Christmas Art Project Candy Cane Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity December Art

In this Christmas Candy Cane Art Lesson, students draw and paint a candy cane with holly leaves using oil pastels or permanent marker with watercolor or tempera paint. Alongside the art, they read about candy canes, practice sight words, answer comprehension questions and write their own holiday stories.

It is a cross-curricular art, reading and writing lesson for grades 2 to 5, made for classroom teachers, art specialists and homeschool families. The clear visual and written steps make it easy to teach during a busy December, and the finished candy canes brighten a holiday bulletin board.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE, AMERICAN ENGLISH)

• Full Lesson Plan (3 pages, PowerPoint and PDF versions) with objectives, participation strategies, a Draw and Design warm-up challenge, a Think-Pair-Share hook, gallery walk wrap-up, assessment criteria and notes
• How to Draw a Candy Cane tutorial, 15 illustrated steps with written directions for drawing, shading, painting and detail
• Reading: The History and Making of Candy Canes (nonfiction), The Candy Cane Mystery (fiction), comprehension questions with answer key, Sight Word Tracking List, Word Bank of Tricky Words
• Writing and reflection: opinion writing, creative writing, The Message, Top 3 Things I Love About My Art, 3 Stars and a Wish, Artist's Statement pages, Artwork Reflection and Look at Mediums worksheets
• Art extensions: Explore Line, Shapes and Forms, Integrating the Elements of Art, Radial Symmetry Mandala Design
• Compare and Contrast Chart: Christmas Traditions vs. Christmas Treats, with answer key
• Assessment and display: art rubric (creativity, craftsmanship, responsibility, work habits), KWL Chart: Candy Canes, Merry Christmas bulletin board sign

Materials: oil pastels or permanent marker (or black crayon), watercolor or tempera paint, white cardstock or watercolor paper, paintbrushes, water cups and paper towels.

HOW TO USE IT

Plan for 2 to 3 class sessions: one for reading and drawing, one for painting, and one for writing or reflection. Start with the warm-up challenge and Think-Pair-Share questions about Christmas and the history of candy canes, then follow the tutorial step by step.

Finish with a gallery walk and the reflection pages. The lesson also works for substitute or emergency art lessons, holiday literacy integration and homeschool holiday art.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Classroom teachers, art specialists and homeschool families teaching grades 2 to 5, in an art room, classroom or at home.

How long does it take?

2 to 3 class sessions, depending on grade level, time block and student pace.

Is it editable?

No. It is non-editable and formatted in American English to preserve layout, fonts and design.

Does it meet standards?

It aligns with Common Core Reading and Writing Standards (RL.1.1 to RL.4.1, W.K to 4.1) and National Visual Arts Standards (VA:Cr1.1 to Cr2.2).

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 who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured educator on the cover of OCO Magazine (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 it with other teachers or post it online. Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic