It’s always a good time to create! We asked other museums, teachers, artists, and designers to share some of their favorite creative projects that can be done outside of school. We’ve grouped them age-appropriately, but slight modifications to any of these ideas could make them work for any age.
Museums
Chicago Children’s Museum:
The Chicago Children’s Museum offers all sorts of ways to play, makes, build and get messy. Social distancing also means a lot of family together time. Follow these Recipes for Play at Home to make sure some of that together time is a blast, and find many more creative projects on YouTube.
Elmhurst Art Museum:
Over the last year, the Elmhurst Art Museum has put many resources for at-home creativity on their website. Be sure to check out There is Black Housing in the Future, Wright Before the “Lloyd,” SOS Color Code 2020, A Space Problem, Color, Pride Month, and more!
National Museum of Mexican Art:
Yollocalli Arts Reach of the National Museum of Mexican Art has plenty to offer for teens. You can join a virtual class this summer and learn a new skill. They also have a fun way to wake up your brain with drawing prompts. You can learn how to live stream and start your own video channel. You can also play a game on their website and see other teen artwork to inspire your own making.
All ages
Memory Map:
Map designers have a lot of power. They choose what information their map communicates and how to share that information. From memory, design a map of a place or route that is important to you.
Design Scavenger hunt:
There is incredible design around us every day and we want you to find it. (If you go outside, don’t forget to practice safe social distancing!)
Cartoon Remix:
Use characteristics of your favorite cartoon and comic book characters to inspire the design of a new character of your own!
Superheros of COVID:
Who are the Superheros fighting to keep us safe every day? How can we show our appreciation through art?
Nature Mandala:
Mandalas use patterns to create repetition and symmetry in their designs. In this project, you will be an Earth artist and create a nature mandala from natural, found materials from your yard or neighborhood!
Awkward Drawing:
What can drawing in new and different ways teach us?
DIY Marbled Paper:
Artists have made marbled paper for thousands of years. Make your own with simple household items.
Self Portrait with Rules:
Make a self portrait using only one of the building blocks of art and design. It might be harder than you expect!
Frottage:
What if you could create artwork only using the surfaces around your house? Explore your surroundings and learn about texture through this frottage project.
Elementary school
Experiments with Typography:
Designers communicate ideas through form (shapes) and content (words). By taking a word and changing it, you can design a way to show what that word means. Through playful experimentation, you can make typography talk!
Theatre Marquees:
From the moment you encounter a theater, before entering the building, you are in a designed experience that evokes excitement through a dazzling array of thousands of individual, sparkling light bulbs. Marquee designers have very specific rules they must follow, using a grid of lightbulbs and colors. Design an eye-catching marquee shape for your favorite theater!
Shape of Chicago:
Using only red, blue, and green, and triangles, circles, and rectangles, create abstract images of things you love about your city!
Superhero Self Portrait:
Superhero Self-Portrait: If you had powers for a day what would you do? Through design techniques, you will transform into your very own problem-solving superhero self.
High school
Zine:
A zine is a small, self-published book of original work (by you!) In this activity, we’ll teach you how to make a pocket-sized zine from a sheet of 8.5 x 11″ paper. (Also appropriate for older elementary students.)
Ideas without Words:
Using collage and drawing, design a poster that is inspired by a quote. How can you communicate an idea without using words, only shapes and colors?
Object Stories:
Artists and designers tell stories visually. In this project, you’ll tell a story using only five objects, arranged in different ways.
Mood Boards:
Using Milanote.com to organize yourself, visually communicate an idea that inspires you, then think about how you can use that visual inspiration to make something new! (Also appropriate for older elementary students.)
Handscapes:
Use surrealism, collage, and imagination to create your own reality-defying masterpiece.
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