Art with Coach T | Projects to Help Kids Build Resilience, Self-discipline, and Creative Problem Solving Skills

Make Art. Build Resilience.

Welcome to Art with Coach T — I help children learn to problem solve, manage difficulty, and overcome perfectionism through creative challenges.

My projects are designed to help kids work through the frustration of growth, not around it, in a super low-risk way.

Art is the tool. Growth mindset is the goal.

We don’t know what the future holds. But we DO know that to be successful, children will need self-discipline and creative problem solving skills.

Why not build those healthy life habits with a little bit of art making?

Teachers, start here:
Browse Lesson Plans for the Classroom

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Cityscape Printmaking Art Lesson Plan

$6.00

In this lesson, students will create a class cityscape reflecting against a body of water. Each student will get to design their own small series of buildings to contribute to a final display.

This multi-media project features drawing, painting, and printing, and is an excellent opportunity to review knowledge of symmetry, lines and shapes, and explore the magic of printing!

Whether your students choose tIo combine old-world structures with modern buildings, design something futuristic or out of this world – this project provides a great way for students to contribute a unique creation to a larger cohesive piece. The end result is a gorgeous showcase of diverse personalities and aesthetics within a class community!

Enjoy the symphony of “oooohs” and “aaahs” as each student pulls their print. It’s a golden moment of art making!

What's Included:

Lesson Summary
Materials List
Building Lines Idea Sheet
Detailed Written Instructions
Step-by-step Photos
Instructional Video
Student Work Examples

Lesson Plans are designed for new and seasoned art teachers who need the essentials and support of photos and/or video to teach a classroom-tested and kid-approved art lesson.

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Fall Trees Collage Lesson Short

$3.00

For a successful art journey, foundational skills are KEY.

These Fall Tree Collages are a great way to reinforce basic elements of line and color, strengthen precision and coordination skills through collage, and practice drawing different line types.

And what better way to hook your young artists than with TWO kinds of paint?!

In this autumn lesson, students use watercolors to paint a cool-colored background, create fiery warm painted papers with a stippling technique for textured leaves, and use lines to make their own unique tree branches.

Your students will love creating these trees, and your bulletin board will be a gorgeous display of bold fall colors!

What's Included:

Materials list
Detailed written step-by-step instructions
Printable resources (Tree templates)
Photos of student work

Lesson Shorts are designed for seasoned art teachers who need the minimal amount of information to teach an excellent art lesson.

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Line Monsters Lesson Short

$3.00

It’s not easy to teach line, color, and shape to 20+ five-year-olds, so you’d better make it fun!

Line Monsters are SO silly and the lesson gives your youngest artists a chance to practice drawing different line types, experiment with color, and use shapes to create an expressive face. ALL the wins!

This is the first multi-day project I do with my Kindergarteners at the very end of September after we have learned classroom routines and basic materials care. This is also the first time I introduce watercolors!

This project will help your students strengthen their dexterity, fine motor skills, and coordination. And most importantly – it provides the perfect opportunity for the kids to see their skills grow in real time!

Sure, you could use a Kandinsky-inspired abstract piece to practice lines and shapes (and I certainly do later in the year!) – but add some big googly eyes and a silly face, and suddenly, your kids are ALL in. Ready for the next adventure in the art room.

What's Included:

Lesson summary
Materials list
Detailed written instructions
Photos of student work

Lesson Shorts are designed for seasoned art teachers who need the minimal amount of information to teach an excellent art lesson.

Read more →

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Color Monsters Art Lesson Short

$3.00

Color Monsters = The best fall project for young artists.

I could leave it at that. But there is SO much about this lesson that makes it more than an instant visual favorite.

Your youngest learners will learn to identify and share emotions through color and line type, assemble an expression that shows a feeling, AND supercharge their dexterity and fine motor strength through an extensive cutting experience.

Core art elements, social emotional learning, and physical skill-building. Win. Win. WIN.

This lesson starts with the story, The Color Monster by Anna Llenas, and continues with students using line and color to share a feeling of their choice. Then we cut and glue, and cut and glue some more until we have a monster with an expressive face that shows the emotion to match the color.

Enjoy the process. Enjoy the giggles of pride even more. And take as many pictures as you can of the hilariously creative monsters your students create. They’ll be better than any example you make.

I promise.

What’s included:

Lesson summary
Materials list
Resources (Color Monster template, Read Aloud)
Detailed written instructions
Photos of student work

Lesson Shorts are designed for seasoned art teachers who need the minimal amount of information to teach an excellent art lesson.

Read more →

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Families, start here:

If your child gets frustrated quickly or tends to give up…
Hey perfectionist friends! I’m in this club too!

→ Start with this Stained Glass Window Painting
It’s a simple, confidence-building project with clear steps and a quick win.
Plus the tape peeling is VERY satisfying.

If your child rushes through things or skips details…
Love you my speedy McGees but SLOW down!

→ Try this Line Landscape
This project is a slower, more focused project that helps kids stay with the process and practice patience. Lots of simple lines, can make something look SUPER complex.

If your child says “I’m bored” easily…
Bored?! Okay, time to color, rip, glue, and spatter—ALL the things!

→ Make this Abstract Art Collage
This is a project with lots of different materials and creative decision-making that keeps the process exciting. AND there are three different ways to spatter paint. Who’s bored now?!

If you want a meaningful activity you can create together…
From one parent to another — sit and create with your kids. Model beginner bravery. They won’t forget it.
- → Create a Tie dye Peace Sign Print
  Make it an at-home art night—get snacks, invite friends, play music, and enjoy this REALLY easy printing project! Your kids are going to want to make ten prints.

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Testimonials

What parents are saying…

“[Coach T] teaches mindfulness, strength, and positivity in a natural, casual way that kids absorb and take with them.” - DJ

“Her creativity and upbeat approach allows elementary school age kids to make art and believe in a growth mindset.” - JR

“I have met few people with her energetic demeanor, passion for art, commitment to “perfection” and honoring her students’ work.” - HB

“Coach T leads by example, she marches to her own beat, and encourages students to do the same. To be kind and fierce and unique while remembering to love those same qualities in others.” - JC

About Me

Hi, I’m Caitlyn—my students call me Coach T.

For the past decade in the art room, I have built an art program that allows children to practice personal accountability, responsible decision making, and healthy frustration management.

My philosophy centers around growth mindset and resilience. And I believe children need low-risk opportunities to practice being uncomfortable.

Yes, you read that right. Children need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

And now that I have moved beyond the art room, I am building a library of guided art projects so you (parents!) can create alongside your child and build connection while they build real-life skills.

If you’re curious, pick a project and make something together.