DIY Art Supply Organizer: A Fun Craft & Organization Lesson for Kids

Engage young learners with a hands-on lesson that combines creativity and essential life skills! This detailed lesson plan guides 1st and 2nd-grade students through designing and decorating their own 'Creative Command Center'—a personalized DIY organizer for art and school supplies. Students will practice sorting, categorization, and fine motor skills as they create their unique storage bin. Perfect for teachers and homeschooling parents, this plan includes a complete materials list, step-by-step instructions, and assessment ideas to help kids learn organization in a fun, meaningful way.

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Lesson Plan: Design Your Creative Command Center

Subject Areas: Art, Language Arts, Life Skills (Organization)

Grade Level: 1st-2nd Grade (Age 7)

Time Allotment: 60-90 minutes

Materials Needed:

  • A plain book bin or any sturdy, open-top box
  • A variety of art and school supplies to be organized (markers, tape, pencils, etc.)
  • Paint pens
  • Stencils (with letters, shapes, or fun designs)
  • Permanent markers
  • Stickers or other decorative items (optional)
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Books to be organized
  • A small bookshelf or designated shelf space
  • Newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect the work surface
  • Smaller containers like cups or small jars to go inside the bin (optional, for holding pencils, etc.)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

  • Sort and categorize various school and art supplies based on their function or type.
  • Design and decorate a personalized container using multiple art materials (paint pens, stencils, markers).
  • Organize supplies into a functional system that makes them easy to find and use.
  • Verbally explain their organizational choices and the purpose of their "Creative Command Center."

Lesson Procedure

Part 1: The Mission - The Great Supply Sort (15 minutes)

Goal: To introduce the project and sort the materials, which helps with planning and categorization skills.

  1. Introduce the Mission: "Today, you are the Director of Creativity! Your mission is to design the perfect 'Creative Command Center' where all your amazing tools will live. A great artist or inventor needs an organized space so they can find their tools quickly when a brilliant idea strikes. First, we need to see exactly what tools we have."
  2. Gather the Supplies: Ask the student to gather all the supplies listed (markers, pencils, tape, etc.) and place them in a pile on the protected work surface.
  3. The Sorting Game: Say, "Let's play a sorting game. How many different groups can we make?" Guide the student to sort the items into logical categories. For example:
    • Things for Writing/Drawing: Pencils, markers, paint pens.
    • Things for Sticking: Tape.
    • Things for Reading: Books.
    • Things for Helping our Tools: Pencil sharpener.
    Encourage the student to come up with their own categories. Ask questions like, "Why do you think the markers and pencils belong together?"

Part 2: The Design Studio - Decorate Your Headquarters (30-45 minutes)

Goal: To engage in a creative, hands-on art activity that fosters self-expression and fine motor skills.

  1. Plan the Design: Present the plain book bin. Say, "This will be the headquarters for your Command Center. How should we decorate it so everyone knows it's yours and it's a place for creativity?" Brainstorm ideas together. Will it have a name? Favorite colors? A pattern?
  2. Create with Stencils: Show the student how to use the stencils. They can spell out their name, "Art Supplies," or use fun shapes. Let them choose which stencils to use and where to put them.
  3. Add Color and Detail: Encourage the student to use the paint pens and markers to add color, draw pictures, or create patterns on the bin. This is a great time to practice holding writing tools correctly and controlling their movements. There are no rules here—the goal is creative expression!
  4. Drying Time: Set the decorated bin aside to dry completely. This is a good time for a short break or to read one of the books that will be organized later.

Part 3: The Grand Opening - Organize and Showcase (15 minutes)

Goal: To apply organizational skills by creating a functional system and to practice communication by explaining their work.

  1. Assemble the Command Center: Once the bin is dry, it's time to organize! Ask the student, "Based on our sorting game, how should we put everything into our new headquarters?" Guide them to place the sorted items into the bin. They might use smaller cups inside the bin to keep pencils and markers standing up.
  2. Arrange the Shelf: Have the student place their new, filled Command Center on the bookshelf. Then, let them arrange their books next to it in a way they like (by size, color, or topic).
  3. The Official Tour: You are now a visitor to the new Command Center. Ask the student to give you a tour. Prompt them with questions like:
    • "Can you tell me about your design? Why did you choose those colors?"
    • "Where would I find a marker if I wanted to draw?"
    • "Why did you decide to put the tape in that spot?"

Assessment (Informal)

  • Observation: Did the student successfully sort the supplies into logical groups?
  • Completed Project: Observe the creativity and effort put into decorating the book bin.
  • Student Explanation: Listen to the student’s tour. Are they able to clearly explain their organizational system and design choices? This demonstrates comprehension and ownership of the project.

Ideas for Extension

  • Create Labels: Use small pieces of paper and tape to create labels for the different sections of the bin or for the smaller containers inside.
  • Make an Inventory List: For an older student, practice writing skills by creating a checklist of all the supplies in the Command Center.
  • Design a "Check-Out" System: Create a fun, simple system for "borrowing" supplies from the Command Center, teaching responsibility for putting things back where they belong.
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