Draw a checkerboard pattern that fools the eye. Start by drawing wavy, vertical lines from the top to the bottom of a page. Explain that the lines should be spaced so that they resemble fat snakes rather than pieces of hair. Draw a quarter-sized circle off-center and over the lines. Continue drawing concentric circles around this circle like a bulls-eye. Start at one corner and lightly make a pencil mark in every other space across the board. Use a marker to fill in all the spaces with a pencil mark. After the checkerboard is complete, use a contrasting color marker to color in the white spaces.
Create a 3-D version of an optical art piece using corrugated cardboard or craft foam. Start making wide, wavy lines from the top to the bottom and then make a large concentric circle somewhere on the page. Lay the piece of paper over cardboard or craft foam. Trace the lines so that an impression is made. Cut out pieces to cover random spaces on the circle. Color every other space to create a checkerboard optical art image.
Cut a piece of stiff paper into a 6-inch square. Draw a line from corner to corner with a ruler and a pencil. Make a dot in the center with a black marker and then go over the pencil lines with the marker two-thirds of the way to the center. Have students create individual Op Art pieces on each triangle. Draw wavy lines vertically and horizontally and then fill in every other space with a black marker. Use different widths to make unique designs. Once complete, cut the lines you made from each corner to two-thirds of the way to the center. Gently bend every other corner and then press a thumbtack through these two corners to affix to a dowel.
Make distorted optical art circles. Find the center of a piece of paper. Draw the largest circle possible with a compass. Draw several circles inside the big circle. Make three of the circles close together. Use a protractor to mark the half and whole degree all around the circles. Trace the lines with a ruler and pencil. Fill every other space created with a fine marker. Leave the opposite space white or fill it in with different colors.