Summer Art Project Dragonfly Art Lesson Summer Art Activity Insect Art Lesson

This Dragonfly Art Lesson is a summer insect art project for grades 3 to 6 that combines drawing, oil pastel and watercolor resist painting. Students draw a detailed dragonfly with patterned wings, then build an abstract pond scene full of movement, texture and color.

The structured drawing steps build confidence, while the background leaves room for students’ own choices. The finished pieces use a hexagon format that makes a striking bulletin board display. It suits elementary art classes, homeschool, sub plans, nature units and end-of-year projects.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “Students loved creating these and they now hang in the local library for the summer.” Laura M.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE, 30+ PAGES)

• Dragonfly Art Lesson Plan
• Step-by-Step Drawing and Coloring Instructions with visuals
• Student Step-by-Step Drawing Sheet
• Teacher Instruction Pages
• Art Rubric for assessment
• Example Artwork Poster
• Printable Student Templates (hexagon format)

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

Students sketch the dragonfly in guided steps (head, body segments and large wings), add patterns and textures, and build a pond environment with swirling plants, grasses and bubbles. They outline with marker, apply oil pastel, and finish with a watercolor wash so the pastel resists the paint.

Along the way they practice oil pastel layering, watercolor resist, drawing insects with pattern and detail, creating texture and movement, and the elements of art: line, shape, color, space, texture, form and value.

HOW TO USE IT

Project the step-by-step instructions, demonstrate the techniques live, and give printed guides to students who like to work independently. Each step has clear visuals and written instructions.

Materials: pencil and eraser, black felt or permanent marker, oil pastels, watercolor paints (or paint cakes), paintbrush and water, and cardstock or watercolor paper.

FAQ

What grades is it for?

Grades 3 to 6, and it can be adapted for younger or older students.

How long does it take?

Typically 1 to 2 class periods, depending on detail and drying time.

Is it beginner-friendly?

Yes. The guided steps make the drawing approachable, and the mixed media techniques let students experiment.

Is it editable?

No. It is non-editable.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS

★★★★ “This worked well in my classroom for my students, thank you!” Kelsey J.

★★★★ “This was a great end of the year art activity, my students really enjoyed creating the dragonflies, and their artwork was beautiful!” Engaging I.

★★★★★ “Awesome!” VANESSA G.

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