Element of Art Value Art Project Snowmen at Night Snowman Winter Art Lesson

This Snowman at Night Art Lesson is a cozy winter art project for elementary students. Using soft pastels on black paper, students create charming snowmen that glow against the dark night sky.

It is a low-prep lesson for teachers and homeschool families, with step-by-step drawing instructions, visual guides and a rubric. Students practice blending, creating light and shadow and using contrast against a dark background. The project keeps students focused and calm, and it has been a favorite in winter units for years.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “We enjoyed this art project very much. It was just the right amount of challenge for my first grader, but I can see older students would like it as well. I displayed them in the hallway and everyone is very impressed that first graders did these! Thank you!” Amy C.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• 2-page lesson plan with a materials list, objectives and teacher guidance
• Grading rubric
• Step-by-step drawing handout
• 16-slide visual demonstration of every step of the art-making process
• Poster example of a finished Snowman at Night piece for classroom display

HOW TO USE IT

Print the drawing handouts and rubric (for up to 30 students), then project the visual demonstration and work through it step by step. Plan on 1 to 2 class periods, depending on how familiar students are with pastels and how much detail you want.

Materials: white pencil crayon, soft pastels or chalk pastels, and black construction paper. It works well for sub plans, hallway displays, seasonal celebrations, art carts, homeschool or weekend enrichment.

FAQ

What grade levels is this for?

It is best for grades 2 to 6, and older students can extend it with more advanced blending or detail work.

Is it messy to clean up?

Pastels on paper are low-mess, and cleanup is a quick wipe of surfaces. Remind students not to blow soft pastel dust, but to shake it off into a garbage can instead. You can also use oil pastels to avoid dust altogether.

What skills does it build?

Blending, light and dark contrast and texture, with a seasonal artwork students can proudly display.

Is it editable?

No. It is a non-editable PDF.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

YOU MAY: use this in your classroom or homeschool indefinitely. Additional licenses are available for school-wide use.

YOU MAY NOT: share this product publicly or on shared drives, or sell or distribute it without a license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS

★★★★★ “I did this with my grade one class and they turned out beautifully! The kids had such a great time doing this art project. Thank you” Sharlie W.

★★★★★ “This is an awesome activity, and the step by step instructions make it easy for my students to follow along.” Andria C.

★★★★★ “My students loved this activity. They took it a little farther by personalizing the snowmen with hats and different scarves.” Anne M.

★★★★★ “Looking forward to using this after the holiday. The finished examples are beautiful, and well within my students' art interests and abilities.” Jennifer C.

★★★★★ “So easy to follow- and they turned out beautiful! Thanks so much!” Donnalyn T.

★★★★★ “Thanks to the step-by-step instructions these turned out amazing! Thank you!” Amber H.

★★★★★ “This resource was amazing! Step by step instructions led to a beautiful piece of art.” Yota K.

★★★★★ “Another great product that was SO easy to implement with my limited art skills. You rock!” Gunderson's G.

★★★★★ “My students LOVED this activity. I printed out and laminated smaller versions of the steps, that way, everyone was able to keep up as we first completed a sample snowman. We then moved on to our own scenes! Great!” Karen H.

★★★★★ “Love, love this lesson. The snowmen turned out so well and looked amazing on our wall at Christmas time.” Sarah B.

★★★★★ “Directions and examples are easy to follow. It helps build confidence in the students. Thanks!” Lindsie W.

★★★★★ “such a great art teaching tool for those who are not so artistic!” Sandra P.