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

This Christmas Candy Cane Art Lesson uses felt markers and is designed for grades 3 to 6. Students learn candy cane drawing, shading with markers, line patterns and creative decision-making, alongside an original reading passage, comprehension questions and opinion, narrative and compare-and-contrast writing.

The step-by-step marker demonstration pages make it easy to teach with or without an art background. It suits classroom teachers, art specialists, substitute teachers and homeschool families, including multi-age homeschool groups, and fits December planning, the days before the break, sub days and winter units.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Lesson Plan with mediums, hook, participation strategies and cross-curricular extensions
• History of Candy Canes Reading Page
• How to Draw a Candy Cane Visual Step-by-Step
• Art Rubric
• Bulletin Board Display Sign ("Candy Canes Christmas Artworks")
• Draw and Design Challenge Hook
• KWL Chart: Candy Canes
• Reading Comprehension Story: "The Candy Cane Switch" with questions and answer key
• Sight Word Tracking List and Tricky Word Bank with Definitions
• Opinion Writing Pages and Candy Cane Narrative Write and Draw
• Message and Meaning Reflection Page and Top 3 Things I Love About My Art Page
• Compare and Contrast Worksheet with Answer Key (traditional vs. modern candy canes)
• Reflection Pages, Artist's Statements and 3 Stars and a Wish
• Principle of Design: Focal Point Activity
• Element of Art: Value Gray Scale Activity and Element of Art: Line Zen Doodle Page
• Black-and-White Coloring Sheet
• Step-by-Step Marker Photo Demonstration in PDF and PowerPoint versions
• Student Example Artwork

HOW TO USE IT

Use it as a December art lesson, a Christmas writing and art integration activity, a holiday unit, a winter literacy center, a sub plan or a homeschool winter project. Everything is print and teach.

The lesson is designed for felt markers (see the materials list in the lesson plan) to teach color layering, shading and bold outlining. Substituting other mediums may change the results.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Classroom teachers, art specialists, substitute teachers and homeschool families teaching grades 3 to 6.

How long does the full lesson take?

Typically 2 to 3 class periods, depending on age, behavior, instruction style and time available. The literacy pages can extend it over more days.

Do students need felt markers?

Yes. The lesson is built around felt markers to teach color layering, shading and outlining.

Is it editable?

No. All pages are non-editable to protect the artwork and formatting.

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 it with other teachers or post it online. Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic