The Elements and Principles of Art: Free Quiz download, or review for your class that your students will not understand and hate.

I've said it before, I'll say it again:  Don't teach the elements and principles of art.  Do not make up exercises specifically to teach line, or texture, or space...etc.  Use the elements and principles in your lessons, not as your lesson.

Regardless, my elements of design and principles of design packets remain my most popular downloads.

So, here is another one!  I copied this from Ande Cook's Art Starters.  A mini colorful one page handout quizzing your class on what they know about the elements and principles.  I think they will hate it and your intermediate kids might not even understand it.  However, if you really want to pound in those vocab words - here is some great practice!

Elements of Art Worksheets are on FIRE!

I do not know why my Elements of Art Worksheets post is so popular on this blog, but hey, I figured it was worth a repost since people seem to love it so much.  Happy first day of school!  And remember, don't plan your lessons around the elements and principles, use the elements and principles in your lesson.

Creative Coloring: Design Elements by Art Sherman & Element of Space coloring page

This download includes a little advertisement for Art Sherman's Creative Coloring: Design Elements book.  I have this book and have used it occasionally for sub lessons, or sketchbook fillers.  I found most of the lessons to be confusing for intermediate students to be able to work on independently (and not very creative.)
The second page includes two of his coloring pages that help students "practice" the element of space, a long with color and pattern.  It could be good practice, but I don't recommend building a lesson around these.

Principles of Design Worksheets.

Of course if you have an Elements of Art packet, you need a Principles of Design packet as well.  The Principles are not as easy for students to understand as the elements, but I think this packet is pretty straightforward.
I never made a movement worksheet though...and I admit balance, and contrast are dull exercises.  Intermediate grades should have fun with the rest, and I think it would be easy for a substitute too.

Elements of Art Worksheets

I do not teach to the Elements and Principles of Design.  They have merit.  Elementary students should definitely know them, but a project should not be about learning line, understanding form, or creating balance.  Art projects are about making art. The Elements and Principles are part of that, but secondary.

I didn't always teach that way.  The Elements and Principles of Design seemed like the only tangible thing I could be sure my students were "getting" from my class and I was crazy about making sure we covered them all and understood them undoubtedly.

We made terrible gradient lines, boring cardboard forms, and sooo many symmetrical shapes.

Around that time I made this packet.  This seven page packet gives little exercises for each of the Elements of Art.  Most of these are simple exercises art teachers have been doing forever, and some of the ideas (I think?) were inspired by Daily Warm-Ups: Art.  Which, by the way, I do not recommend for elementary teachers at all.

The Elements of Art packet would not be too difficult for fourth and fifth graders to work on independently as a refresher, early finishers, or an end of year quiz!