The Five Elements Art Program
An innovative art program teaching children about the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water - through hands-on creative projects that connect nature, science, and artistic expression.
Wood: The Green Element
1
Salt Dough Creation
Children make their own salt dough using wheat flour, connecting plants to their art materials.
2
Natural Impressions
Students collect leaves and seashells to create beautiful impressions in their dough.
3
Learning Through Touch
Handling wheat in different forms helps children understand the plant lifecycle and its transformation.
Fire: The Red Element
Safe Exploration
Children use sandpaper to mimic charcoal that comes after fire, learning about this powerful element safely.
Vibrant Colors
Red, orange and yellow colors are used to represent fire's energy on dark surfaces, creating a striking contrast.
Element Connections
Students learn how wood fuels fire, introducing the concept of elemental relationships and balance.
Earth: The Yellow Element
Natural Clay
Children work with real earth clay, experiencing its weight and texture compared to the softer salt dough.
Detailed Impressions
Earth clay holds indentations and shapes more distinctly, showing every detail of leaf and shell impressions.
Beauty in Imperfection
Students learn to appreciate cracks and breaks as unique design elements rather than flaws.
Take-Home Earth Exploration
1
Collect
Gather dirt from around your home and place it in a recycled bottle.
2
Observe
Add water, seal the bottle, and watch how materials separate - wood chips float while heavier items sink.
3
Discover
Use magnets to find iron and other metals naturally present in the soil.
Metal: The White Element
Magnetic Exploration
Children use magnets to discover metals throughout the classroom, learning which materials contain metal elements.
Aluminum Art
Students work with aluminum foil tape attached to paper for a safe introduction to metal art.
Repoussé Technique
Drawing on the reverse side creates raised designs, teaching traditional metal repoussé techniques.
Water: The Blue Element
Understanding Density
Children learn how water can be made heavier with salt or marbling medium.
Floating Colors
Diluted acrylic paint is dripped onto the water surface, creating rings that don't mix.
Paper Marbling
Students dip paper into the swirled colors to capture unique patterns.
Creative Interpretation
Children identify shapes in their marbled patterns and enhance them with drawings.
Interactive Art Experience
Art Show
Visitors experience the five elements through the children's artwork displayed in an interactive exhibition.
Hands-On Station
Guests create their own water marbling art, experiencing the element firsthand.
Take-Home Creation
Everyone leaves with their own piece of elemental art as a memento.
Science Meets Art: Camera Obscura
Children learn to make camera obscuras from simple materials like cardboard boxes or salt canisters. This project connects the fire element (sunlight) with scientific principles, showing how light travels and creates inverted images through a tiny pinhole.
Multi-Sensory Learning
1
1
Taste
Chocolate fondue experience incorporates all five elements
2
2
Touch
Handling different materials and textures
3
3
Sight
Visual art creation and observation
4
4
Discussion
Open dialogue about elements and emotions
The program engages all senses and creates space for children to discuss real-world concerns like wildfires. Students learn how elements balance each other - using water to fight fire, clearing wood to prevent spreading, or using earth materials that don't burn.
Coming next year: Five elements in relation to emotions. Seeking educator partnerships.