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High School Marine Life Art Ideas & Easy Eagle Ray Art

October 18, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There is an ocean of marine life art ideas to turn a simple science unit into something beautiful. All the while much can be learned about the creatures who make their home in the water. And look at my page How to Choose the Right Homeschool High School Science for more fun teen ideas.

Too, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook. And my page Free Art Unit & Curriculum Grades 1 – 8 for more ideas.

The ocean is a world full of mystery, beauty, and inspiration.

High School Marine Life Art Ideas & Easy Eagle Ray Art

From the tiniest of plankton to massive whales, marine life offers endless possibilities for your highschooler to express himself through art.

Studying ocean creatures not only connects them to the wonders of biology and ecology, but it also provides an opportunity to explore color, texture, form, and movement through hands-on creative projects.

Below, you’ll find a variety of marine life art ideas perfect for high school homeschoolers. These projects encourage both scientific curiosity and artistic skill, making them a great way to blend learning with creativity.

MORE HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOMESCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE

8 FACTS ABOUT SPOTTED EAGLE RAYS

First, look at these facts about spotted eagle rays.

Spotted eagle rays are easy to recognize by their dark blue or black bodies covered in white spots. The wide pectoral fins that resemble wings give them a bird-like appearance as they “fly” through the water.
They have very long tails, sometimes several times the length of their body, and some species have venomous spines near the base of the tail for defense.
Spotted eagle rays are found in tropical and warm temperate waters around the world, often near coral reefs, bays, and coastal areas.
They love to eat mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish, they use flattened teeth to crush shells. Their snouts are pointed and help them dig in the sand for food.
These rays can grow up to 10 feet across and weigh over 500 pounds, though most are smaller.
While sometimes they can be seen alone, spotted eagle rays are often spotted in groups, especially during migrations or feeding times.
Like other rays, they breathe through spiracles, small openings located behind their eyes, allowing them to take in water even when resting on the sea floor.
Spotted eagle rays are ovoviviparous, meaning the embryos develop inside eggs that stay inside the mother until they are ready to hatch. She gives birth to live young, typically 1–4 pups at a time.

Whether you’re sculpting sea turtles, painting coral reefs, or sketching jellyfish, your teen will gain a deeper appreciation for the ocean while developing their artistic voice.

Today, I am sharing with you an easy step by step tutorial for creating a Spotted Eagle Ray in watercolor.

And I shared some wonderful facts above for your highschooler to learn about this magnificent ocean creature.

MARINE LIFE ART IDEAS

While I created this for elementary, many ideas, including the clay humpback whale can be adapted for highschool in my How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students.

A simple tutorial for How to Draw a Starfish worthy of hanging on a wall.

If they really want to dive into a big project this Paper Mache Octopus : Craft Tutorial shares how to create a larger than life art piece that doubles as cool room decor.

Use this DIY Nautical Crab Stencil Wall Art on walls, notebooks, or a canvas.

Learn how to Sculpt a sea turtle from polymer clay

Watch this step by step video of a Coral Reef Painting Tutorial to create a base for marine life.

If you need inspiration for your art projects a favorite resource I have reached for in elementary through high school is Julia Rothman’s Ocean Anatomy.

A decoupaged oyster shell is a trendy way to examine an oyster up close while creating a pretty art piece-Simple Oyster Shell Crafts For Kids And Mollusks Activities.

Create this Ocean Beach Painting from the video tutorial to display small bits of marine life like shells, sand dollars, etc

Finally, look at how to make this fun spotted eagle ray watercolor.

SPOTTED EAGLE RAY WATERCOLOR TUTORIAL

You will need:

Watercolor paper
Watercolor paints
Paintbrushes
Pencil
water
Artist tape/washi tape
Masking fluid
Fine tipped black pen

Tape off the edges of your watercolor paper with artist tape or other low tack tape.

This step is not necessary but I love the clean look it gives the page and also the border makes the painting pop.

Start by sketching a large loose diamond shape.

Erase each of the corners and round off the two on sides, making it a little flowy for the tip of the fins.

EAGLE RAY WATERCOLOR TUTORIAL

At the top- round the corner and give it a nose like this.

For the back end draw a W inside a W shape on the bottom corner.

Add a long slim tail.

Erase your lines so they are very faint and won’t show through your painting.

Use the tip of a masking fluid pen or brush. And create spots all over the back of your eagle ray.

Allow to dry.

While the masking fluid is drying you can paint the water. Dab 2-3 shades of blue all the way around on the remaining white of the watercolor paper.

Darken it in areas and use a paper towel to absorb some of the paint to create a more complex water so it is not just flat.

Use a smaller brush to outline inside the edges of your ray with a dark gray, you can use a bigger brush to fill it in if you like.

Allow the ray to dry, then remove the masking fluid gently with your finger or a soft eraser to reveal the spots underneath.

You can leave your painting as is if you wish but I like to take a fine black pen and outline the ray to define it a bit more.

Don’t forget to add in the eyes as well.

Peel off the tape all the way around, then you will have a clean, satisfying border.

French Art for Kids: Unleash Creativity with a Free Pointillism Lesson

September 22, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

French art for kids and art history may sound like a big topic for kids, but when you introduce it with hands-on activities, it suddenly becomes fun, colorful, and inspiring. And look at my page Free Art Unit & Curriculum Grades 1 – 8 for more ideas and my post Free 4 Weeks Claude Monet Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

Too, learn about the French empire with my post French Revolution 1789 – 1799 Unit Study & Lapbook for more ideas.

French Art for Kids: Unleash Creativity with a Free Pointillism Lesson

French art, in particular, offers a wide range of styles and movements that children can explore. One of the most exciting and kid-friendly techniques is pointillism.

This style of painting, developed in France in the late 1800s, allows children to experiment with color, patience, and creativity while learning about famous artists who changed the way people thought about art.

In this post, we’ll dive into what pointillism is, introduce a few French artists behind the movement, and give you a step-by-step free pointillism art lesson you can try with your kids today.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT FRENCH ARTISTS

First, look at some of these books about French artists to add to your

7 French Artist Books

France is one of the most famous countries in the world for art. Many great artists lived and worked there, and Paris is often called the "art capital of the world." Learn about French artist or artist who made France their home.

Claude Monet (Revised Edition) (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Meet Artist Claude Monet!

Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series combines a delightful mix of full-color historical reproductions, photos, and hilarious cartoon-style illustrations that bring to life the works of renowned artists, combining poignant anecdotes with important factual information for readers (Ages 8-9).This book provides an entertaining and humorous introduction to the famous artist, Claude Monet. Full-color reproductions of the actual paintings are enhanced by Venezia's clever illustrations and story line.

Picasso (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Briefly examines the life and work of the renowned twentieth-century artist, describing and giving examples from his various periods or styles

Georges Seurat (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Meet Artist Georges Seurat!

Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series combines a delightful mix of full-color historical reproductions, photos, and hilarious cartoon-style illustrations that bring to life the works of renowned artists, combining poignant anecdotes with important factual information for readers (Ages 8-9).This book presents the life and career of the nineteenth-century French Neo-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat, best known for inventing the painting technique known as Pointillism.

Cezanne's Parrot

An inspiring picture book biography of the artist Paul Cezanne, the painter who laid the groundwork for modern art and whom Pablo Picasso declared "the father of us all."All Cezanne wants is to be a great painter like his friends Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir. But when he shows his works, the professors, the critics, and the collectors all dismiss him: "Too flat!" "Too much paint!" "These are rough and unfinished!" Even his own pet parrot, Bisou, can't be brought to say, "Cezanne is a great painter!" And who can blame them? Cezanne doesn't care about tradition, and he doesn't follow the rules. He's painting in a way no one else has done before, creating something completely new--and he's destined to change the world of art forever. Cezanne's Parrot is a spirited celebration of creativity, determination, and perseverance--and the artist who would become known as the father of modern art.

Henri Matisse (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Discusses the life and work of French post-impressionist artist Henri Matisse.

Edgar Degas (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Examines the life and work of the nineteenth-century artist Edgar Degas, who loved to paint scenes of Paris and the people who worked and lived there.

Marie in Fourth Position

Marie's dream is to dance beneath the spotlight in the Paris Opera, but she finds herself only a "rat" in the chorus, until Marie's parents send her to pose for master artist Edgar Degas and he leads her to an unforgettable pose that wins the heart of all Paris.

Next, let’s learn about pointillism.

WHAT IS POINTILLISM

Pointillism is a style of painting where the artist uses small, distinct dots of color placed closely together to form an image. Instead of mixing paints on a palette, artists would apply pure colors directly to the canvas. From a distance, the dots blend in the viewer’s eye, creating shapes, shading, and depth.

This technique was first developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in France in the 1880s. They wanted to experiment with how colors interact and how the human eye perceives them.

Their works became part of the Neo-Impressionist movement, a branch of Impressionism that focused on light and color but used more precise methods.

For kids, pointillism is a wonderful introduction to both science and art—it shows how tiny parts (dots) come together to create something beautiful, much like pixels on a computer screen today.

Georges Seurat (1859–1891)

Best known for his masterpiece A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Seurat used thousands of tiny dots to create a lively park scene filled with people, trees, and water. This enormous painting is considered one of the most iconic works of pointillism.

Paul Signac (1863–1935)

Signac was a close friend of Seurat. Signac expanded on the technique and created many colorful seascapes and landscapes. His paintings often capture light shimmering on the water, making them especially vibrant.

OTHER FAMOUS STYLES OF FRENCH ART FOR KIDS

While pointillism is a wonderful entry point, French art has so many movements and artists that inspire kids.

Here are a few more worth exploring and an idea for each…

Impressionism- Before pointillism came Impressionism, it was led by artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas. Impressionists captured quick “impressions” of everyday life with loose brushstrokes and bright colors. A fun activity is to paint outdoors (plein air style) and try to capture how light changes on water, trees, or flowers.

Henri Matisse and Fauvism- Known for his bold colors and paper cut-outs, Matisse’s later works are especially fun for kids to imitate. Provide construction paper and scissors, and let children create “painting with scissors” art inspired by his cut-outs.

French Sculpture- Introduce kids to Auguste Rodin, known for The Thinker. For a hands-on project, let kids sculpt small figures from clay or even playdough, experimenting with movement and expression.

French Stained Glass and Cathedrals- France is home to breathtaking stained glass, like the windows of Chartres Cathedral. Kids can design their own “stained glass” art with black paper outlines and tissue paper colors.

MORE FRENCH ART FOR KIDS

Finally, here’s a simple pointillism lesson.

FREE POINTILLISM LESSON FOR KIDS

You can use this lesson for kids of all ages. We’re making our own version of Georges Seurat’s –The Seine at La Grande Jatte Spring.

Materials Needed:

White cardstock or watercolor paper
Acrylic paint, or tempera paint
Cotton swabs, paintbrush tips, paint pens, or the eraser end of a pencil
A printed photo of Seurat’s or Signac’s artwork for inspiration

Show kids a few examples of pointillism paintings. Ask questions like:

What do you notice about the way the painting was made?
Can you see the dots up close? What happens when you step back?

Talk about the pointillism artists listed above.

Give children a scrap piece of paper and let them experiment with creating dots in different colors. Encourage them to try making patterns, shading, or blending two colors side by side.

Add your chosen colors to a palette.

Have kids select something easy to recreate—a tree, a sun, a flower, or even a simple landscape. If they need guidance, lightly sketch the outline for them in pencil before they start filling it in with dots.

Using cotton swabs or paintbrush tips, kids can begin adding dots of color to their picture.

Remind them to place colors close together and use bright, pure tones for the best effect.

We used 2 colors for each item-water, grass, tree, etc.. to create depth and shadows.

Continue filling in areas with many dots until the painting is full.

When the paintings are complete, display them side by side.

Stand back and notice how the colors seem to blend from a distance. Talk about how it feels to create a picture this way compared to traditional painting.

Easy Van Gogh Art Beautiful Starry Night Fork Painting

July 29, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an easy Van Gogh art craft for you today. This fun Starry Night craft is not only creative but gets your child excited to learn about famous artists. And look at my page Free Art Unit & Curriculum Grades 1 – 8 for more ideas

Did I mention it’s low mess and requires just a few ingredients?

And the lesson is based on one of Van Gogh’s most iconic paintings in the world, Starry Night.

Easy Van Gogh Art Beautiful Starry Night Fork Painting

And using a plastic fork is a fun twist on art. Kids can drag their forks through painting to create the swirls and follow the textured pattern.

Too, you can teach art history in a fun way. For example, kids can learn how Van Gogh used movement and color to express emotion. They are gently introduced to art history.

And your child doesn’t have to follow exactly the craft I have below.

Van Gogh’s painting are about how he felt too. Some art may have brighter bold colors and others not so much.

BOOKS ABOUT VAN GOGH FOR KIDS

First, look at these books.

3 Books About Vincent Van Gogh and His Art for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books about Vincent Van Gogh and his life and art to your home library or unit study.

Exploring Landscape Art with Children (Come Look With Me)

In COME LOOK WITH ME: EXPLORING LANDSCAPE ART WITH CHILDREN art educator Gladys S. Blizzard introduces boys and girls to 12 magnificent landscape paintings. Through these carefully selected works and a thought-provoking text, the author guides students toward an imaginative new way of looking at art.This book is suited both for family reading and for sharing with a small group. Each full-color reproduction is accompanied by a brief biological sketch of the artist and a series of open-ended questions designed to make the most of a child's natural curiosity.

Babar's Museum of Art [BABARS MUSEUM OF ART]

Abrams is pleased to introduce its new line of stationery to be published simultaneously with the all-new book Babar's Museum of Art by Laurent de Brunhoff. Featuring elephant-inspired versions of some of the best-known paintings in the world, our note card set and journal will appeal to Babar fans and art lovers of all ages. This adorable journal features full-color elephant paintings from Babar's Museum of Art on both the front and back covers and end papers.

Vincent van Gogh (Revised Edition) (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Meet Artist Vincent van Gogh!

Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series combines a delightful mix of full-color historical reproductions, photos, and hilarious cartoon-style illustrations that bring to life the works of renowned artists, combining poignant anecdotes with important factual information for readers (Ages 8-9).This book provides an entertaining and humorous introduction to the famous artist, Vincent van Gogh. Full-color reproductions of the actual paintings are enhanced by Venezia's clever illustrations and story line.

Next, look at these other Van Gogh inspired crafts.

CRAFTS FOR KIDS INSPIRED BY VAN GOGH

Also, look at this fun Van Gogh study you’ll love.

VAN GOGH PRINTABLE QUICK STUDY

This artist study has over 50 pages, and includes:

Vincent van Gogh biography
Style
Techniques
Closer look at famous paintings
Wheat Field with Cypresses (1889)
The Starry Night (1889)
Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin (1888)
Use of Color & emotion
Letters to Theo
Value of his art over time
Post-impressionist Art
Van Gogh vs. Monet
Self Portraits
Create Art Like van Gogh
van Gogh Quiz

Quick And Easy Study: Vincent Van Gogh For Kids
$4.00 Add to cart

Finally, look at how to make this fun Starry Night craft.

STARRY NIGHT FORK PAINTING

First, look at this list of supplies.

Blue construction paper (dark or royal blue works well as the background)
Paint:
- 2 Shades of blue
- 2 Shades of yellow
- Black
Plastic fork
Paper plate or tray for paint
Paper towel or wipes for cleanup

First, start with a sheet of blue construction paper to represent the night sky.

Prep the paint by pouring out small amounts of each color onto a paper plate.

Then paint the sky.

Dip the fork into light blue paint and drag it across the paper in a spiral to form the swirling wind patterns.

Then, add yellow highlights to layer texture and movement like Van Gogh’s sky.

Next, add the stars and moon. Dip the fork into yellow paint and stamp or swirl it in a circular motion to create stars and a glowing moon.

Add smaller strokes of a different shade of yellow around them to mimic radiating light.

Now, create the town. Use light blue and yellow in alternating horizontal and vertical short strokes for the lights.

Then drag black horizontally across to suggest buildings.

Next, paint the town and lands cape. Use black paint and your fork to create the tall tower/castle on the left. Make jagged, upward strokes for texture.

Then drag the fork horizontally across the bottom to build the dark rolling hills and reflections.

Keep layering strokes of different colors with the fork to give your painting texture, motion, and contrast. Add dark blue streaks to empty parts of the sky to suggest brush strokes.

Let dry completely.

Fun Mosaic Art Lesson Plans Elementary | How To Make A Tray

July 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you want a unique art project, these mosaic art lesson plans elementary kids will love can be done with glass, paper, beans, and so many other mediums, even edible ones. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

For a beginner project this little mosaic tray is a good size and not too difficult while they are learning about the history of mosaics and how to use the materials.

You can create your tray in any size but I found this small one at Dollar Tree, just the perfect size for a first tile mosaic project.

Fun Mosaic Art Lesson Plans Elementary | How To Make A Tray

Mosaic art is an enriching activity that involves creating designs or pictures by assembling small pieces of colored materials onto a surface.

These materials can range from traditional tiles and stones to more accessible options like paper, buttons, or even pasta.

This hands-on art form not only sparks creativity and imagination but also fosters the development of essential skills such as fine motor coordination, hand-eye coordination, patience, and problem-solving.

Finally, through mosaic art, children can explore various concepts like color theory, patterns, and spatial relationships.

They learn to plan and execute their designs, carefully selecting and arranging the pieces to achieve their desired visual effect.

The process of creating a mosaic can be both therapeutic and rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

Before we dive into our modern mosaic art lesson plans let’s take a look at the rich history of mosaics.

HISTORY OF MOSAICS

Mosaic art boasts a rich and fascinating history that spans thousands of years, with its roots tracing back to ancient civilizations.

Ancient Mesopotamia (c. 3500 BCE): The earliest known examples of mosaics hail from Mesopotamia, where artisans crafted intricate designs using stones, shells, and ivory. These mosaics often adorned temples and palaces, showcasing the wealth and power of the ruling elite.
Ancient Greece (c. 800 BCE): The Greeks further refined mosaic techniques, utilizing pebbles to create elaborate floor decorations known as “pebble mosaics.” These mosaics depicted scenes from mythology, everyday life, and historical events, adding a touch of artistry and storytelling to public and private spaces.
Roman Empire (c. 200 BCE – 476 CE): The Romans embraced mosaic art with great enthusiasm, employing it extensively to adorn the floors, walls, and ceilings of their villas, baths, and public buildings. They developed advanced techniques and utilized a wider range of materials, including colored glass and marble, to create stunningly detailed and realistic mosaics. Roman mosaics often showcased intricate geometric patterns, scenes from nature, and portraits of emperors and gods.
Byzantine Empire (c. 330 CE – 1453 CE): Byzantine artists elevated mosaic art to new heights, incorporating shimmering gold leaf and vibrant glass tesserae (small cubes) into their creations. Byzantine mosaics predominantly depicted religious themes, adorning the walls and ceilings of churches and cathedrals with awe-inspiring scenes from the Bible and the lives of saints.

In modern times mosaic art is still used to create beautiful works of art from trays to tables to walls and floors.

HOW TO MAKE A TRAY

You will need:

A wooden tray
Mosaic pieces
Adhesive
Grout
Trowel
damp sponge and cloth

If your tray is unfinished like mine you will want to first paint or stain it.

Plan out your design by loosely placing your tiles onto the surface you wish to cover.

Start with a simple design and work your way outward from the main design.Can you tell what the design is? A little goldfish swimming with a few bubbles coming out, hovering over the grasses underwater.

Fill in around the main design, leaving just a little bit of gap between the pieces for your grout.

Add a generous dollop of glue to each piece mosaic as you replace it back where you want it to go.

Allow the glue to dry.

Mix up your grout according to the package directions, you can use white or black grout but I love the drama of the colors next to the black grout.

Use a small trowel or scraper to add a thick layer of grout all over the design.

Let it sit for 10-15 minutes or whatever the package calls for.

Then use a damp sponge or towel to remove excess grout and clean up the tiles.

Wipe until the glass mosaic pieces are clean and fully showing.

Allow the grout to sit overnight to fully harden.

We decided our little tray made a pretty and functional holder for some of our paint supplies.

Next, look at these mosaic art lesson plans elementary.

MOSAIC ART LESSON PLANS ELEMENTARY

8 Mosaic Art Lesson Plans Elementary

The world of mosaics is a fun and creative way to make pictures using little bits of paper, glass, or tiles.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

The Geronimo Stilton The Journey Through Time #2: Back In Time has your kids going back in time to Ancient Rome. If you love the Geronimo Stilton Books, you’ll love this craft which is making a fun mosaic.

Photo Credit: backyardsummercamp.com

Bean Mosaic Art Kids Craft Ideas

Make a bean mosaic using dyed beans for a fun and easy kids’ art project that’s sure to spark some creativity.

Fun Turkey Facts & How to Make A Mosaic Fall Craft

Learn how to make a mosaic fall craft turkey with your child. Also, look at my page Fall Season Free Unit Study and Lapbook.

Instead of the typical turkey handprint this year for a neat keepsake and decoration, your child will love this.

Photo Credit: www.kenarry.com

Mosaic Flower Pots: How To Make Broken China Mosaics

Learn how to make broken china mosaics using old plates.This step-by-step tutorial shows how to create mosaic flower pots for
succulents.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Kindergarten fall crafts can be a fun way to introduce your child to a new art medium as well as fall themes. Also, you’ll love my pages Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum and Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Photo Credit: resincraftsblog.com

DVD Mosaic High Gloss Resin Tray

Isn’t this mosaic tray incredible? It’s so shiny and sparkly! Best part is that it’s a recycled craft! Do you have some old DVD’s laying around…like the ones that you burn yourself?

Persian Mosaic Craft Marco Polo Unit Study

Today we did a Persian mosaic craft for our Marco Polo Unit Study. This unit study really lends itself to a lot of hands-on and we are not going to skimp on any of it or until Tiny has had his fill. It is going to be a big unit study so we are slowing down
for this one.

Photo Credit: meaningfulmama.com

Froot Loop Mosaic Cookies

They are edible, and they taste good.” That’s when the idea came to make Mosaic looking Froot Loop cookies.

Children’s Books About Castles and Simple Mary Blair-Inspired Craft

June 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some children’s books about castles and a Mary Blair artist castle cut and paste craft. Also look at my post 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas for more castle activities.

Too, if you’re wanting more artist ideas and activities look at my page Free Art Units for more ideas.

Castles aren’t just in fairy tales but children love reading books about castles. Castles were real places where kings, queens, knights, and even regular people lived.

Children's Books About Castles and Simple Mary Blair-Inspired Craft

Castles were made mostly of stone and often had high walls, towers, drawbridges, and moats to keep enemies out.

Maybe it was the design of castles that drew Mary Blair, artist to design the concept of castles for Disney.

However, castles back in the middle ages weren’t just for looks, they served many purposes.

For example, castles served as a defense, a place to shelter people, a time for a king and queen to show off their wealth and a place for central government.

Next, look at a few more castle activities.

MORE CASTLE ACTIVITIES

Then look at a few facts about Mary Blair.

FACTS FOR KIDS ABOUT MARY BLAIR ARTIST

Mary Blair was born in 1911 in Oklahoma and grew up loving to draw and paint.
She started working for Disney in the 1940s.
And she became known for her unique style: vibrant colors, simple shapes, and imaginative designs.
Mary Blair didn’t follow the “normal” rules of art.
She helped design design Cinderella movie. Although she didn’t do the final animation, she created the concept art and Cinderella’s castle became the Disney castle.
We imagine since Blair love bright and bold colors and shapes she was drawn to castles.

Additionally, look at these children’s books about castles.

8 Castle Books for Kids

Add some of these fun books about castles to your unit study or learning day.

Castle: How It Works

Every part of the castle has a function. Walls keep the enemy out. Towers protect the lord and the soldiers. From the moat and portcullis to the great hall and dungeon, see how a castle works as an enemy army tries to storm the walls.

The Door in the Wall:

Ever since he can remember, Robin, child of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin’s destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him, and Robin is left alone. A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Mark’s, where he is taught woodcarving and patience and strength. Says Brother Luke, “Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it.” Robin learns soon enough what Brother Luke means. When the great castle of Lindsay is in danger, Robin discovers that there is more than one way to serve his king.

Knights and Castles and Feudal Life

The Minstrel in the Tower (Stepping Stone)

An adventurous rescue set in the time of medieval knights, castles, bandits, and music. Before their father returns to France from the Crusades, daring Alice and
musical Roger set off on their own journey: to find their long-lost uncle. But on the way, the siblings are kidnapped and locked in an ancient hidden tower. To finish their quest, they need to escape—and fast! Can Alice use her courage to slip away and find help? And can Roger use his musical talents to guide her back before it’s too late?

Look Inside a Castle (Usborne Look Inside)

This is an innovative flap book offering a fascinating glimpse into the world of sports. Lift the flaps to peek behind the scenes at all sorts of exciting sports-thrilling cycling races, athletic events, swimming and diving competitions and soccer matches at a busy sports stadium. 60 flaps to lift!

Make This Medieval Castle

Printed on stiff card, this book contains templates to cut out and construct a superb model of a 14th century castle crammed with authentic detail. The model includes miniature characters for re-creating castle life, including market stalls and jousting knights as well as a portcullis that lifts and falls.

Raise the Drawbridge: Stories and Legends of Welsh Castles

This charming book was originally published in 1938 in Wales. Its main virtue is its historical accuracy; these epic stories are very well researched and are all based on historical evidence. The eighteen stories cover all areas of Wales and deal with some of its most famous castles. From ""The Blind Knight of Whitecastle"" to ""When Harlech Castle was Besieged"", these tales will appeal to all children whose imaginations are drawn to the great castles and knights of old.

Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle

History comes alive in this incredible children's illustrated book about castles.Slicing through different areas of a medieval fortress, extraordinary views reveal the people busy inside, preparing for battle as an enemy army approaches. Packed with facts, you'll find out what it takes to build a massive 14th-century castle, dress a knight in armor, or prepare a feast fit for a king or queen. From the drawbridge to the dungeon, Cross-Sections Castle swarms with the people who keep the castle going--the workers, craftsmen, and servants. And, as you pore over every page, look out for the villainous spy. Is he in the well... the keep... the moat? No? Keep looking, he's there somewhere!

Finally, look below to grab the free Mary Blair inspired castle cut and paste craft.

Read a castle book or two your child loves while they do this fun craft.

HOW TO GET THE FREE MARY BLAIR CASTLE INSPIRED CUT AND PASTE CRAFT

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

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