15 Summer Art Projects to Try Outside

I’m a firm believer that art can, and should, be taken outdoors throughout the year! Even something simple, like crayons and paper, takes on a different dimension when outside. Since summer’s almost here, I thought it would be a good time to share some super fun summer art projects the kiddos can try outside.

Ok, I have to admit that I wrote this list for purely selfish reasons! I want all of these fun ideas in one spot as I’m planning for preschool summer camps. Plus, I like ideas like these for summer days with my son.

awesome summer art projects to take outside

Catapult Painting | Fun-A-Day

Bowling Ball Painting | Eager Ed

Squirt Gun Painting | Fireflies and Mud Pies

Outdoor Salt Art | Buggy and Buddy

Splat! Exploring Gravity Through Art | Fun-A-Day

Painting with Pinwheels | Sugar Aunts

Erupting Ice Chalk Painting | Learn~Play~Imagine

Rainbow Bubble Wrap Tree | Twodaloo

Painting with Coconuts | Fun-A-Day

Summer Painting for Kids: Sheet on the Lawn | The Pleasantest Thing

Water Balloon Color Mixing | No Time for Flash Cards

Paint with Frozen Paint Cubes on a Hot Day | Hands-On: As We Grow

Spray Bottle Mural | Gift of Curiosity

Water Shooter Tie Dye | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Big Art: Painting with Your Feet | Fun at Home with Kids

the benefits of outdoor summer art projects

Of course I have to comment on WHY these outdoor art activities are so wonderful. 😉 First of all, they are super duper fun for the kiddos (and adventurous parents, too)! I’ve gotten into the summer art fray many times, and it really is a blast. In addition to that, many of these art projects incorporate gross motor skills and sensory exploration. They also tend to be art on a BIG scale, as well as an easy way to make art collaborative.

So, which of these super cool summer art projects are you going to try first?

Share it Saturday

If you’re a blogger, please be sure to link up some of your posts below! If you’re not, hop on over and check out some new ideas. I love seeing what’s shared here each week, and I hope you do too.

Check out what my co-hosts are sharing this week – Sugar Aunts, Chestnut Grove Academy, Still Playing School, and Mom on the Move.

Simple Art Materials for Kids

Now that you’ve got several summer art project ideas in your back pocket, make sure that you’re all stocked up on some useful art supplies.

Here are a few of the materials you might use for preschool art projects (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):

• Liquid watercolors
• Coffee filters
• Washi tape
• Dot markers
• Contact paper
• Construction paper
• Washable tempera paint

Leave me a comment and tell me some of YOUR favorite fun art projects for kids.

Done-for-You Preschool Resources

Planning meaningful lessons for students week after week, all while balancing other teaching responsibilities and a personal life, can be a daunting task. That’s where Preschool Teacher 101 comes in to save you time!

Preschool Teacher 101 is excited to share with you some amazing lesson plans, activity packs, and much more! We offer a wide variety of themes that are frequently used in preschool classrooms, as well as some less common (but super interesting) themes. Click on the images below to learn more about some of our summer-themed products!

Join The Pack from Preschool Teacher 101 today for exclusive access to our amazing products. And we even have three different membership options to suit your needs!