Fun Animal and Music Art Projects for Kids with ADD

Teaching children with ADHD, ADD, hyperactivity, and other special needs can be quite a challenge. Often art activities need to be structured and short but also fun and creative. Enjoy sharing creativity and art making with these fun art projects.

Art Project 1: Painting to Music

Enjoy a fun music and art activity that incorporates listening with art making. You will need a CD player, CDs with various instrumental musical styles (have a variety of soothing and more exciting songs), paper, brushes, and watercolors. Classical music works best for this art activity. If you are concerned about a mess, use washable markers instead of watercolors. Use loud and fast music sparingly as it may cause students with ADD or ADHD to become excitable.

Begin by playing soothing music and instructing the students to close their eyes and imagine what images might go along with the music. Have them begin to paint images based on the music. After a few minutes, change the music to a song with a different style and have the students begin a new piece of art. Continue through several songs until the students have a broad array of art pieces reflecting the music they heard. If you want, you may have the students share what they heard and what they painted in between songs.

This art and music activity is a great project for students who have ADD, ADHD, or other attention difficulties because it can be paced according to the needs of the students but is structured. Also, it allows a bit of freedom and incorporates both music listening and visual art.

Art Project 2: Animal Art Landscape

Create exciting animal art collages in this simple art project. You will need at least three different work stations. One station will have drawing materials, one table will have animal magazines, and the other art stations will have various art supplies like glue, scissors, glitter, feathers, etc. For some projects, the teacher may also have a station where he or she helps with more difficult tasks like using a glue gun, cutting thicker materials, or helping with intricate details.

Instruct the students to create a landscape incorporating different animals. You may choose a theme like the jungle, the African savanna, marine animals, or even Antarctica. Initially hand each student a piece of art paper, split the students between the different tables, and then have them begin creating their artwork. When you instruct them, have them change art stations. Depending on the size of your class, you may decide that the students should stay at the same station until your instructions or that they can travel between stations.

Encourage the students to use a variety of materials when creating their animal collage and emphasize creativity over accuracy (depending on the age group and scope of the class).

Art Stations

Splitting the classroom into various art stations works well for many different art projects and for a variety of settings and age groups, especially with students with ADHD, ADD, and other special needs. Art stations allow students with ADD or ADHD some mobility but gives the teacher structure in the classroom.