The article examines methodological guidelines for teaching art in the 5th grade. The attention of teachers is focused on the importance of the adaptation period for fifth-graders, as well as the need to implement competence-based, active and integrated approaches in teaching art based on program content, various forms and methods. The instructions are provided regarding the work of the teacher in assisting 5th-graders during the adaptation period, which takes place with a natural duration and in accordance with the individual characteristics of each student. This leads to the study of the artistic experience of students through pedagogical observation at the beginning of education in the 5th grade, as a starting point for further education throughout the year, which should be planned to achieve the expected learning outcomes determined by the program. Carrying out the educational process based on competence, activity and integrated approaches in teaching art allows students learn to apply acquired knowledge and skills in typical and new situations and gain artistic experience. The author emphasizes that for the comprehensive implementation of the tasks of art lessons based on the “New Ukrainian School” concept, an important factor is using various educational and methodological support, in particular textbooks, educational and methodological aids, as well as high-quality audio and video content. To provide examples of the practical implementation of the specified methodological guidelines, the article offers various forms of practical activity for students, proposed by the author of the article in the textbook “Art. 5th grade” (by authors Olena Haidamaka and Nataliia Liemesheva) for institutions of general secondary education. This enables students’ self-expression of in singing (performance of monophonic and polyphonic works, singing in an ensemble and choir), instrumental music making, drawing, sculpting, construction, which contributes to the discovery of creativity, initiative, artistic and communicative interaction between students and teachers in these types of artistic activity, as well as during discussion of works of art, identification of emotional and value attitude towards them, analysis of their content.