Updated this post with my video below on 1/3/26!
This is a NEW art lesson that I created today (Dec. 17, 2025) for my 5th graders to try out after the winter break! I am SOOO excited about it and I just KNOW my students will LOVE it as much as I do!
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), 12 x 18” white paper, 6×18” black paper, colored chalk pastels, white chalk pastel, scissors, a glue stick, a toothbrush, a plate, 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 since Monday. I really love how the northern lights came out and how the snowy trees pop against the black and all that color.
I’m thinking it’ll be a 3 day art lesson- 40 minutes each art class. 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 Hah!)
Day 1
On a sheet of 12×18” white drawing paper I first drew 5 random wavy lines across the paper with pencil to create a template for the northern lights. Make sure no lines are overlapping.
Then I cut along that top first line and tossed that first top section aside. Then I placed the remaining paper (template) on top of the 12×18” black paper, lining up both papers. Then using various colored chalk pastels, I drew 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. I used a variety of colors and switched colors as I moved along the edge of the white paper. I also overlapped colors where they met. Then once the entire edge is colored I used my 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.
In the photo above it shows numbers within each section, but you don’t need to number anything- (that was just for me, since I knew I would forget to take a photo of them cut out).
I then cut along the second line, tossed the top section out, lined the two papers up again and applied the chalk along the papers edge in the same way as mentioned above, then smudged upwards. I did this repeatedly until it filled the black paper (see photo BELOW). Then I used my finger to smudge the bottoms of each line of color created to soften the lines and blur them out a little bit.
DAY 2
Then on day 2, kids would dip a toothbrush into white tempera paint (I used Crayola Premier), not too much! And then flick all over the black paper with northern lights (creating stars in the night sky – or snow falling). I *think* this step could potentially be completed on day 1 after the chalk, but I’m not 100% confident since I’ll also show pictures of northern lights and discuss them, and do a demo on day 1 too. Plus the extra time after the paint (since it won’t take too long) will give some students a chance to finish the northern lights first, if needed. Once complete, they’ll put their artwork in the drying rack, then if time allows, I’ll have them practice the trees on a seperate black sheet.
In the above photo you can see I was testing out some other methods on creating the trees. First I tried drawing a tree line and cutting it out as one piece to create a silhouette of trees, (not shown) then I tried just using the toothbrush to “paint” the trees boughs….but in the end, I decided to use white chalk pastel to draw the trees leaving black paper showing in between the layers of branches as you see below.
DAY 3
On day 3, students will each receive a sheet of black paper cut to 6” x 18”. Using white chalk pastel (no pencil sketching first) they will create trees by drawing the lines (triangular formation of lines for the tree top first) then leave black paper showing in between the next series of tree branches. Creating trees that are close together and varying heights all across the paper.
Once complete, they’ll cut out the trees but leave a small bit of black paper all around each tree as they cut.
TIP: To get rid of any smudges / finger prints afterwards, I find that if you wipe your fingers on a damp hand / baby wipe lightly, then use your slightly dampened (juuuust barely!) finger to wipe away any smudges you don’t want— that trick really works great!
Then flip over carefully and glue the back all over with a glue stick and place along the bottom of the northern lights paper lining the edges up before placing down. I also used another CLEAN sheet of 12×18” white paper to then lay on top of the whole thing and pressed where the trees were to make sure I didn’t smudge the trees while gluing into place.
LEARNING GOALS:
- 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
- Students can create a sense of space within their art, when creating the size and placement of their trees
I’ll be posting my 5th graders “Winter Northern Lights” artwork here (in a NEW blog post as well as adding them under 5th grade Art Lessons) once they are complete!
(BTW- you can view my other YouTube tutorials HERE)
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