Saturday, April 25, 2026

Summer Follow Directions Activity

If you’re searching for a simple, engaging end of year activity that requires little prep but keeps students focused and having fun, this Summer Follow Directions Activity is a must-try.

In this lesson, students follow a series of 25 timed directions using a summer-themed worksheet filled with fun images like palm trees, beach items, and summer treats. Each direction is read one time only, encouraging students to listen carefully, think quickly, and stay focused.

This activity is not subject-specific, making it perfect for any classroom—whether you teach math, reading, art, or need a quick filler lesson during a busy end-of-year schedule.



⭐ Why Teachers Love This Activity

  • No prep required
  • Uses simple classroom materials (just a 10-count set of markers and printed worksheets)
  • Keeps students engaged and on-task
  • Encourages independence and listening skills
  • Easy to follow and sub-friendly



⭐ What’s Included

  • Google Slides presentation with built-in timers
  • PDF version of the slides
  • Teacher directions with step-by-step guidance
  • Student worksheet
  • Teacher direction checklist (optional for reading directions aloud)
  • Answer key for easy checking



⭐ How Long Does It Take?

  • Activity time: about 15 minutes
  • Full lesson (including introduction, checking, and additional coloring): 30–35 minutes



⭐ When to Use This Activity

  • End of the school year
  • Summer school
  • Sub plans
  • Morning work or centers
  • Brain breaks or fast finisher time
  • Homeschool or small group activities

⭐ Final Thoughts

This Summer Follow Directions Activity is a fun and effective way to wrap up the school year while reinforcing important listening and focus skills. Students stay engaged, teachers stay stress-free, and everyone enjoys a little summer-themed fun in the classroom!


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Sunday, April 12, 2026

Bubble Gum Machine Art Lesson

 Looking for a fun, engaging art lesson that works perfectly at the beginning OR end of the school year? This bubble gum machine art project is a student favorite and a great way to combine creativity, color, and simple drawing skills into one exciting lesson.

It’s the kind of project that keeps students motivated while still reinforcing important art concepts.


 

🎉 Why This is the Perfect Beginning OR End of Year Lesson

Some lessons are great for teaching deep concepts—but others are perfect for building excitement, confidence, and classroom energy.

This project is ideal because it:

  • Feels fun and low-pressure
  • Keeps students highly engaged
  • Produces colorful, display-ready artwork
  • Works well with mixed skill levels

Projects like gumball machines are especially popular because they use repetition and simple shapes, making them accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of students.


🎨 What Students Learn

Even though this lesson feels fun and relaxed, students are still practicing key skills:

  • Drawing using basic shapes
  • Understanding repetition and pattern
  • Building confidence with step-by-step drawing
  • Exploring color choices and composition

Each artwork turns out unique depending on how students design their gumballs and backgrounds.


🖍️ Supplies Needed

  • White construction paper (12” x 18”)
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Black marker or Sharpie
  • Crayons or markers

Optional:

  • Paint or dot markers for gumballs
  • Circle tracers (plates work great!)

✏️ Lesson Overview (Simple Steps)

  1. Draw the Gumball Machine
    Use simple shapes to build the structure.
  2. Fill with Gumballs
    Add circles inside the machine using repetition.
  3. Outline the Drawing
    Trace with a black marker for bold definition.
  4. Add Color
    Use bright colors to make the gumballs stand out.
  5. Optional Background
    Students can add patterns or designs to complete their artwork.

💡 Teacher Tips

  • Use a plate or circle tracer for easy success
  • Encourage students to fill the space completely
  • Let students get creative with color patterns
  • Keep it relaxed—this is a “fun energy” lesson

This works great as a 1–2 day project depending on how detailed students get.


⭐ Why Teachers Love This Lesson

  • Low Prep
  • Great for Grades 2–7
  • High engagement
  • Easy to manage
  • Perfect for beginning OR end of year

🎯 Get the Full Lesson

This blog post gives you a quick overview, but the full resource includes everything you need to teach this lesson smoothly:

  • Step-by-step guided Google Slides
  • Teacher directions and notes
  • Visual examples for students
  • Easy-to-follow drawing instructions
  • Grading rubric

👉 Get the full Bubble Gum Machine Art Lesson here:  Bubble Gum Machine Lesson


🎨 Final Thoughts

This bubble gum machine lesson is one of those go-to projects that students absolutely love. It’s colorful, creative, and flexible—making it perfect for those times of year when you want something engaging without adding stress.

Whether you’re starting the year or wrapping it up, this lesson is a guaranteed win.


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Saturday, April 4, 2026

Turtle Directed Drawing Lesson

 Looking for a simple and successful drawing lesson for younger students? This turtle directed drawing lesson is a great way to introduce basic shapes, lines, and guided drawing skills in a fun and approachable way.

Perfect for early elementary, this lesson helps students build confidence while creating an artwork they’re proud of.


🐢 Why Directed Drawing Works So Well

Directed drawing is one of the best ways to help students feel successful in the art room—especially younger learners.

This lesson:

  • Breaks drawing into simple, manageable steps
  • Builds confidence for beginner artists
  • Reinforces basic shapes and lines
  • Keeps students engaged from start to finish

Step-by-step drawing lessons are widely used in elementary art because they help develop fine motor skills and confidence while allowing for creativity.


🎨 What Students Learn

In this lesson, students will:

  • Use basic shapes to build a turtle
  • Practice line control and drawing skills
  • Follow step-by-step directions
  • Add personal details and creativity

Even though the drawing is guided, each turtle still turns out unique.


🖍️ Supplies Needed

  • White drawing paper
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Black crayon, marker, or Sharpie
  • Crayons or markers

Optional:

  • Pattern ideas for shells
  • Background additions (ocean, sand, plants)

✏️ Lesson Overview (Simple Steps)

  1. Draw the Basic Shapes
    Start with simple shapes to form the turtle’s body and shell.
  2. Add Details
    Draw legs, head, and shell patterns using lines and shapes.
  3. Outline the Drawing
    Trace with a black marker or crayon for bold definition.
  4. Add Color
    Use crayons or markers to bring the turtle to life.
  5. Optional Background
    Students can add water, sand, or plants for a finished look.

💡 Teacher Tips

  • Model each step slowly and clearly
  • Pause between steps to let students catch up
  • Encourage creativity in shell patterns
  • Keep expectations simple for younger grades

This lesson works well as a 1-day project.


⭐ Why Teachers Love This Lesson

  • No Prep
  • Great for Grades K–3
  • Builds confidence in drawing
  • Easy to follow
  • Perfect for sub plans

🎯 Get the Full Lesson

This blog post gives you a quick overview, but the full resource includes everything you need to teach this lesson smoothly:

  • Step-by-step guided Google Slides
  • Teacher directions and notes
  • Visual examples for students
  • Simple, clear drawing instructions
  • Grading rubric

👉 Get the full Turtle Directed Drawing Lesson here: Turtle Drawing Lesson


🎨 Final Thoughts

This turtle directed drawing lesson is a great go-to project for building foundational drawing skills. Students feel successful, teachers get smooth classroom flow, and the final artwork is always colorful and display-ready.

It’s a perfect lesson to revisit each year with new groups of students.


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