These 4th-grade art projects are some of our favorite lessons to try with older elementary kids. Whether a lesson is inspired by a famous artwork or more focused on new art techniques, there is a fun and engaging fourth-grade art idea for your classroom or at home.
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After teaching art to many different grade levels, I have been organizing my free art projects and ideas by grade to make them easier to find. While there may be some overlap with our 3rd grade art projects, these art projects, lessons, and techniques are perfect for your creative 4th graders.
15+ Free 4th Grade Art Lessons
1
Creative Mandala Painting Lesson
Use our free step-by-step art lesson to learn how to draw a radial design. The free art tutorial even has a link to a great video showing real monks making a sand Mandala. Fourth graders can't believe that they wipe the sand away and love using basic drawing steps to create unique art with their own lines, shapes and colors.
4th grade students of all abilities will love creating this simple monochromatic painting using a tape resist method. This is a great art project to explore composition and balance, and to introduce mixing tints and shades.
This detailed ceramic lesson is great for 4th graders with prior clay experience. Before building with clay, each student designs a sea creature or fish. This is more advanced elementary clay project, but I always love seeing all the artistic choices the kids make.
This easy drawing idea is great for the beginning of the school year. Work on colored pencil skills and using markers in the negative space to create contrast. Or try a different name design with chalk pastels on black construction paper.
Explore warm and cool color schemes while allowing children artistic freedom to create a fun 4-letter word art. This lesson shows a quick way to start the template, and we love using bleeding tissue paper for a cool collage effect, and kids love seeing the colors blend together.
Use our easy sculpture tutorial to learn how to create people using tin foil. While this project can work with younger artists, 4th graders definitely add more details and dynamic poses.
Our detailed drawing tutorial will help your 4th graders create this fun Op Art drawing of kids. Grab our free printable as well for an extra resource.
Mix homemade black glue for a fun watercolor painting idea. Yes, you can draw flowers or allow 4th grade students to create any drawing before adding watercolor paints.
There is nothing cooler than creating art under blacklights. These folk art-inspired landscapes make an awesome 4th-grade art lesson. Trust me, buy the black lights and neon oil pastels.
By the time kids are in 4th grade, they can easily draw an image with glue. This Jim Dine-inspired art lesson is great for introducing chalk pastel blending and adding highlights and shadows.
While this painting may seem too difficult for the average 3rd or 4th grader, it is not. I have broken down the steps and each child can create a landscape they are proud of. This is a great lesson for teaching foreground, middle ground and background.
3rd and 4th graders will love learning about foreground, middleground, and background in this shoebox project. Grab those extra supplies and see what kids can create.
4th grade is such a special time; they are still kids, but can complete more difficult or advanced art projects with the right guidance and instruction. You will be amazed at the art your fourth graders can create! I know I always am.
As a former art teacher, artist and mom, Erin knows how important expressing your creativity is. Even the youngest children can enjoy the process of artmaking with their families.
