Christmas Art Lesson Reindeer Christmas Art Project Christmas Activity December

This Christmas Reindeer Art Project is a chalk pastel lesson for Grades 5 to 8 that explores the Element of Art: Value. Students draw a holiday reindeer on black paper and build shading, blending and drawing skills as they create depth, glow and fur detail.

Students learn to choose materials and techniques with intention, using value, contrast and texture to show realistic light and shadow. It suits art teachers, classroom teachers and homeschool families looking for a December project before winter break, with step-by-step visuals and written instructions ready to print or project.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “Great art lesson for the Christmas season! PDF presentation was well laid out and detailed instructions. I would recommend to, as the teacher, go through the entire PDF so that you know what to expect. Students are always at different stages in their creative process and knowing what needs to be done will help build the confidence of the teacher and the students. I would highly recommend this resource.” Diana R.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Full Lesson Plan with curriculum-aligned outcomes and a materials list
• Step-by-Step Drawing Guide for students
• Visual and Text-Based Art Instructions for demonstration
• Printable Rubric for assessment and reflection
• Poster Sample for projecting or color printing

Designed for chalk pastels or soft pastels on black construction paper.

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

• Exploring value with chalk pastels
• Blending and layering to create realistic light and shadow
• Drawing and coloring a holiday reindeer
• Using composition and design principles for balance and focus
• Expressing creativity in a winter artwork

MATERIALS

Black construction paper, chalk or soft pastels, pencil and eraser, white and black pencil crayons, and a red pastel for the glowing nose.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Art teachers, classroom teachers and homeschool educators teaching Grades 5 to 8 in upper elementary and middle school art programs.

How do I teach it?

Project the step-by-step slides or use them to demonstrate the process yourself. It also works for sub plans and holiday bulletin board displays.

How long does it take?

Usually 2 to 3 class periods, depending on students' age, class size, skill level and available time.

Is it editable?

No. The resource is 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 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 resource for classroom, homeschool or personal educational use, and print and project it for student learning. Additional licenses are available for school use.

YOU MAY NOT: share this with other teachers, administration or districts, post it online, sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others. Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS (12)

★★★★ “Students enjoyed getting messy while creating their reindeer” Marguerite M.

★★★★ “Great resource to keep my students engaged. Thank you!!” Ashley V.

★★★★ “Ready to go and easy to use in my visual arts class” Lee B.

★★★★ “Great activity to keep my middle school art students busy during the last week before winter break! Thank you!!” Preston P.

★★★★ “This was another quick project you can get done right before winter break! Loved how simple and fun it was.” Laura M.

★★★★ “I really enjoyed the experience of doing this project. I was overjoyed when my students enjoyed it as well. My students loved working with the oil pastels, and it's understandable why. They are beautiful. The colors really popped against the black paper. The instructions on this art project were easy to follow, so every student was able to do it.” Hitchel J.

★★★★ “Absolutely wonderful resource! Will use again for sure.” Stormie A.

★★★★ “Perfect lesson for the Christmas season. Every student was successful.” Katherine M.

★★★★ “My student loved using this resource in my class. they had a littllet trouble in the begining at first but enjoyed the resourse and complited the project.” Carlos M Berrios

★★★★ “The best art lessons! The resource is easy to use and art pieces end up looking great.” The T.

★★★★ “Great resource! Thank you for sharing, it was very helpful.” Erin C.

★★★★ “Very cute art project. My students enjoyed using this resource in the weeks before Christmas vacation. Thanks for creating it.” Clare J.