Activities for Early Childhood…

 

Nothing stimulates the mind of a child like a good hands-on project to mess around with. While options are almost endless, here are 10 fun kindergarten projects that you and your kids can enjoy in a variety of ways.

 

Project #1: Tissue Paper Art Project

They’re fun, they’re simple, and they can be remarkably diverse. Plus, they can build color and image associations, as well as encourage creativity.

 

Supplies:

• Several colors of tissue paper – for decorating.
• A glue stick of other source of glue – for adhesive
• Sturdy paper, such as construction paper or cardstock – the base of the project
• Scissors – optional, if you decide to cut shapes as opposed to making outlines
• Markers or Pens – Optional if you want to draw outlines
• General guidelines for projects – What would you like to make?

What To Do:

Collect the necessary supplies.

Set the parameters

 

Example: What Kinds of Fruits Are There? Everyone picks a fruit they want to make.

Help children pick out the proper colors and form the proper shapes

– Note: You can just let the kids draw their own shapes, or you can assist.

• Tear the tissue paper into small pieces.
• Glue pieces into the shape to create a tissue paper collage of sorts.
• Set aside to dry.
• It’s fun and it’s easy, and it has a lot of potential for multiple applications.

 

Project #2: Clay Shaping

A great activity that lets kids really work with their hands. You can use children’s modeling clay, or you can use something like Play-doh. You might decide to add some paint for color, but the clay is really all you need. Best of all, it’s really simple. And it’s a perfect way to let kids express themselves in 3-D. You can let them free-form, or suggest shapes, like coasters, tiles, or simple bowls. You can also lead the way and help them make more complex projects. Clay animals or characters are always fun. And what better way to celebrate winter than with the making of a semi-permanent snowman?

 

Here’s A Twist:

Lead them through storytelling by assigning them different parts of it to shape. Like putting on a play, it builds both creativity and teamwork.

 

Project #3: Wind Socks – Or Kites

It’s quick and easy and colorful, and it makes a great thing to take home later, or take outside to play with

 

Supplies:

• Scissors
• Glue
• Paper – Construction paper recommended.
• Markers for Decoration
• String
• A hole punch

 

What To Do:

• Cut one – or several – pieces of paper into strips, no wider than about 1/2 an inch
• Lay one piece of paper flat and glue strips to one edge. Allow to dry.
• Decorate with markers or other decorations to preference.
• Curl an intact piece of paper into a cylinder shape and glue the edges together.
• Punch holes near the top edge of the cylinder to run the string through. Should be about 1/2 inch to 1 inch down.
• Tie strings through holes, then connect over the center of the cylinder to one longer string.

 

For a Kite Variation:

• You’ll want fewer paper strips, and you may want a flt shape rather than a cylinder.
• Holes will be at the corners of the kite.
• You might want to reinforce holes with glue, additional paper, or tape.

 

Here’s a Fun Idea…

If you’re feeling adventurous, take your kids outside with several different shapes. What do different shapes do?

 

Project #4: Self-Portrait Shadow Box

Fun and simple. It’s a two-person project, so it can involve teamwork as well as creativity

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Supplies:

• Cardboard cut-out – the back of a cereal box is an excellent option.
• Some transparent medium, such as cellophane.
• A little bit of glue.
• Markers – Sharpies or Chalk Markers are Recommended.
• Scissors

 

What To Do:

• If you haven’t already, cut out the center of the box side to get a frame.
• Cut transparent medium to match and glue in place.
• Position the frame in a good place with plenty of light.
• Have the child stand on one side of the transparent ‘window’
• You or another child draw the child’s portrait on the cellophane.
• You can have them add whimsical details if you feel like it, for a bit of artistic flair.

 

For a Twist:

You can have the child express their own artistic skills by placing the cellophane window in front of or on top of a mirror.  Fun, also good for expressing and developing self-esteem.

 

Project #5: Body Outline Art

Who doesn’t love to make handprint turkeys at Thanksgiving? The concept can be expanded to a number of projects, ranging from handprint and footprint decorations to full-body images.

 

Supplies:

• Paper or material of appropriate size
• Pens or markers for tracing
• Glue, materials, and paper for decorating – optional
• Paint, crayons or markers for coloring.

 

What To Do:

• Choose the outline and create it
• Add details as desired.
• This is a good option because it has a range of applications. 
• If you’re feeling ambitious, use sheets or large craft/butcher paper to do full-body pictures. Have one person outline the child on paper, then add details with markers or paint or other decorations.

 

Project #6: Pipe-Cleaner Creations

This is another one that can be highly diverse. You can do simple projects like mobiles, or pipe-cleaner people. You can even go big and have them build pipe-cleaner structures.

 

Supplies:

• Plenty of pipe-cleaners in as many colors as you can get.
• Decorative elements, such as googly-eyes for people or animals, or string for mobiles.
• Glue or scissors as needed.
• Paper for shapes, especially if you’re making mobiles.

 

What To Do:

Give the kids an idea of what you want, and walk them through the process. Help with attachments if needed

 

Add a Twist:

For mobiles or structures, add a bit of a scavenger hunt. Let the kids find or choose random materials to incorporate into their work. You can even do this with animals, by letting them choose different ideas for defining their creature shapes.

 

Pipe-Cleaner Bouquet:

A great combo project. Paper folded or cut-out flowers on pipe-cleaner stems can be an adorable project for Mother’s Day. You can even consider spritzing them with a light floral perfume to add ‘scent’.

 

Project #7: Cardboard Collage

It can be cardboard or construction paper. It can even be different types of paper. All it really needs is a solid back and plenty of materials for decoration!

 

Supplies:

• Cardboard or heavy-duty paper for the base of the project.
• Paper
• Glue
• Markers
• Scissors.

 

What To Do:

Give your kids ideas, then stand back! Lend a hand if they want it, or if they need it, but let them go wild.

 

For a Change:

Encourage your kids to go 3-D. Whether it’s a 3-D object they collage, or turning their art 3-D, let them expand in new directions.

 

Project #8: ABC or 123 Flip Books

This is a great option for a long-term project that covers a number of subjects. You can give it a cover, and a title page, and add to it little by little. You can even use it as a place to put other craft projects that are relevant.

 

Supplies:

• Paper
• Glue and Scissors – Optional
• Markers or Pens
• A folder or Binder
• Staples or a hole-punch and strings for the final project.

 

What to Do:

As you cover different subjects, include art projects or ideas to become part of the book. Help each kid carefully put things together and store them. Make sure they’re in a safe place until they’re complete. Encourage children to review them often. It’s a great way to show progress in different areas, not to mention giving them something fun and amazing to look back on.

 

Project #9: Paint-Stamp Art

Great because it can use a variety of different mediums and tools. It can provide an entertaining way to get kids to think outside the box. You can use sponge shapes or blocks for basic projects. For more complex ideas…anything goes!

 

Supplies:

• Paint – Preferably washable.
• Stamping tools
• Paper or decorating surface.

 

What To Do:

Demonstrate the basic ideas of the project, then allow your kids to put their own spin on it.

 

Add a Twist:

You can use a variety of stamping tools to create a story. Use plastic animal feet, toys, and shapes to create a story world with your kids. You can also use it to create games or designs, or practice with concepts. Use unconventional materials to make amazing and unexpected images. Really, this is a highly adaptable project. If there’s a drawback, it’s that this can get a bit messy, But it’s fun.

 

Project #10: Yarn-Glue Sculptures

Fun, colorful and easy to do. It might be a little messy, but the results can be incredible.

 

Supplies:

• Yarn – as many colors as you want, and multi-color for cool effects
• Glue
• A shallow bowl or tray for dipping yarn in glue.
• Paper to form the base of the sculpture – cardboard also works
• Something to attach the yarn to – optional if you’re considering free-form or 3-D sculptures.Crayons are a popular choice.

 

What To Do:

You can do this a couple of different ways.

– Draw shapes, then dip the yarn in glue and lay within the shapes until the result satisfies your kids.

– Attach glue soaked yarn to an object – like a crayon – and work into sculpture shape as the glue dries.

The possibilities are vast. Alphabet letters, numbers, pictures…take your pick.

 

Project #11: Dinosaur Craft

This activity will introduce kids to the different types of dinosaurs, teach them about shapes and color, and help build their scissor skills.

 

Supplies:

• Paper plates–any size will do, cut in half to create a semi-circle
• Tempera paint–various colors
• Cardstock–various colors
• Glue
• Scissors
• Markers

 

What To Do:

Provide each child with a semi-circle paper plate–this will be the base of the dinosaur’s body.  Children can paint the paper plate any color they like. Have children cut the cardstock into different shapes for the head, tail, legs, and spikes. Once the paint is dry on the paper plate, children can glue the cardstock pieces on to complete the dinosaur. Markers are used to draw on the eyes of the dinosaur.

 

For a Twist:

Provide pom-poms, glitter, and other materials to decorate your dinosaur and make it fancy!

 

Project #12: Q-tip Painting

Using q-tips helps build children’s fine motor skills and provides a unique alternative to paintbrushes.

 

Supplies:

• Paper suitable for painting
• Tempera paint in a variety of colors
• Q-tips

 

What To Do:

Provide each child with a sheet of paper–choose a smaller size sheet since q-tips are pretty tiny!  Give children a few different colors of paint to use and a q-tip for each color. Encourage kids to use their imagination to create whatever type of design they would like.

 

For a Twist:

Have children use the q-tips to create dot paintings–each dab of the q-tip creates a point or dot that can make a neat picture.

 

Project #13: Painted Eggs

This is a great activity to try with kids but be sure that there are no egg allergies in your kindergarteners!

 

Supplies:

• Hard-boiled eggs–cooled. You’ll want at least one for each child.
• Tempera paint in various colors–pastels are great if you have them!
• Paintbrushes
• Plastic egg holders–these will allow the painted eggs to dry.

 

What To Do:

Provide children with an egg (or two), different colors of paint, and paintbrushes. Encourage the kids to paint their eggs in whatever colors and patterns they like. Explain how to make stripes, polka dots, and other patterns using the paintbrush. Once painting is done, let eggs dry in the plastic holders.

 

Note:

Since the eggs have been cooked, this is not something the kids will want to hang onto for long! 

 

Project #14: Blow Painting

Kids will love this fun painting activity as they use their mouths instead of their hands to paint!

 

Supplies:

• Paper suitable for painting, any size
• Tempera paint in different colors
• Straws–plastic or metal are fine

 

What To Do:

Give children a sheet of paper for their project. Squirt about a teaspoon of each color of paint onto the paper.

Demonstrate how to blow through the straw toward the paint, so that the air pushes the paint around the paper. Be sure to emphasize that they are blowing air out of the straw–not sucking it in as they will get paint in their mouth that way!

 

For a Twist:

Use markers to draw stems on each paint splatter to create some pretty wild flowers!

 

Project #15: Nature Scavenger Collage

This activity gets kids outside where they can learn about science and the natural environment. Then they use their imagination indoors to create their very own nature collage.

 

Supplies:

• Bags or baskets for kids to collect their items outside.
• Cardboard, cardstock, or heavy paper–this will form the base of their collage.
• Glue

 

What To Do:

Take children outdoors to a park, wooded area, or any similar environment. Encourage kids to fill up their baskets with items they find on the ground such as leaves, pinecones, flower petals, sticks, and more. Teach kids why it is important not to pluck leaves or flowers from growing plants but to use just what has fallen to the ground.  Once they have gathered their items, return inside and provide children with cardboard and glue.  Demonstrate how to glue their found items onto the cardboard to make a unique collage.

 

For a Twist:

Have children practice their printing skills by using markers to label the items on their collage.

 

Project #16: Jellyfish Craft

This is a fun way to introduce kids to a special sea creature and have them learn about the importance of our oceans.

 

Supplies:

• Paper plates, cut in half into semi-circles
• Tempera paint in different colors
• Colored paper or cardstock–various colors
• Scissors
• Glue
• Stick-on or glue-on beaded eyes

 

What To Do:

Give each child a paper plate semi-circle. This will be the hood of the jellyfish. Have children paint the paper plate in whatever colors they like. Next, have children use the scissors to cut the paper or cardstock into long thin strips–these will form the tentacles of the jellyfish. Show kids how to glue the strips of paper to the straight edge of the paper plate to create a jellyfish. Have kids stick or glue the beaded eyes onto the paper plate to complete the craft!

 

For a Twist:

Use a large piece of blue bristol board to create an ocean backdrop to hang all of the jellyfish on! 

 

Project #17: Cotton Ball Tree Painting

A simple way to create beautiful paintings of trees to celebrate springtime.

 

Supplies:

• Paper suitable for painting
• Tempera paint in several colors
• Paper plates
• Cotton balls
• Paintbrushes

 

What To Do:

Provide each child with a sheet of paper, several cotton balls, a paintbrush, and paint on a paper plate for dipping the cotton into. Have kids use their paint brushes to paint the trunk of a tree on their paper.  Demonstrate how to dip the cotton balls lightly into the paint and dab onto the paper to create the leaves of the tree.

 

More Ideas:

There are plenty of choices for interesting and entertaining ideas. However, these 10 fun kindergarten projects are a great place to start.

 

This article provides you with a new activity outside of our products in the reading app for 3rd graders, 2nd graders, 1st graders, and preschoolers…

 

Meta Description

Looking for some hands-on ways to entertain and educate your kindergarten kids? Check out these 10 Fun Kindergarten Projects!

 

References 

https://www.pinterest.com/patty_palmer2/kinder-art-projects/

https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/kindergarten-art-projects/

https://www.weareteachers.com/best-kindergarten-art-projects/

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