This fun and engaging 1st grade art lesson connects directly to STEM concepts, foundational literacy, and a school community event (the 5th grade “Invention Convention”)!
This was a 2 day art lesson -2 (40 minute) art periods. On day 1, we talked about how the 5th graders created their own inventions with their classroom teachers, and had them on display for the whole school to check out. Students then shared their favorite inventions that they saw when visiting the invention convention.
So for the 5th grader Invention Convention, which is a yearly tradition, 1st graders went with their classroom teachers to visit the invention convention earlier that week. They walked around the gym where everything was set up and were given the opportunity to ask questions and hear how their inventions operated and why they were useful! A lot of my first graders had older siblings that took part in the schools invention convention event too. Parents and people in the community were able to see the inventions and talk to the 5th grade inventors one evening at the school as well!
Here are some of the 5th graders inventions below!
Then students were introduced to RubeGoldberg’s illustrations, and learned that Rube Goldberg lived from 1883 – 1970, and that he was an American cartoonist, engineer, and inventor who received the Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for his political cartoons. Rube is best known for his cartoon drawings that depict “Rube Goldberg Machines”, contraptions that were deliberately over-engineered to perform (via a chain reaction) a very simple task in a very complicated way.
FUNFACT! The popular board game, “Mouse Trap”, was modeled after a “Rube Goldberg Machine”.
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They then watched this very silly and fun video by http://josephsmachines.com (which my students absolutely LOOVED!)
You should definitely watch this if you haven’t seen it yet. Also visit his YouTube channel for other fun videos!
I particularly liked this one below “what happens to your bags after drop off”
Then I showed students invention drawings (in my Google slides)by previous 1st graders for more inspiration.
Here are my screenshots of my Google slides with directions that I showed my students after.
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On day 2, students finished coloring in their inventions and then did a “turn and talk” with their peers, explaining what they created and how their invention worked.
Artwork by my first graders is below the learning goals for the lesson!
LearningGoals:
Students learn about the artist /engineer Rube Goldberg and can identify his artwork
Students can see connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM)
Students can use creative problem solving skills, and visualize a unique invention
Students can translate abstract ideas into a 2D drawing, using lines, shapes and textures to represent functioning parts of their invention
Students can give their invention a unique name, and a written description encouraging creative ownership while creating art that connects with ELA
In connection with the 5th-grade event, students will practice explaining their drawing to peers, developing the “narrator” skills needed for future presentations
Students recognize the school-wide theme of “innovation” and see themselves as part of the same creative community as the older students
Students learn to use real-world events (like the 5th-grade convention) as a springboard for their own artistic exploration
the students artwork above wasn’t finished yet but I had to add it in!
Thanks so much for visiting my website today! I hope you enjoyed these 1st graders creative inventions and try it with your students soon!
Please be sure to check out my previous posts below
I created my FIRST EVER #shorts video!!! I think I messed up a teeny bit though and added #shorts to the actual video haha when I actually didn’t have to (whatevs…. Not a big deal!)
In my video, I first give an introduction on Wayne Thiebaud and talk about his artwork while showing a variety of his paintings with the titles of the art listed at the bottom, and share some fun facts kids will love! (2 minutes), then during the drawing I show how to hold a ruler correctly when drawing any straight lines—-how to use crayon to create a “barrier” or wall, to prevent watercolors from seeping into other wet sections, —and “wet-wet woops!”Something I came up with when wet paint next to wet paint merges together where you don’t want it to 🙂
Suitable for grades 3-5
******* More on this lesson below the hashtags**********
#WayneThiebaud
#mixedmedia
#watercolortutorial
#elementaryartlessons
#youtubetutorials
#art
#artlessons
#cake
#drawingcakes
#howtodrawacake
#cakelover
#artprojectsforkids
#Artlessonsforkids
#springtimeartlessons#elementaryart
Materials needed:
Good quality white drawing paper (I used 9×12” 80# paper)
Black fine point sharpie permanent marker
Crayons
Ruler
Watercolors
Puffy paint (or oil pastels) for the sprinkles
3 day lesson (40 minute art classes each)
Day 1:
Draw and sharpie cake (include frosting dripping over edge, wavy frosting on top around perimeter, strawberry (or other cake topping like chocolates, candles, or cherries), diagonally striped frosting on the inside, plate, table and 5 vertical stripes for rainbow inside the cake (if you want to include that part) *omit sharpie on those lines
Day 2:
Color strawberry with crayon
Color wavy frosting on top of cake with crayon
Draw a thick line of crayon at edge of frosting drips
Color in the diagonal stripe of inside frosting with crayon
Trace over vertical stripes inside cake (just tracing over lines) to create a “barrier” for paint, with crayons, pressing hard
Color in the plate with crayon
Add crayon tablecloth design / pattern on table
Paint the sides of cake (from drips down) not the inside slice taken out yet
Paint the top of cake and frosting drips
Day 3:
Paint the inside of cake (just be careful near the top and don’t use too much water on your brush) rainbow vertical stripes starting with red at outermost edge of cake going to purple in the center on both sides
Add puffy paint sprinkles on top of cake (or once the top is completely dry) or use oil pastels
LEARNING GOALS:
Students learn about the artist Wayne Thiebaud and can identify his work
Students understand how art and other disciplines, like math can be interdisciplinary and helps generate new ideas and supports creative thinking
Students utilize the elements of art: line, shape, form, space, texture and color to create a cake and can identify those elements in their work
Students can create, identify and define crayon wax resist techniques
*****NEW! I just added my step-by-step drawing guide (PDF) on how to draw the cake to my TpT store (4/15/26) for only $1.25
This handout would be great for any absent students on day 1 of the lesson. Also great for any early finishers on any given day! And useful to add to your sub binder!
I hope you enjoy my new video!!
I know in my last post “Springtime Art Lessons” I mentioned that I’d be creating a new video for 2nd grade “April Showers brings May Flowers” but I just really wanted to create this video first! I will still be creating that one though sometime very soon!
I’m also thinking about creating a YouTube tutorial on Georgia O’Keeffe inspired Enlarged flower drawings (oil pastel) — you can view them under my 4th grade Art Lessons page —-would you be interested in something like that? With a bit of Art history and talking about her art and life in the intro? Let me know your thoughts!
Please check out my new video when you can! Also be sure to check out my post below on “Springtime Art Lessons” —there’s a ton listed from grades K-5 as well as special education with links back to my original posts on many of them that have detailed step-by-step directions with lots of photos. I plan on making a permanent spot for all of those on a dedicated page under my main menu in the next day or so.
These lessons are listed in order by grade level from 5th grade to Kindergarten and then Special Education
All pictures shown are of my students artwork only (no teacher examples)
Almost any of these lessons could be used for the grade above or grade below as well!
I’ve included my links (where I could) that go directly to each post about that particular lesson, which include very detailed steps and step-by-step photos. This will make it much quicker and easier for you to find the directions for each springtime art lesson!
Please be sure to check out my drop down MENU to view all that I have to offer on my website (especially if you’re someone new to my site!) There’s lots to look at and I added NEW pages recently! —-one of which is titled “ OPEN HOUSE or P/T CONFERENCE NIGHT IDEA” —-
I’m planning on adding another new page within the next few weeks as well!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 5th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions with photos of students artwork
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 5th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions with photos of students artwork.
This year I’m having my 4th graders, at one of my schools (the school where I have an art room ) make these for the Art Show coming up in May 2026! Instead of having them create the bubble wrap prints for either their vase or table, I’m having them “up-cycle” the art room messy mats! Honestly, the messy mats are their OWN work of art at this point!! I’m really REALLY excited about it!!! They will still create splatter paintings for either their vase or table too!
4TH GRADE
ENLARGED FLOWER DRAWINGS INSPIRED BY GEORGIA O’KEEFE
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 4th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions with photos of students artwork. The 4th grade Art Lessons page has additional (different) photos of student artwork than the link too
COLLABORATIVE ENLARGED FLOWER DRAWING- Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 4th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions with photos of students artwork.
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 4th Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions with photos of students artwork.
RADIAL SYMMETRY PRINTMAKING
Rainbows are always happening in springtime! Plus it’s SOOOo colorful so I figured why not add this one to the springtime collection!
The detailed steps (and photos for EACH step) are under the lesson on my 4th Grade Art Lessons page already—so no need to add in a link or type anything in my search box!
Also, here is my YouTube tutorial on this lesson!
3RD GRADE
SUNSET SILHOUETTES
I could see creating silhouettes of grass and flowers (drawn large along the bottom up close/ low view point) with flying bumble bees or butterflies as a fun way to heighten the springtime feel for this one!
The sunset colors just has the vibes of warmer months so I wanted to include this fun lesson in the mix!
Please go to my 3rd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork.
SUNFLOWERS INSPIRED BY VINCENT VAN GOGH
Please go to my 3rd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork.
2ND GRADE
ABSTRACT SELF PORTRAITS!
There were 2 different times I posted about this lesson— so ergo— 2 links! The second link is where I had kids add neon oil pastels onto their painted backgrounds, and to their black + white photos if they wanted! 🙂
I wanted to include this lesson because #1 it’s awesome, and one of my favorites! And #2, it could easily have a springtime feel added to it!
I could definitely see having kids draw simple flower heads layered on top of their dried paintings (just swatches of paint with different colors as the background)— OR —have kids draw flower heads (just an outline) all over their paper with crayons or oil pastels pressing hard first, THEN paint over them with watercolors (creating a crayon wax-resist or oil pastel resist) before applying their photos and text! That would be a great springtime edition of this lesson! I would maybe just have kids draw the flower heads really large (as kids always tend to want to draw small) to make them fun and more noticeable. Just an idea!
You can download the sheet with questions that kids fill out for this lesson in my TpT store below!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions (still with photos)!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions (still with photos)!
HEREis my link to my TpT store to download the tracing template for the 3 petals (large, medium and small) for this lesson
My YouTube video tutorial on this lesson is below!
Please click on the 2 links above to go directly to my original posts to view detailed steps with step-by-step photos on this lesson! There is a link to get a free bunny template through the first post as well! Or you can go onto my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions (still with some photos)!
$2.99 DOWNLOADABLE PDF BEAR CUB TEMPLATE ON MY TpT PAGE HERE
MONET INSPIRED BRIDGE PAINTINGS
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see photos of students artwork.
Below is a YouTube link to show your students a video about Monet, which I love! It’s narrated by a cute 8 year old girl and she has the sweetest voice! My students LOVED watching it!
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork.
APRIL SHOWERS BRINGS MAY FLOWERS
Please go to my 2nd Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
I’m going to create a YouTube tutorial on this lesson soon too!
I will also be adding my umbrella PDF template to my TpT store so you can download and print one to copy and use in your classrooms! I will update this post once that’s all set and add it to my 2nd grade page as well.
1ST GRADE
HOT AIR BALLOON COLLAGE
This lesson is too cute to not add in the mix! And let’s be honest —it is “springtime-esque”— I know I’d prefer riding in one of these in warmer temps! Plus I love how sweet they are (I have been told by many parents how much they love them and what a keepsake they are 💞and students loved making them!)
Please go to my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions (still with photos- just not as detailed)
TANGLEBIRDCOLLAGE
Please go to my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
My students LOOVE this lesson! It’s so bright and colorful for a springtime display and kids learn how to create an amazing sculpture just out of simple construction paper!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to view detailed steps with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the condensed directions (still with photos- just not as detailed)
SUNFLOWER DRAWING INSPIRED BY VINCENT VAN GOGH
Please go to my 1st Grade Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
KINDERGARTEN
BUGS IN A JAR
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
LITTLE CLOUD
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
BIRDS ON A WIRE
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
SELF-PORTRAITS WITH RAINBOW LINES
How adorable are these self-portraits??! I love the contrast too!
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
MIXED-MEDIA BRIDGES INSPIRED BY CLAUDE MONET
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork! This one is also listed under my Special Education page.
APRIL SHOWERS
Please go to my Kindergarten Art Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork! This one is also listed under my Special Education page.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Any of the following art lessons can be taught to Kindergarten or 1st grade as well!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to read how we made these with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the directions there
MIXED-MEDIA HANDS HOLDING FLOWERS
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to read how we made these with step-by-step photos on this lesson. Or you can go onto my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the directions
SHAVING CREAM MARBLED PRINTS
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
MIXED-MEDIA CLAY BUTTERFLIES
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
FLOATING CHALK PRINTS
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork! This lesson would be great to create textured papers to collage with!
MIXED-MEDIA RAINBOW COLLAGES
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
CLAY BIRDS IN NESTS
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
SYMMETRICAL BUTTERFLIES
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork! Similar to the butterflies above but we used liquid tempera paint for the butterfly for this one!
LADYBUGS
Please go to my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the lesson, read how we made them and see additional photos of students artwork!
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to read how we made these and view the photo of the lesson. Or you can go onto my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the directions there
Please click on the link above to go directly to my original post to read detailed directions on how we made these and view the steps with photos of the lesson! Or you can go onto my Special Education Lessons page and scroll down to view the directions there!
Also, Just for fun — check out this old stop motion animation I made with my 5th graders WAAAAY back in 2012 when I was student teaching! There are 3 short animations total —back-to-back—with a pause in between. They made the music with the music teacher for this video! So cool! These kiddos are now 24 years old?!?! Yikes?!!
Be sure to check out my other recent posts below on:
Winter Northern Lights!
Blackout Poetry
Winter Cardinals
Thank you so much for visiting my website today! I hope you enjoyed reading this post, and will bookmark it for future reference to come back to these art lessons. Please consider subscribing below if you haven’t already ❤️ You’ll receive an email notification each time I post something new!
I will be posting something NEW (never before posted! ) art lesson here very very soon! 😀
P.S. —Have you checked out all my site has to offer? Click on the MENU on my home page and see if anything else suits your fancy 😉
There’s lots to look at and I added NEW pages recently! —-one of which is titled “ OPEN HOUSE or P/T CONFERENCE NIGHT IDEA” —-
I’m planning on adding another new page within the next few weeks as well!
This is aNEW art lesson that I created on 12/17/25. I’m SO excited on how these turned out! This is definitely a keeper in my curriculum and kids really loved creating them!! Such a fun process and I’m very proud of my students work (as they are too!)
The only materials needed are 12 x18” black paper ( I like to use Sax brand “Black Colored Art Paper” because of how saturated the color it is, and doesn’t have spotting or inconsistencies within the paper), 6” x 18” black paper, 12 x18” white paper, colored chalk pastels, white chalk pastel, scissors, a glue stick, a toothbrush, a plate for the paint, and white tempera paint.
I knew I wanted to create a fun landscape using chalk pastels for a winter art lesson and kept playing around with ideas in my head for a few days, then started experimenting at school. I really love how the northern lights came out and how the snowy trees pop against the black and all that vibrant color!
This lesson takes (4) 40 minute art classes to complete. This winter lesson can be created throughout ANY of the winter months! December-January-February….March even! (If you live in New England, March is like the loooongest cold month (besides January of course haha!)
Day 1: Create the Northern Lights
On a sheet of 12×18” white drawing paper, draw 5 random wavy lines across the paper with pencil to create a template for the northern lights. Make sure no lines are overlapping.
Then cut along that first top line and toss that first top section away in the recycling.
Then place the remaining paper (template) on top of the 12×18” black paper, lining up both papers. Then using various colored chalk pastels, draw right on the edge of the white paper -AND- on the black paper, going back and forth to create a thick line and to create a lot of chalk dust. Use a variety of colors and switch colors as you move along the edge of the white paper. Overlap colors where they meet as well. Then once the entire edge is colored, use your finger to smudge upwards from the white paper onto the black paper. (I did try to use a different finger as colors changed here and there, but even if I didn’t and they blended a little, it was completely fine. I guess that really just depends on what effect you’re going for color-wise and what colors you choose.)
Blow on your paper to get rid of any residual chalk dust. Then cut along the second line, toss the top section out, line the two papers up again and apply the chalk along the papers edge in the same way as mentioned above, then smudge upwards. Repeat these steps until it fills the black paper (see photos BELOW). Then use your finger to smudge the bottoms of each line of color created, to soften the lines and blur them out a little bit.
***TIP***To get rid of any smudges / finger prints afterwards, wipe your fingers on a damp paper towel with water (or use a baby wipe) lightly rub your fingers together for a second or two to get rid of excess moisture, then use your slightly dampened (juuuust barely!) finger to wipe away any smudges you don’t want—— that trick really works great!
DAY2: Add the stars/snow
On day 2, finish creating the northern lights with colored chalk if needed. (Not a lot, but some of my students needed to finish). Then dip a toothbrush into white tempera paint on a plate, (I use Crayola Tempera Premier), not too much! And rub your finger along the toothbrush bristles to help spread it evenly. Then flick all over the black paper with northern lights creating stars in the night sky (– or snow falling, depending on how you see it). Once complete, set aside artwork in the drying rack to dry.
DAY3: Create the trees
On day 3, students each receive a sheet of black paper cut to 6” x 18”. Using white chalk pastel (no pencil sketching first) create trees by drawing an upside down “v” first for the top of the tree along the left side of your paper (forming each tree LEFT to RIGHT as you draw them).
Then draw lines goingupanddownonly (overlapping the lines as you draw and leaving a jagged edge along the bottom).
Leave some black paper showing in between the next series of tree branches.
Then move onto your next tree. Create trees that are close together (they can actually overlap too) with varying heights all across the paper.
Also blow on the paper after each section of branches are complete to get rid of any residual chalk dust.
DAY 4: Cut out trees and glue on
Finish creating trees if needed. Once complete, cut out the trees as one piece (keeping them all attached near the bottom) but leave a small bit of black paper showing all around each tree as you cut. About a 1/2” all around trees.
Then flip over carefully and glue the back all over with a glue stick (making sure to cover the entire backside, especially the edges).
Then place along the bottom of the black northern lights paper lining the edges up before placing down. Make sure the paper is facing the right way first—-so that the northern lights are trailing UP not down. Press along the very bottom only—where there aren’t any trees—to attach, and then use another CLEAN sheet of 12×18” white paper to then lay on top of the whole thing (sort of roll it on over the trees) and press where the trees are to help reduce any smudging of the trees while gluing into place.
***TIP***To get rid of any smudges / finger prints afterwards, wipe your fingers on a damp paper towel with water (or use a baby wipe) lightly rub your fingers together for a second or two to get rid of excess moisture, then use your slightly dampened (juuuust barely!) finger to wipe away any smudges you don’t want—— again, that trick really works great!
LEARNING GOALS:
Students can create a sense of space within their art, when creating the size and placement of their trees
Students can see how art and other disciplines, like science, can be interdisciplinary and helps generate new ideas and supports creative thinking
Students can demonstrate an understanding on how to blend colors, create texture, and show value changes using chalk pastels
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed reading this post and try it out with your class at school or at home with your own kids! Please tag me and refer back to this website if you are sharing your creations on any social media, thank you!
I’ll be posting a NEW art lesson for 5th grade very soon! If you haven’t already— please consider subscribing to this site below! Thank you ❤️
And to all you teachers out there reading this, I hope you have a great rest of your February break!!! Enjoy!
First I want to say hello to all my new subscribers 🙂
89 NEW subscribers in the past month! WOW! A BIG thank you and welcome!!
Below is a collection of newly finished winter artwork!
Kindergarten- SnowyOwlCollages
Such a fun lesson that my students really enjoyed! To learn more about these Snowy Owl Collages click on Kindergarten Art Lessons under the main menu and scroll down. These are actually at the top of that page! Detailed lesson directions, photos of steps along the way, and learning goals are posted!
1st Grade – Mixed-Media Snow Globes
To view more Mixed-Media Snow Globes and read how we made them along with step-by-step photos, and learning goals, click on 1st Grade Art Lessons under the main menu and scroll down
2nd Grade – WinterBearsInSweaters
To view detailed directions, with more photos of student artwork and see the learning goals for this lesson, click on “2nd Grade Art Lessons” under the main menu and scroll down!
3rd Grade – Polar Bears
This is a fun 3 (40 minute) art lesson that has been a huge hit year after year! Black oil pastel, liquid watercolors, and salt
I hope you enjoyed looking at my latest K-3 students artwork! I’ll be making a new post on 8 Valentine’s Day lessons later this week!
Also my 4th graders are currently working on drawing Victorian houses (Victorian Architecture) and 5th are working on “Winter Northern Lights” and I will post photos of students finished artwork here as soon as they finish (which is VERY soon!)
If you haven’t seen it yet, please also check out my previous post below on 5th grade “winter northern lights” which also has my YouTube video! My detailed instructions with step-by-step photos and learning goals are posted under “5th Grade Art Lessons” as well!
Below are 22 Winter Art Lessons ranging from K-5th grade and Special Education. These are a variety of winter art lessons that I’ve taught over the years since 2012. I hope that this post will give you some fun winter art lesson ideas to use in your classrooms!
To find each lesson, just go to the main menu and select the grade level that each lesson is from and scroll down the page to view more photos, directions with steps, and the learning goals!
5th GRADE
WINTERNORTHERNLIGHTS
This is a NEW lesson that I created 12/17/25 and just posted a new blog post on it! Please check out the blog post with details on how to create it by typing in Winter Northern Lights in my search box —Or—by visiting my “5th Grade Art Lessons” page in the drop down menu. ***Update: I just added my new YouTube tutorial on this lesson below too!
(Holiday Lights lesson inspo from @artwithmrsnguyen )
4thGRADE
(Lesson idea from LauraLee (@2art.chambers)
(lesson idea from @mrsallainart and @2art.chambers)
3rdGRADE
Below is my YouTube tutorial on the 3D Winter Mugs
(Polar bears lesson inspiration from @2art.chambers)
2ndGRADE
(Winter Bears in Sweaters lesson idea from @2art.chambers)
1stGRADE
The mixed-media snow globe is a 1st grade art lesson that is NEW (started in Nov. 2025) and is still underway. I did a blog post recently on the steps to create it and added photos of students artwork from day 1 so far. I will add a new blog post on the final artwork with more details as well as add it to the 1st grade art lessons page once complete! I also have a snow globe PDF template in my TpT store for $1.50
(I have another version of this winter landscape lesson under Kindergarten art Lessons – with pink paper and snowflakes created with fingertips dipped in paint!)
(Mixed-Media Alphabet Soup lesson idea from @2art.chambers)
KINDERGARTEN
SPECIALEDUCATION
I hope that you enjoyed looking at these winter art lessons!
I also recently added some fun Q and A to my “About Me” page (under the drop down menu). The Q and A is at the bottom of that page – so check that out if you haven’t yet!
I also added a new “Comments Page” where you can read comments that I collected from all over my websites pages and put all together on one page!
Thank you for visiting my website and be sure to check back for new posts coming up later this week!
“Snowy Owl Collage” with Kindergarten started last Thursday at one of my schools (11/13/25)!
I brought this one back out from the vault with a new twist! I decided this time we’re going to add white tempera paint to the branches AND use a toothbrush to flick snowflakes all around the sky! My kindergartners today were like “whaaat? A toothbrush??” Haha a little confused on that one, but they were very excited to be able to flick paint!
So far on this fun 4 day lesson, Kindergarteners learned what a collage was and strengthened their fine motor skills by tearing small pieces of brown paper for the branch ( I drew the outline of the owl and branch ahead of time with a white colored pencil on black Sax brand paper).
We talked about how to glue the back of the torn paper, not the black background paper, (so we don’t put glue where we might not need it), overlapping, as well as texture.
Later on in the lesson, on day 4, they’ll be working on their fine motor skills even more with tracing circles and cutting them out with scissors for the owls eyes, and using a toothbrush to create falling ❄️❄️❄️
By the time they finish these, who knows- – we could very well be seeing some snow falling ourselves! I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already in less than 2 weeks? It feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I was just out walking with a pair of shorts on?!?!
I’ll be posting more details on this lesson with more photos of students working on them, and of their finished work in the next few weeks! (it’ll probably take 4 (40 min. ) art classes to complete. Stay tuned!!
Below are pics from previous years where students used a white crayon to add snow details rather than paint.
Learning Goals:
Continue to strengthen fine motor skills (tearing, gluing, cutting, drawing)
Can create a collage using torn pieces of paper, and define what a collage is
Can define texture and show texture within their artwork
Can define overlapping and show this in their artwork
Connection to science/ Learn about owls
If you are someone new to visiting my website go below to my search tab below and copy and paste
Elementary Art Lessons: A quick glimpse of my website! To view a variety of art lessons in one quick swoop!
Please also check out my most recent blog posts by copying and pasting the title below in my search bar to go directly to that blog post
1 Point Perspective Cityscapes
Mixed-Media Leaf Impressions
Art on a Cart
Dotted Leaf Paintings
Drawing a Victorian House
Also, what YouTube tutorial would you like me to make next? Any suggestions from any of my art lessons you see here on my website …or something else? or you can drop me a line by adding a comment below!
Gahh! These pumpkins are just SO stinkin’ cute! I LOOoove how they turned out, and my students did too! So proud of their hard work and effort. 2 out of my 8 classes finished so far. Here’s some of their finished work- and photos and details on how we made them! BTW— Please be sure to read some important information at the bottom of this post!
I love all the different facial expressions!
But students didn’t have to include a face in their pumpkin if they didn’t want to
This was a 4 day lesson (40 minutes each art). My YouTube tutorial is posted below the artwork / steps for the lesson.
DAY1:
This lesson was inspired by “The Starry Night” —Kindergarten and 1st grade students learned about the life and artwork of Vincent van Gogh.
After learning about Vincent van Gogh, I showed students step-by-step under the document camera, how to draw the pumpkin on a 12×12” sheet of 80# white drawing paper. I began with drawing a large “C” on the left side of the paper. Then drawing a backwards “C” on the right side- leaving a little space in between. We then connected the two C’s at the top with a slight curving line, then connected the bottom.
Then we drew the pumpkin’s stem, adding a few bumps at the top and lines inside for texture. After that, we drew a straight line down the middle of the pumpkin, and then curving lines on either side to create more texture, and to make our pumpkins look more rounded. Then students drew the face (if they wanted one) and added a zig-line for the grass (making sure to go OVER the bottom of the pumpkin a little bit to show overlapping). Then we erased the parts of the pumpkin that was below the zig-zag line. For the final step of day 1, we drew a moon in the sky.
DAY 2:
Students traced over ALL pencil lines with a black crayon making sure to press real hard as they traced. Then students filled in their pumpkin’s eyes and mouth with a black crayon; pressing hard. Students then drew stars in the sky using a yellow crayon (also making sure to press really hard, and to fill in the circles completely).
DAY 3:
Students then painted their sky using black watercolors, creating a crayon-wax resist technique. It never gets old seeing students watch in awe as the paint glides right over the crayon and doesn’t cover it up! Then they painted their grass, pumpkin, stem and moon.
DAY4:
On the final day, we looked at Vincent’s StarryNight painting again and talked about all the short dashed lines in his work- particularly around each of the stars, and how it made them look like they were twinkling, and how it created a lot of texture throughout.
Students drew short dashed lines in the grass with a dark green crayon, dashed lines with a red-orange crayon inside the pumpkin, and white dashed lines all around the stars; making sure to press down hard as they drew.
LearningGoals:
Students can identify and create various types of line
Students can define texture and show texture within their artwork
Students can define overlapping and show overlapping in their artwork
Students can define and create a crayon-wax resist painting
SO proud of my 5th graders on this lesson! It took 6 to 7 (40 minute) art classes to complete them. (Can’t you just hear all my 5th graders saying “six-sevvven” right now haha)
On the first day of the lesson I explained what perspective meant in art, and showed students some example photos that show 1 point perspective.
Then I showed them the circle template that each student would receive. I drew a large 9” circle by tracing a plate on a sheet of 12×12” paper. Then using a ruler, created little lines along the inside of the circle to mark where students would draw lines using their rulers. I wrote a number at each little line indicating where they should connect their lines.
Students drew their lines connecting to each corresponding number using their rulers making sure to draw lightly. After that they started drawing buildings within each “pie slice” starting at the roofline. They had handouts of buildings to refer to for inspiration while drawing. They could make any building they wanted, and could of course create them from their imagination as well. I explained to create some taller than others, and to make sure that each building touched one another within their circle. I also mentioned to make sure to leave some space in the center for sky.
I also mentioned to make sure any windows drawn inside the buildings go from largest to smallest from the bottom up to show a sense of space and create the illusion that things are getting smaller and are further away from the viewer as they go up towards the vanishing point.
Once everything was drawn, students erased the guidelines created on day 1 that remained in the sky and traced over everything using a fine point sharpie.
After sharpie, students decided on whether they wanted to create a daytime or nighttime sky and created stars and moon or a sun and clouds with pencil. Then began coloring in using alcohol markers, using whatever colors they wanted.
Once finished, (some students finished on day 5, some day 6, and some day 7– but I think I should’ve had more moments of silent art to help them stay focused)— they cut their circle out and glued onto a separate sheet of 12×12” black paper.
These are some works still in progress below —- (my Monday and Tuesday classes are behind everyone else due to holidays and the fact that we started school this year on a Wednesday). I absolutely love the “pencil” store and cool 3D art museum below! My students had some very creative ideas for their buildings!
This is a new art lesson for me this year (2025) and I LOOVE it! I love the fact that it’s a circular design on square paper as well. Lesson idea from art teacher @kerry.daley_artteacher on Instagram. Thank you Kerry for such a cool lesson idea! My students really enjoyed this one!
Please check out my previous most recent posts below if interested!:
“Dotted Leaf Paintings – 4th Grade”
”Mixed-Media Leaf Impressions – 5th Grade”
”Owls at Night” – grades 2+3
”Art on a Cart”
”Pumpkin’s Starry Night” YouTube tutorial
”Drawing a Victorian House”
”Elementary Art Lessons: A quick glimpse of my website!
You can always use my “SEARCH” bar (in the drop down menu) to copy and paste in any of the above post titles to find them quicker as well! Also—- I will be posting finished artwork on k/1 Pumpkin’s Starry Night on Thursday night (11/6/25)! Thank you for visiting my website!
My first graders had so much fun creating these! It only took 2 (40 minute) art classes to make them too.
Day 1
First, I created these pumpkin, moon, and ghost template tracers made from heavyweight Manila tagboard. I created about 25 tracers each.
Students chose their tracer and taped it with a masking tape loop (I helped with that step) on 3 areas of the back of the tracer onto a sheet of white 80# drawing paper.
Then students splatter painted whatever colors they wanted on top of their paper using watercolors. I told them to cover their paper with a lot of splatterpaint, and to splatterpaint close to the edges of their tracer especially. This makes sure the image comes out clear once the tracer is removed.
Once finished, the paintings were put into the drying rack.
Day 2
I carefully took off the tracers on each paper (it’s a good idea to actually press the tape loops on a bit of cotton beforehand so the tape won’t be AS sticky and tear the paper) I learned that the hard way, as some of the tape loops tore their papers a tiny bit in some areas.
We talked about positive / negative space. If a student chose a moon tracer, they cut out a bat from black paper (that they traced a bat on using my tracer) and glued it on their painting.
Students then drew faces if they had a pumpkin or a ghost with a black sharpie marker to add final details!
Such a fun and quick lesson that my students LOVED! Lesson idea from @artsyblevs
LEARNING GOALS:
students can define and identify positive and negative space within their artwork
students can create artwork using various painting techniques
This was a lesson I did last October (2024) but I never added it to my website until now. The first 3 images from the top are my teacher examples, and the rest are by my students.
