Designed for students from 1st grade through 6th grade, this FREE Intro to Art Unit Study was created to ignite young imaginations and cultivate an appreciation for the world of visual art through early art history lessons and hands-on activities.
FREE UNIT STUDIES
Intro to Art Unit Study
September 17, 2025
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Intro to Art for Elementary Students
Welcome to The Family Years – Intro to Art Unit Study! In this FREE Intro to Art Unit Study, children will learn about the 7 elements of art, early art history, various famous artists and works, and artistic techniques and styles.
Each week focuses on a specific element of art with readings from the accompanied texts, a topic-based video, and a hands-on activity. Each of our unit studies features a 4-day curriculum example. At this speed, it will take approximately 6 weeks to complete. As with the other free homeschooling unit studies offered on our site, you are encouraged to go at your own pace. This course specifically could be extended to 12 weeks or longer, if used as a weekly or bi-weekly program.
Intro to Art Textbooks
The Elementary Intro to Art Unit Study uses two main textbooks, How to Teach Art to Children and DK Children’s Book of Art. There are also two optional books to further explore artists introduced in this curriculum, The Story of Leonardo da Vinci by Ciara O’ Neal and The Met Hokusai: He Saw the World in a Wave by Susie Hodge. These books can be purchased from the links below or check your local library for titles that you may not be interested in purchasing at this time.
We are excited that you have chosen to learn alongside us and hope you and your family enjoy this homeschool elementary Intro to Art Unit Study!
Are you currently doing our Intro to Art Unit Study? BOOKMARK THIS PAGE or SAVE THE PDF for easy access to video and activity links!
Please note, The Family Years homeschooling Intro to Art Unit Study is copyrighted and for personal use only.
Optional Books about Artists in this Curriculum
Materials Needed for Art Projects –
Before starting an art project, it’s important to make sure you have all of the materials on hand. The list below covers the bulk of the art projects that are used in this unit study.
FAQ
How long does the unit study take to complete?
Our unit studies are designed to be self-paced. When covering one section per week, the Intro to Art Unit Study should take about 6 weeks to complete. If integrating an art lesson twice a week, it will last 12 weeks and if incorporating one once a week, it can be completed in 24 weeks.
What age range is best for the Intro to Art Unit Study?
The Intro to Art Unit Study was created for students in 1st Grade through 6th Grade, but we believe is best suited for kids aged six through twelve.
Do you have to buy ALL the recommended books?
We would highly recommend purchasing both of the main textbooks since they are used for each lesson. They are also great resources for your home library. To save money, you can check your local library and see what is available to borrow or consider purchasing the books secondhand.
Is the Intro to Art Unit Study really free?
The Intro to Art Unit Study is completely free. Most of the books included can be found at your local library and the bulk of the activities can be completed with items you already have around the house.
ART TEXTBOOKS FOR KIDS
OPTIONAL ART BOOKS
I. LINE AND EARLY ART
- Students will learn about lines and curves and how they contribute to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about early art, cave drawings, and hieroglyphs.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Lines (p. 9)
Watch – The Element of Line
Activity – Line Practice
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Early Art (p. 10 – 11) and Rocky Beginnings (p. 12 – 13)
Watch – Cave Art 101
Activity – Rock Art
Day 3
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Curves and Angles (p. 13)
Watch – How to Draw Better Curves
Activity – Curve Drawing Practice and/or Curved-Line Bookmark
Day 4
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Egyptian Scribes (p. 14 – 15)
Watch – Ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphs and Writing Systems | National Museums Liverpool
Activity – Clay Cartouches
- Lines (p. 9)
- Curves and Angles (p. 13)
- Early Art (p. 10 – 11)
- Rocky Beginnings (p. 12 – 13)
- Egyptian Scribes (p. 14 – 15)
- Line Practice (p. 10 – 11)
- Rock Art (p. 156 – 157)
- Curved Drawing Practice (p. 13)
- Curved-Line Bookmark (p. 17)
- Clay Cartouches (p. 118 – 121)
II. SHAPE, DREAMTIME ART, AND MOSAICS
- Students will learn about shapes and how they contribute to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about dreamtime art and mosaics.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Shape (p. 19)
Watch – Elements of Art – Shape
Activity – What is it?
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Dreamtime Art (p. 20 – 21)
Watch – Aboriginal Art Painting, Dreamtime
Activity – Bark Paintings
Day 3
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Positive and Negative Shapes (p. 22)
Watch – Positive and Negative Space in Art
Activity – Watercolor Positive and Negative Space
Day 4
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Mosaics (p. 148) and DK Children’s Book of Art – How to Make Mosaics (p. 22 – 23)
Watch – The Mastery of Roman Mosaics
Activity – Create a Mosaic
- Shape (p. 19)
- Positive and Negative Shapes (p. 22)
- Mosaics (p. 148)
- Dreamtime Art (p. 20 – 21)
- How to Make Mosaics (p. 22 – 23)
- What Is It? (p. 26)
- Bark Paintings (p. 146 – 147)
- Create a Mosaic (p. 149)
Watercolor Positive and Negative Space (from video)
III. COLOR AND CHINESE ART
- Students will learn about color and how it contributes to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about Chinese art.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Color (p. 29 – 30)
Watch – Elements of Art – Color
Activity – Three-Color Paint Job
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Chinese Art (p. 28 – 29) and The Terracotta Army Sculptors (p. 114 – 115); How to Teach Art to Children – Chinese Bookmakers (p. 130)
Watch – Dragon Scale Bookbinding: How This Man Revived the Ancient Chinese Art
Activity – Accordion Books
Day 3
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – How to Create Colors (p. 35 – 36)
Watch – Make Your Own Watercolors!
Activity – The Color Wheel and Make Your Own Watercolors!
Day 4
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Cool and Warm Colors (p. 46)
Watch – Warm vs. Cool Colors
Activity – Colorful Collage
- Color (p. 29 – 30)
- Chinese Bookmakers (p. 130)
- Cool and Warm Colors (p. 46)
- Chinese Art (p. 28 – 29)
- The Terracotta Army Sculptors (p. 114 – 115)
- How to Create Colors (p. 35 – 36)
- Three-Color Paint Job (p. 33)
- Accordion Books (p. 131)
- The Color Wheel (p. 35 – 36)
- Colorful Collage (p. 47)
Make Your Own Watercolors! (from video)
IV. VALUE, FORM, AND THE RENAISSANCE
- Students will learn about value and form and how they contribute to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about Renaissance art and artists including Leonardo da Vinci.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Value (p. 65)
Watch – Value as an Element of Art
Activity – Mixing Colors with White
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Renaissance (p. 32 – 33) and How to Make Frescoes (p. 18 – 19)
Watch – Art History for Kids: Medieval and Renaissance Art
Activity – DIY Fresco Art
*Plaster takes time to partially dry so plan ahead.
Day 3
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Leonardo da Vinci (p. 36 – 37)
*Optional – The Story of Leonardo da Vinci
Watch – Leonardo da Vinci for Children
Activity – Drawing an Invention
Day 4
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Form (p. 95); DK Children’s Book of Art – Sculpture (p. 110 – 111) and How to Sculpt Marble (p. 120 – 121)
*p. 122 – 123 includes information about Michelangelo, including full picture of the sculpture, “David”
Watch – All About Form: Take Your Art to the Third Dimension
Activity – Pinch a Pot
- Value (p. 65)
- Form (p. 95)
- Renaissance (p. 32 – 33)
- How to Make Frescoes (p. 18 – 19)
- Leonardo da Vinci (p. 36 – 37)
- Sculpture (p. 110 – 111)
- How to Sculpt Marble (p. 120 – 121)
- Mixing Colors with White (p. 72 – 73)
- Drawing an Invention (p. 126 – 127)
- Pinch a Pot (p. 100)
V. TEXTURE, BAROQUE, AND WATERCOLOR
- Students will learn about texture how it contributes to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about the Baroque period, Jan van Eyck, and Jan Vermeer.
- Students will learn how to use watercolor.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Texture (p. 77)
Watch – Elements of Art – Texture
Activity – Scratch-Away Texture
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Jan van Eyck (p. 38 – 39) and How to Use Oil Paint (p. 40 – 41)
Watch – Secret Masterpiece Hidden Under Jan van Eyck’s ‘Arnolfini Portrait’
Activity – Creating Texture with Paint
Day 3
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Baroque (p. 44 – 45) and Jan Vermeer (p. 46 – 47)
Watch – Why is Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring” considered a masterpiece?
Activity – How to Draw the Girl with the Pearl Earring
Day 4
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – How to Use Watercolor (p. 56 – 57)
Watch – Watercolor: A Short (but Fascinating!) History
Activity – How to Paint a Beach Landscape Kids Watercolor
- Texture (p. 77)
- Jan van Eyck (p. 38 – 39)
- How to Use Oil Paint (p. 40 – 41)
- Baroque (p. 44 – 45)
- Jan Vermeer (p. 46 – 47)
- How to Use Watercolor (p. 56 – 57)
- Scratch-Away Texture (p. 86)
- Creating Texture with Paint (p. 83)
VI. SPACE, STILL LIFES, AND THE 1700S
- Students will learn about space how it contributes to the 7 elements of art.
- Students will learn about and create a still life work of art.
- Students will learn about art styles from the 1700s.
- Students will learn about Katsushika Hokusai and the Great Wave.
Day 1
Read – How to Teach Art to Children – Space (p. 103)
Watch – Elements of Art | Space
Activity – Perspective, One-Point!
Day 2
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Still Life in Art (p. 50 – 51)
Watch – How Paul Cezanne Changed Art
Activity – Still Lifes
Day 3
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – The 1700s (p. 52 – 53)
Watch – What is Rococo?
Activity – Create a Framed Portrait
Day 4
Read – DK Children’s Book of Art – Katsushika Hokusai (p. 58 – 59)
*Optional – The Met Hokusai: He Saw the World in a Wave
Watch – Better Know the Great Wave
Activity – Japan Woodblock Printing Art
- Space (p. 103)
- Still Life in Art (p. 50 – 51)
- The 1700s (p. 52 – 53)
- Katsushika Hokusai (p. 58 – 59)
- Perspective, One-Point! (p. 106)
- Still Lifes (p. 134 – 135)
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