Two-Day ONLY Cyber Monday Sale on ALL Art Lesson Plans
December is one of those months that arrives with a feeling — not just a date on the calendar, but a mood. The first time you open your front door and feel that sharper cold on your cheeks, or when you step into your classroom and see twenty little bodies bundled in puffy jackets, colorful mittens, and mismatched hats, it just hits differently. Everything feels a little more magical, a little more hectic, and a whole lot more emotional.
In schools, December moves fast. You blink, and suddenly you’re navigating concerts, assemblies, hot chocolate days, snowy read-alouds, indoor recess, behavior spikes, last-minute schedule changes, and the endlessly energetic buzz of kids who can feel the holidays coming. Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, running an art rotation, or homeschooling your own kids, you feel the shift, too.
And right in the middle of all this beautiful chaos, there’s the need for connection — for slowing down, grounding, and finding calm moments between the noise. For me, that has always been art.
Art grounds kids when the world around them ramps up.
Art gives teachers a breath.
Art gives homeschool families a daily ritual — something warm, something reliable, something creative — during a season where everything else feels in motion.
This time of year, I’ve always leaned into warm color palettes, soft brushstrokes, gentle drawing prompts, and projects that feel festive without adding overwhelm. December art lessons don’t need to be complex. In fact, the most powerful ones are the ones that are soothing. The ones where kids can sit down, pick up a pencil or a brush, and let the noise of the day fade into the background for a little while.
That’s exactly why I love creating step-by-step art lessons for this season, especially when they also include reading comprehension, writing prompts, reflection pages, and supportive printables. They give you all the structure you need to guide your students through a meaningful learning experience — especially during a month when planning time becomes scarce and energy gets stretched thin.
Check out the TeachersPayTeachers Cyber Monday Sale (DEC 1 & 2) (yes — it continues through December 2 this year!), I wanted to share a gentle reminder that everything in my store is 25% off with the code cyber25. I’m not saying that as a push — I’m saying it because so many teachers plan to grab December resources and then suddenly remember after the sale ends. Consider this your cozy nudge.
You can explore everything here:
Ms Artastic TPT Store
The Heart of December Art
Before I highlight the new Christmas lessons, I want to talk about why these projects matter in the first place.
December is a time when kids feel big emotions. Excitement, anticipation, anxiety, joy, overstimulation — it all shows up. Art gives them a healthy outlet for those feelings. A place to express themselves without pressure or perfectionism.
When students follow guided drawing steps, it builds confidence.
When they blend warm-color backgrounds, their nervous systems calm down.
When they paint festive characters, they feel connected to the season.
When they complete the reading comprehension or writing prompt paired with their art, they deepen their understanding and move into reflection.
Art is more than a craft in December — it becomes a classroom anchor.
That’s why each new holiday lesson comes with multiple layers: literacy, creativity, reflection, and structure. You can teach them as single-day projects, multi-day rotations, center activities, or homeschool lessons. They work beautifully in mixed-grade environments, too.
And now — let’s talk about the new December projects you can use right away.
New Christmas Art Lessons (All 25% Off Today Only)
These projects are brand new for 2024–2025 and were designed to support teachers and homeschool families during the busiest month of the year. Each one includes a guided drawing, step-by-step instructions, reading passages, writing prompts, artist reflections, drawing challenges, and additional art activities.
They’re cozy, festive, and easy to teach.
Gnome Christmas Art Lesson
A joyful, whimsical gnome filled with warm color and personality — perfect for calming the energy as you move into winter.
Christmas Art Lesson Gnome Christmas Art Project Holiday Art Activity Craft
Santa Claus Portrait Drawing Lesson
A gentle, detailed Santa portrait that helps students explore shading, facial features, and warm seasonal tones.
Christmas Santa Claus Art Lesson Santa Portrait Drawing Holiday Art Activity
Candy Cane Art Lesson (Version One)
A classic December favorite — simple, beautiful, and uses felt markers.
Christmas Art Project Candy Cane Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity
Poinsettia Art Project
An elegant, botanical project that feels peaceful and artistic — ideal for independent work or early finishers.
Christmas Art Project Poinsettia Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity
Santa’s Elf Art Lesson
A cheerful, friendly elf that kids adore — perfect for grades 1–5 and mixed-age groups.
Christmas Art Project Santas Elf Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity
Reindeer Art Lesson
Soft, expressive, and full of personality — this reindeer ends up becoming a classroom favorite year after year.
Christmas Art Project Reindeer Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity
Candy Cane Art Lesson (Version Two)
A second candy cane style for teachers who want variety, choice, or options for multiple grade levels.
Christmas Art Project Candy Cane Art Lesson Christmas Art Activity
How These Lessons Support You This Month
Every December, I hear the same things from teachers and homeschool families:
“I need low-prep lessons.”
“I need something calming.”
“I need something structured.”
“I need literacy tie-ins.”
“I need something the kids will love.”
“I need something that still feels academic.”
These art lessons were built to answer every single one of those needs.
They work for:
• Sub days
• Last-minute schedule changes
• Early dismissal days
• Post-concert exhaustion
• Centers
• Morning creativity blocks
• Whole-class guided lessons
• Multi-age homeschool learning
• Calm-down afternoons
• Independent work time
• Or quick prep on days you need something reliable
They bring your students into the season in a grounded, joyful way — without extra stress for you.
And today, because it’s the final day of the TPT sale, they’re also 25% off.
If You Want to Browse the Entire Store
You can explore every resource — from Christmas to winter to drawing lessons, holiday activities, classroom posters, Elements of Art units, Principles of Design bundles, sketchbook prompts, and more — all in one place:
Everything is 25% off today with the code cyber25.
A Final December Thought
Before I wrap up, I just want to say this:
You are carrying a lot this month.
You are showing up for your students even when you’re tired.
You are creating a warm, safe environment in a season that can be overwhelming.
You are making memories your students will hold onto.
And you deserve moments of ease and calm.
If these lessons help bring a bit of peace or structure into your December — even just for a morning — I’m grateful. If they simply inspire you to create your own art moments with your students or kids at home, I’m just as grateful.
You are doing incredible work, and I’m here cheering you on always.
Warmly,
Kathleen (Ms Artastic)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
📖BOOKS:
-Peter Reynolds: The Dot & Ish: https://amzn.to/3TAHoY7
-Art for Kids: Drawing: The Only Drawing Book You’ll Ever Need to Be the Artist You’ve Always Wanted to Be: https://amzn.to/3TSQ8KG
-DK The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedi: https://amzn.to/3xpArBG
-A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures: https://amzn.to/3vm4s57
-Beautiful Oops!: https://amzn.to/3vm4x8V
-Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media: https://amzn.to/49hfd6D
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