There is so much to love about teaching art, but even after 25 years in the classroom lesson planning can sometimes feel daunting—especially when you need to align everything with state or national standards.
That’s why I created free editable art lesson plan templates with built-in NCAS standards alignment checklists. These templates follow the same format that I use for all of the units our elementary art curriculum. They will help you save time, stay organized, and keep your plans consistent across grade levels.
Why Art Lesson Planning Can Feel Overwhelming
- Multiple grade levels = multiple plans to juggle
- Different unit lengths (single lessons vs. multi-session units)
- The added challenge of aligning with National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) or your own district’s requirements
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. These starter templates were designed to make all of this much easier.
Free Editable Lesson Plan Templates for Art Teachers
What You’ll Get
Inside your free download, you’ll find:
- Templates for single, two, three, and four-session lesson plans
- 31-page editable Google Slides + PowerPoint file
- NCAS alignment checklists for grades K–5
The templates are blank so that they can be used with any art project you choose.
However, this is an example of a completed lesson plan using the Mondrian art unit as an example.
I personally do the Mondrian unit with my kindergarten classes, so I completed the NCAS Standard Alignment sheet for that grade level. If you choose to do the same unit for multiple grade levels or a different grade level completely you can easily complete the corresponding elementary art standards alignment template(s).
Want Done-for-You Lesson Plans Instead?
If you’re thinking, “I’d love to skip all this lesson planning and standards alignment work altogether”—we’ve got you covered.
Inside the Kids Art Projects 101 Membership, you’ll find:
- Fully-prepared lesson plans for elementary art
- Standards alignment already completed for you
- A growing library of engaging art projects for grades K–5
👉 Learn more about the art teacher membership
How to Get Your Free Editable Lesson Plan Templates for Art Teachers
Ready to make lesson planning a little easier?
Once you’ve saved your copy, you can:
- Easily personalize them with your own information
- Reuse them year after year
- Pair them with our curriculum or your own lessons
Your time is too valuable to waste wrestling with lesson plans and standards alignment. These free editable templates give you a strong foundation, whether you’re designing your own lessons or supplementing with ours.
And if you’re ready to save even more time, the Kids Art Projects 101 Membership will give you a full year of lessons—done for you, standards included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)?
The National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) are a set of national guidelines for teaching the arts, including visual arts, music, dance, and drama. They help ensure students develop key skills like creating, responding, and connecting through the arts.
Can these templates be used with state or local standards?
We know every school (and sometimes every district!) has different requirements.
While this free template includes alignment checklists for the NCAS only, inside the membership we’ve also provided reference sheets that make it simple to connect the NCAS standards to your specific state or district requirements. Once you create your “crosswalk” reference, you can reuse it year after year.
Do I need Google Slides to use the templates?
You will need Google Slides to open the templates initially, but if you prefer you may download the slides and edit in Microsoft PowerPoint so you can use whichever platform works best for your school setup.
Are these templates only for art teachers?
They were designed with elementary art teachers in mind, but the editable format means you could adapt them for other subject areas too.
What’s included in the Art Teacher Membership?
The Kids Art Projects 101 Membership includes:
- A growing library of done-for-you lesson plans for grades PreK–5
- Standards alignment already included
- Teaching resources and classroom management tools to keep your art classes stress-free
Joan Miró Art Project and Elementary Art Lessons