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Art Tools

Second graders learn about the tools artists use — crayons, markers, paintbrushes, scissors, and glue — what each one does, and how to use and care for them safely.

Grade 2Materials & Tools40 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name art tools.
  • ✓Explain what each does.
  • ✓Use tools safely.
  • ✓Care for tools.
Essential Question

Just like a builder has a toolbox, so does an artist! Each tool does a different job. What are the tools artists use, and how do we use them well?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Art Tools Explorer

Project this and tap each tool. Have students learn what each art tool does and how to use it.

🖍️ Explore the art tools — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Artistic Process (Look · Explore · Create · Share · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Look — An Artist’s Toolbox

5 min

Artists have a toolbox too — what tools do they use?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show art tools.
  • Ask what each does.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Predict.
2

Explore — Explore Tools

8 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Art Tools Explorer.
  • Name each tool.
  • Note how to use it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Name tools.
  • Note use.
3

Create — Create

14 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Try each tool.
  • Make marks and cuts.
  • Use tools safely.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Try them.
  • Make marks.
  • Be safe.
4

Share — Share

8 min

Students share.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show their tool art.
  • Name the tools used.
  • Give kind feedback.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Show it.
  • Name tools.
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a tool.
  • Say what it does.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say what.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Visual Arts).

NCAS
VA:Cr2.1.2

Experiment with art materials and tools.

NCAS
VA:Cr2.2.2

Demonstrate safe and proper use of tools.

NCAS
VA:Cr1.2.2

Make art using a variety of tools.

NCAS
VA:Cr3.1.2

Discuss and reflect on artmaking.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Tool + job picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A ___ is for ___.”
  • Show each tool.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with crayon and glue.
  • Use real tools.
  • Focus on one tool.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Explain thin vs. wide brushes.
  • Make a tool-safety poster.
  • Combine tools in one artwork.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🖍️Crayons, markers, brushes
  • 💻The Art Tools Explorer
  • ✂️Safety scissors
  • 🧴Glue
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

toolsomething you use to make artcrayona wax coloring stickmarkeran ink coloring penpaintbrusha tool that holds paintscissorsa tool for cuttinggluea paste that sticks thingssafecareful and free from harmcaretreating tools well
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a paintbrush for?
Holding and spreading paint.
QUESTION 2
How do you carry scissors safely?
Pointing down, walking carefully.
QUESTION 3
Name one way to care for markers.
Put the cap back on so they don’t dry out.

Reflect: tool care.

Have students name one art tool and explain one way to use it safely and take care of it. A printable art-tools sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Art ToolsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Art ToolsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Art ToolsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: care, crayon, glue, marker, paintbrush, safe, scissors, tool
  1. a wax coloring stick
  2. a paste that sticks things
  3. a tool for cutting
  4. something you use to make art
  5. careful and free from harm
  6. an ink coloring pen
  7. a tool that holds paint
  8. treating tools well

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a paintbrush for?
  2. How do you carry scissors safely?
  3. Name one way to care for markers.
Answer key — Part A: 1) crayon · 2) glue · 3) scissors · 4) tool · 5) safe · 6) marker · 7) paintbrush · 8) care
Part B: 1) Holding and spreading paint. 2) Pointing down, walking carefully. 3) Put the cap back on so they don’t dry out.