Explore 24+ STEAM art activities for elementary kids—drawing, painting, and hands-on projects that connect art with science, math, nature, and more.
STEAM art activities for elementary art class
STEAM art activities are one of the easiest ways to keep your art room creative and curriculum-connected—without adding more planning to your plate. Instead of hunting for “the perfect” integrated lesson, you can choose from this list of 24+ projects and know you’re giving students a meaningful, hands-on experience that blends making art with real-world thinking.
Each of these elementary STEAM art projects combines drawing, painting, and creative building with topics kids naturally love, like weather, animals, plants, landforms, symmetry, perspective, structures, architecture, and space. The best part is that the learning happens through the art-making process: students observe, experiment, design, and revise as they create—so they’re practicing science and engineering habits while building confidence as artists.
Whether you need a quick one-day project, a sub plan, a mini-unit, or an engaging way to connect with classroom themes, these STEAM art activities give you flexible, ready-to-teach options that work with a variety of schedules and supplies. You’ll spend less time planning and more time doing what you do best—helping your students feel successful, creative, and excited to come to art class.
Science Art Projects (Click on Title or Image)
1. Clouds
Weather science: condensation, water vapor, rain, and the water cycle.
2. Water Cycle Mural
Earth science: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, cycling of water. The integrated art lesson page references the NGSS water cycle standard.
4. Volcano
Earth science: volcano structure, lava, smoke, landforms, eruption vocabulary.
7. Terrarium
Plant science: roots, plant structure, enclosed environments.
8. Dolphin
Animal science: habitat, body parts, fins, tail, curved body, observation skills.
9. Ant
Insect anatomy: head, thorax, abdomen; could become a labeled science drawing.
11. Spider
Animal science plus a watercolor/salt science connection about absorption and texture effects.
13. Pasta Skeleton
Life science/anatomy: bones, spine, ribs, hips, arms, legs, body structure.
Math Art Projects
20. Op Art Cubes
Geometry, 3D form, optical illusion, pattern, visual perception.
23. Grid Tree
Grid systems, pattern, repetition, planning, checkerboard design.
Engineering & Architecture Art Projects
29. Mayan Temple
Architecture, stepped structure, grid paper, cultural engineering.
30. Pyramids
Ancient engineering, 3D form, geometry, architecture.
31. Buildings
Architecture, structure, windows, perspective, city planning.
32. Mission
Architecture, history, structure, arches, symmetry, layout.
