Art Treasure Box: A First-Day Activity

Art Treasure Box: A Creative First-Day Activity for Students

The first day of class is always exciting. Meeting new students and discovering their unique personalities and passions is a joyful challenge. Learning their names is easy, but understanding why they are in the art classroom and what art really means to them often takes an entire semester.
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To help bridge that gap, I created the Art Treasure Box activity. This lesson allows students to explore and express their thoughts about art in a fun and meaningful way.

Discover the Art Treasure Box project—a fun and meaningful first-day classroom activity where students decorate recycled wet wipe lids as treasure boxes, paint sparkling jewels, and write personal messages like “Art is my ___.” A perfect way to explore creativity, sustainability, and students’ passion for art.

How It Works

1. Decorating the Box: Attach a recycled wet wipe lid to the center of the paper. Students paint around it, turning the lid into a treasure box. By adding gemstones spilling out of the box, they also practice painting how jewels shine and sparkle in watercolor.
2. Names and Messages: On the outside of the lid, students write their names. Inside, they write a short phrase such as “Art is my ___.” This encourages them to reflect on what art means personally to them.
3. Curiosity and Discovery: Opening the lid creates a moment of surprise—an invitation into the world of art. It is a playful way for students to reveal their creativity and inner voice.

Why It Matters

A simple recycled material becomes a powerful teaching tool. Students not only learn about creativity and sustainability, but also about themselves and their relationship to art. Each treasure box becomes a window into how they see and feel about the creative process.
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Next time, I’ll share how to make the miniature brush that can be placed inside the box for an added touch of magic.

If you enjoyed reading about the Art Treasure Box: A First Day Activity, you’ll be happy to know that one of the most delightful items inside the treasure box is a miniature paintbrush. Children are always fascinated when they discover it, and it quickly becomes a spark for their imagination. They love to imagine how such a tiny brush might be used—for painting secret artworks, decorating miniature spaces, or even for magical storytelling.

To show you how this little brush is made, I’ve written a dedicated post with step-by-step instructions and pictures. You can find the full tutorial here: How to Make a Miniature Paintbrush. This guide walks you through the simple process of creating the brush using everyday materials like a toothpick, tape, and some wig hair or old brush bristles. It’s a wonderful way to extend the treasure box activity and make it even more special.