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Christmas Art Projects for Kids: Free Holiday Art Ideas for Teachers & Homeschoolers

Kathleen McGiveron

Christmas Art Projects for Kids: Free Holiday Art Ideas for Teachers & Homeschoolers

Bring Christmas creativity into your classroom with free holiday art project ideas for kids! Explore engaging Christmas drawing lessons, festive craft ideas, and step-by-step teaching tips using easy art mediums. Perfect for elementary teachers and homeschool parents. Want fully planned lessons? Grab the complete Christmas art resources from Ms Artastic.

INTRODUCTION

The holiday season is here, and that means classrooms everywhere are buzzing with candy-cane energy, peppermint-fueled excitement, and the joyful chaos that only December teaching can bring. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, art educator, or a homeschooling parent trying to give your kiddos a meaningful, creative Christmas experience, this blog post is your cozy cup of hot chocolate.

This year, I created a brand-new collection of Christmas art lessons designed to make teaching during the busiest season feel effortless. But before I show you what’s inside each resource, I want to give you actual, teach-today art ideas you can start using — for free.

Each section below includes:

Because you deserve ease.
And your students deserve magic.
And December… deserves survival. 🎄

Christmas Holly Art Project for Kids (Grades 2–5)

If you’re looking for a beautiful, joyful, classroom-friendly Christmas art lesson that blends drawing, painting, creativity, and a little holiday magic… Christmas Holly is the perfect project. It’s bright, it’s bold, it’s festive, and the process gives kids that satisfying mix of structure + freedom.

In my own full resource, students explore the history of holly, complete reading comprehension, writing prompts, creativity warm-ups, KWL charts, reflections, and follow a step-by-step art tutorial to build real skills. But — you can absolutely teach your own simplified version using the guide below!

Here’s a free, teach-today version you can use right away.

🎨 What to Teach: Understanding Christmas Holly

Before kids jump into creating, introduce holly as a traditional winter symbol.
According to the “Holly as a Christmas Tradition” reading page in your resource , holly has been part of winter celebrations for hundreds of years, symbolizing strength, good luck, brightness, and holiday cheer.

Kids LOVE knowing why we use certain symbols at Christmas — it gives their art context and meaning.

You can discuss:

This gives them the background knowledge they need to create art with intention.

✏️ How to Teach the Art Project

Here is the simple, classroom-ready version inspired by the steps in your PDF (pp. 39–54) .

  1. Start by drawing the berries.
    On thick white paper, draw three circles — two on top, one slightly squished underneath.
  2. Add leaf stems.
    Draw three diagonal lines extending outward (these will become the centers of the holly leaves).
  3. Build personality (optional but fun!).
    Let kids add cute expressions to the berries — this is VERY motivating for the elementary crowd and builds engagement immediately.
  4. Draw the holly leaves.
    Use “bunny-hop” curves (as shown in your PDF) to create those pointy, iconic holly shapes.
  5. Color & paint the holly.
    • Color berries red using oil pastels or crayons.
    • Paint half of each leaf green to create value contrast (kids LOVE the mix of crayon + paint).
  6. Create the background.
    Using green construction paper, paint wavy green lines (page 50), then add red dots between them to form a repeating pattern (page 51).
  7. Cut and glue.
    Cut out the holly and glue it to the patterned background (pp. 52–53).
  8. Celebrate!
    Have a little “gallery walk” and let students share highlights — exactly as your resource suggests on page 7.

This process strengthens observation, fine motor skills, mixed-media experience, and artistic decision-making.

🎨 Suggested Mediums

Use whatever you already have in your classroom or homeschool space! Here are the ideal choices based on your resource (page 5) :

If you stick to these, kids will get vibrant color contrast and strong visual results.

💡 Want This Lesson Fully Planned?

If you love this free idea but want it:

Then grab the full Christmas Holly Art Project here:
👉 Christmas Holly Art Project – Holiday Art Lesson

It includes everything from warm-ups to gallery walks and integrates art + literacy seamlessly — all ready to print and teach.

Christmas Tree Art Project for Kids (Grades 2–5)

If you want a Christmas art lesson that is instantly engaging and easily adaptable for classrooms, homeschools, or mixed-grade groups, the Christmas Tree Art Project is a total winner. Kids love it because it blends whimsy, personality, winter magic, and a whole lot of creativity — and YOU will love it because it’s low-prep, high-impact, and brings December joy right into your learning space.

Students create a stylized, expressive Christmas tree that pops right off the page with bold lines, bright colors, and expressive details. In my full lesson, they also deepen their understanding through reading comprehension, a magical fiction story (“The Whispering Christmas Tree”), writing activities, reflections, and KWL charts — but you can absolutely teach a pared-down version right here for free.

Let’s dive in.

🌟 What to Teach: A Quick Mini-Lesson on Christmas Tree Traditions

Kids often think Christmas trees have always looked the way they appear today — strings of lights, shiny ornaments, toppers, ribbons, and all. But there’s actually a rich history behind them!

On page 8 of your resource’s “About Christmas Tree Traditions” reading section , students learn that:

You can discuss:

This background knowledge gives meaning and context to their art-making.

✏️ How to Teach the Christmas Tree Art Project (Free Version)

Here’s a simplified teaching path inspired directly by the illustrated tutorial steps on pages 39–49.

  1. Draw the tree shape
    On green construction paper, use a white oil pastel or crayon to draw the top and middle sections of the tree using zigzag lines (page 39).
  2. Add the bottom section and trunk
    Create the lower branches with more zigzags and add a small tree trunk (page 40).
  3. Draw a star and snow
    Add a star on top and sketch snow along the bottom of the paper (page 41).
  4. Add winter magic
    Draw snowflakes, dots, sparkles, and swirling winter shapes all around — kids LOVE this part (page 42).
  5. Give the tree a personality
    Add a mouth and eyes, including white highlight dots to make them shine (page 43). Students can choose cute, silly, sleepy, excited — anything goes!
  6. Ornaments & details
    Draw and color ornaments and your chosen tree topper (page 44).
  7. Outline bold details
    Use black pastel or crayon to outline the tree, ornaments, and face (page 47).
  8. Paint the tree
    Paint the tree with green paint, then add blue swirls to the background for contrast (page 48).
  9. Dry & celebrate
    Let the artwork dry, then enjoy that “wow!” moment when kids see how vibrant it looks (page 49).

This process builds skill in linework, pattern, contrast, stylization, and mixed-media layering while still being accessible to all learners.

🎨 Suggested Art Mediums

Your resource lists materials clearly on page 5 — here’s the streamlined version:

This combination gives students the magical “crayon resist + paint wash” effect that feels SO satisfying in winter art lessons.

💡 Want the Fully Planned Lesson?

If you want this Christmas Tree project fully supported with:

Then you can grab the complete resource here:
👉 Christmas Tree Art Project – Holiday Art Lesson

It includes everything you need to teach the lesson confidently with zero extra prep — perfect for teachers, homeschoolers, sub days, or the last days before winter break.

Christmas Gnome Art Project for Kids (Grades 2–5)

Nothing brings December magic into a classroom like a Christmas gnome. There’s just something about their oversized hats, cozy little noses, round shoes, and fluffy beards that kids instantly fall in love with. This Christmas Gnome Art Project is adorable, approachable, and packed with opportunities for creativity — and you can absolutely teach it today using the free idea below!

In the full version of my resource, students explore Christmas traditions around the world, engage in reading comprehension through the fiction story “The Christmas Gnome’s Secret Delivery,” complete writing pages, KWL charts, reflections, and design warm-ups… but you can start with the art portion here if you need something simple and fast.

Let’s dive in!

🌍 What to Teach: Christmas Traditions Around the World

This project is a fabulous opportunity to introduce global traditions and widen students’ perspectives.

According to the “Christmas Traditions Around the World” reading on page 8 of your resource , students learn that:

Even though traditions differ, the reading emphasizes that kindness, joy, and togetherness link Christmas celebrations around the world.

Use this moment to discuss:

This mini-discussion is a lovely, meaningful warm-up before a whimsical art lesson.

✏️ How to Teach the Christmas Gnome Art Project (Free Version)

This step-by-step guide is inspired directly from the tutorial images on pages 38–54.

  1. Draw the gnome’s nose & hat brim
    Start with a circle for the nose. Add a fluffy hat brim using curved or “bunny hop” lines (page 38).
  2. Draw the tall Christmas hat
    Extend two curved lines up from the brim, bending one down into that classic gnome hat swoop. Add a pompom at the end (pages 39–40).
  3. Build the beard
    Use curving zigzag lines along both sides to form the beard (page 41).
  4. Add the face
    Draw a smiling mouth and small circles for rosy cheeks (page 42).
  5. Draw the shoes
    Add two “U” shapes under the beard for the gnome shoes. Inside each, draw a gold curved rectangle for the buckles (page 43).
  6. Color the nose
    Use a skin-tone pastel, then add a little red and blend to create dimension (page 44).
  7. Color the hat & cheeks
    Use red for the hat and add blush to the cheeks (page 45).
  8. Color the shoes
    Brown or a color of your choice — let kids experiment (page 46).
  9. Add shading
    Shade the hat, nose, and bottom of the beard with a grey pastel for depth (pages 47–48).
  10. Cut out your gnome
    Carefully cut around the entire shape (page 49).
  11. Create the snowy background
    On blue or dark paper, draw snow along the bottom using white pastel, then add falling snow with dots and tiny circles (pages 50–51).
  12. Assemble your artwork
    Glue the gnome onto the snowy background, press firmly, and let it dry (pages 52–54).

This process helps kids build skills in shape drawing, stylization, shading, mixed-media layering, and design composition — all while having SO much fun.

🎨 Suggested Art Mediums

Your resource lists materials clearly on page 5:

These materials help the gnome POP against the winter background and create that gorgeous pastel-on-dark-paper look kids love.

💡 Want the Fully Planned Lesson?

If you want:

Grab the fully planned resource here:
👉 Christmas Gnome Art Project – Holiday Art Lesson

This is one of those projects that makes December feel joyful instead of chaotic — perfect for teachers, homeschool parents, and subs.

Santa Claus Portrait Art Project for Kids (Grades 3–6)

If you’re looking for a showstopper Christmas project — the kind that makes parents gasp at the hallway display and kids beam with pride — the Santa Claus Portrait is THAT lesson. It blends expressive drawing, bold oil pastel techniques, facial proportion basics, shading, and pure holiday magic.

Students LOVE it because it feels like they’re drawing a real character, and YOU will love it because the process builds confidence, step-by-step drawing skills, and beautiful mixed-media results.

In the full resource, students learn the History of Santa Claus, complete reading comprehension (The Santa Surprise Scanner), write reflections, complete warm-up design challenges, fill KWL charts, and create critical thinking connections… but this section will walk you through a free, teach-today version of the art project.

Let’s dive in!

🎅 What to Teach: The History of Santa Claus

Before drawing Santa, give kids a peek into how this beloved figure changed over time — and wow, they LOVE learning this!

According to the History of Santa Claus reading on page 8 of your resource :

This mini-lesson can spark great discussion:

This context gives meaning to their portrait and builds cross-curricular literacy connections.

✏️ How to Teach the Santa Claus Portrait (Free Version)

Below is a simplified, classroom-ready version based directly on the illustrated tutorial from pages 38–54.

  1. Draw the nose
    Start in the center of the page by drawing Santa’s nose — two curved shapes joined together (page 38).
  2. Add the cheeks
    Draw curved rainbow-like lines above the nose for his cheeks (page 39).
  3. Create the mustache
    Add a layered, wavy mustache beneath the nose (page 40).
  4. Draw the mouth
    Below the mustache, sketch an open, smiling mouth (page 41).
  5. Add the eyes & eyebrows
    Above the cheeks, draw two large curved eye shapes, thick eyebrows, and dots marking where the ears will go (page 42).
  6. Draw the beard
    Using long, downward, curving zigzag lines, draw Santa’s full beard (page 43).
  7. Add texture
    Add straight and zigzag lines inside the beard for texture (page 44).
  8. Draw the hat & ears
    Finish the hat shape with zigzag lines and add the ears using the dots as guides (pages 45–46).
  9. Add pupils & gleam
    Draw pupils and reflective circles inside the eyes to make them shine (page 47).
  10. Color the mouth and eyes
    Fill the mouth and dark parts of the eyes with black (page 48).
  11. Design the hat
    Create your own Santa hat pattern or keep it classic (page 49).
  12. Add skin tone
    Use oil pastels to color Santa’s skin (page 50).
  13. Add rosy cheeks, nose, and ears
    Use pink pastel on top for warmth (page 51).
  14. Color the hat red
    And color the tongue if visible (page 52).
  15. Color the eyes blue
    Or any color students choose (page 53).
  16. Shade with grey
    Add soft grey shading around the hat and face, then blend with your finger (page 54).

This creates a glowing, expressive Santa portrait that looks absolutely magical on classroom walls.

🎨 Suggested Art Mediums

Based on the lesson plan on page 5:

These mediums give students bold lines, smooth blending, and vibrant holiday color.

💡 Want the Fully Planned Santa Claus Lesson?

If you want:

Grab the fully planned resource here:
👉 Christmas Santa Claus Art Lesson – Santa Portrait Drawing Holiday Art Activity

This is your go-to December showpiece — perfect for holiday displays, hallway galleries, and joyful learning before the break.

Candy Cane Art Project for Kids (Grades 3–6)

If you’re looking for a bold, bright, kid-approved holiday project that requires almost no prep and uses simple markers, this Candy Cane Art Project is a December dream. It’s vibrant. It’s joyful. It’s quick to set up. And kids absolutely light up when they get to draw faces, add holly details, shade with markers, and design their own patterned backgrounds.

In the full lesson, students also dive into the History of Candy Canes, complete reading comprehension through the story “The Candy Cane Switch,” respond to writing prompts, reflect on their work, complete KWL charts, and explore design challenges — but this section gives you a free, teach-today art version.

Let’s make your December sweet, simple, and creative.

🍬 What to Teach: The History of Candy Canes

Kids see candy canes everywhere in December, but few know where they came from — this is why the “History of Candy Canes” reading (page 8) is such a powerful hook.

Here are the key points you can introduce before the art lesson:

This makes a great class discussion:

This gives the art project meaning and integrates literacy beautifully.

✏️ How to Teach the Candy Cane Art Project (Free Version)

Here is a simplified teaching flow based on the illustrated tutorial on pages 39–52.

1. Draw the candy cane shape
Use a thick marker to draw a large candy cane outline — make it big so students have room for details (page 39).

2. Add holly berries
Curve the bottom of the candy cane, then draw three circles on the inside bend for berries (page 40).

3. Add glare + stems
Draw a small curved rectangle on each berry for shine and add two lines outward for leaf centers (page 41).

4. Draw holly leaves
Use curved lines connected back to the berries, then add diagonal lines for veins (page 42).

5. Add stripes
Create wide candy cane stripes, leaving one stripe blank for the face (page 43).

6. Draw the face
Add a simple mouth and two eyes — students LOVE giving their candy canes expressive personalities (page 44).

7. Add details
Finish the mouth shape, add a tongue, and color the holly (page 45).

8. Color the candy cane
Use red for the stripes, red for berries, and pink for the tongue (page 46).

9. Add blue marker shading
Blue shadows around edges and under stripes instantly make the candy cane “pop” (page 47).

10. Cut it out
Cut carefully around the candy cane shape (page 48).

11. Create the patterned background
On red or green paper, draw repeating line patterns — straight, loops, zigzags (page 49).

12. Glue & press
Glue the candy cane onto the patterned background (pages 50–51).

13. Celebrate your sweet creation!
Display the candy canes — they look AMAZING in a hallway or on a bulletin board (page 52).

This lesson builds skills in stylized drawing, marker shading, pattern design, and creative expression, and it’s accessible to all learners.

🎨 Suggested Art Mediums

As listed in your lesson plan (page 5):

That’s it — super simple materials, super high-impact art.

💡 Want the Fully Planned Candy Cane Lesson?

If you want:

Grab the complete resource here:
👉 Christmas Art Project – Candy Cane Art Lesson

This one is perfect for the last week before break — low prep, high engagement, and guaranteed to make your classroom feel festive.

Conclusion: Bring Creativity, Calm, and Holiday Joy Into Your Classroom This December

December can feel like a whirlwind — excitement, energy, sugar highs, schedule changes, concerts, assemblies, and that magical countdown to winter break. It’s a lot. And as teachers and homeschoolers, we’re always looking for meaningful ways to keep kids engaged without adding more work to our already-full plates.

Each of the Christmas art projects in this post was designed to give you exactly that:
✨ high-engagement lessons
✨ low prep
✨ meaningful cross-curricular connections
✨ creative confidence for your kids
✨ beautiful displays that bring instant joy to your learning space

Whether you choose to explore Christmas holly symbolism, dive into global tree traditions, craft whimsical gnomes, illustrate expressive Santa portraits, or create bold, bright candy canes… every project brings a little more peace, creativity, and delight into your December days.

And if you want even more support — without spending a dime — I have a gift for you.

🎄 Grab Your FREE 12 Days of Christmas Art Activity Guide

To make your December even easier, I created a festive, joy-filled FREE 12 Days of Christmas Art Project Guide packed with printable worksheets, creative prompts, and simple lessons that you can use for:

You can download it for free right here:
👉 FREE December Art Project Guide: 12 Days of Christmas Art Activities

It’s my holiday gift to you — because you deserve ease, you deserve support, and your students deserve as much creativity as we can possibly give them.

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