Christmas Art Lesson Gnome Christmas Art Project Holiday Art Activity Craft

This Christmas Gnome Art Lesson is a winter art project for Grades 2 to 5 that blends guided drawing, oil pastel techniques, Christmas traditions, reading comprehension, writing prompts and art reflections in one print-and-teach resource.

Students follow photo-based step-by-step instructions to draw a Christmas gnome, exploring line, shading, shape, texture and color blending. Alongside the art, they read about Christmas traditions around the world, take on a Draw and Design challenge, read the story "The Christmas Gnome's Secret Delivery," write opinion and narrative pieces, and reflect on their artwork.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Full lesson plan with materials, hook, participation strategies and cross-curricular connections
• Reading page: Christmas Traditions Around the World
• Directed drawing: How to Draw a Christmas Gnome
• Art rubric
• Bulletin board display sign: "Gnomes Christmas Artworks"
• Draw and Design Challenge: Create a Home for a Gnome
• KWL chart: Christmas Traditions
• Reading comprehension story "The Christmas Gnome's Secret Delivery," with questions and answer key
• Sight word tracking list and word bank of tricky vocabulary
• Opinion writing prompt: Winter Holidays and Traditions
• Narrative writing: Winter Magic Write and Draw
• Compare and contrast: own traditions vs. Christmas traditions around the world, with answer key
• Reflection pages: message and meaning, top 3 things I love about my art, emotions-based reflection, medium, technique and process, learning and goals, 3 Stars and a Wish, and artist's statement pages
• Principle of Design: Balance, a radial symmetry mandala
• Elements of Art: Shapes and Forms and an Explore Line activity with pattern samples
• Christmas gnome coloring page
• Example artwork
• Full photo-based step-by-step demonstration (pp. 38 to 54)

HOW TO USE IT

Use it as a December art lesson, a holiday centers activity, a winter literacy and art project, a sub plan or a homeschool unit. Print, project and teach: the clear visuals and step-by-step photos make it easy to teach with or without an art background.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Classroom teachers, art educators, substitute teachers and homeschool families working with Grades 2 to 5.

How long will it take?

Most students finish the artwork and reflections in 2 to 3 class periods, depending on age, routines, behavior and teaching style. The literacy pages can extend it.

What materials are needed?

The lesson plan lists oil pastels and blue or choice-color paper.

Is it editable?

No. All pages are non-editable.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator whose work has been featured on NBC LX News and in OCO Magazine, as the featured educator on the cover of the October 2025 edition. She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this resource for classroom, homeschool or personal educational use, and print and project it for student learning.

YOU MAY NOT: share this with other teachers or post it online. Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic