Winter Art Lesson Narwhal Watercolor Winter Art Project Winter Art Activity

In this Winter Narwhal Art Lesson, students follow a directed drawing and use watercolor paints to create an Arctic scene featuring the narwhal, the "unicorn of the sea." The lesson brings seasonal creativity into your classroom while students explore watercolor techniques, color blending and composition.

Students learn to sketch a narwhal with confidence, apply watercolor washes and create atmospheric depth in their winter artwork. Combining drawing and painting builds core art skills while celebrating Arctic wildlife, and the project fits a winter unit, an Arctic animals study or a seasonal art lesson.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “At first the students thought the project looked hard, but once they started working on it they found it was actually something they were capable of doing. Great confidence booster!” Gloria M.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (28 PAGES, NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• About the Resource, a brief introduction to the lesson and learning objectives
• Lesson Plan (2 pages) with materials, learning outcomes, instructional goals and "Teacher Does/Student Does" guided steps
• Winter Narwhal Step-By-Step Drawing Handout, a reference sheet to help students sketch their narwhal
• Watercolor Painting Techniques Guide with tips on blending colors, layering and creating texture in the ocean background
• Art Piece Demonstration Step-By-Step, 17 slides with images and descriptions that walk students through the whole process
• Example of Completed Art Piece to show students before they begin
• Bulletin Board Display Sign, ready to print for showing student artwork
• Rubric to assess craftsmanship, technique, creativity and effort

Materials: pencil, eraser, black felt, step-by-step drawing handouts, watercolor paper (or cardstock), watercolor paint, salt, paintbrush and water.

HOW TO USE IT

Before the lesson, look over the lesson plan to see what to do and gather the materials in advance. Read through the visual and text step-by-steps, and consider making a sample yourself so you are ready to help students. Photocopy the student handouts you need, such as the step-by-step drawing handout and the rubric.

To start, print the poster sample in color and show students what they are making. It is your hook. Then project the step-by-step pages with a digital projector or document camera for students to follow, or use them as a guide while you demonstrate the project yourself. Every step has both a visual and a text description, which keeps things clear for students.

FAQ

What art skills does it teach?

Directed drawing, watercolor washes, color blending, layering, texture and composition.

Is it editable?

No. It is a 28 page non-editable PDF.

How do I show the steps to students?

Project the PDF step-by-step pages, show them under a document camera (best printed in color), or use them as your own guide while you demonstrate.

Can I display the finished artwork?

Yes. A bulletin board display sign is included for showing student work.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS

★★★★ “My students loved this multi media art project. The step-by-step instructions made it easy for all students.” Rainbow C.

★★★★ “Great for sub plan. Exactly what I was looking for. No prep and engaging.” Crystal O.

★★★★ “We really enjoyed doing this activity during our ocean week.” Alison S.

★★★★ “Such a fun art lesson that my students enjoyed! It was easy to follow and they came out really great!” Rosanna C.

★★★★★ “I did this with fourth graders and they were so excited to do a narwhal project!” Korie A.

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

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like. For clip art, you may use the images as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations. Additional licenses are available for school use.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, put it on your blog, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic