New Years Art Lesson New Year Mouse Art Project Winter Art Activity January Art

This New Years Mouse Art Lesson is a fully planned winter art resource for Grades 2 to 5. Students create a countdown mouse holding a clock at midnight, a symbol of new beginnings, using guided drawing, painting and mixed media. Along the way they explore line, shape, pattern, texture, color and balance.

The art connects to New Year traditions around the world and to personal reflection, with reading comprehension, writing and critical thinking pages for a cross-curricular art and literacy lesson. It is low prep and easy to teach, even without an art background, and makes a calm, focused activity after winter break.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Lesson Plan with materials, hooks, participation strategies and assessment guidance
• Critical Thinking Discussion Questions
• Informational Reading: About the New Year Around the World
• How to Draw a Mouse directed drawing page
• Step-by-Step Photo Demonstration (18 steps from sketch to finished artwork)
• Art Rubric
• Bulletin Board Sign: Countdown Mice, The New Year Artworks
• Draw and Design creativity warm-up page
• KWL Chart
• Fiction Reading: The Mouse Who Counted the New Year, with comprehension questions and answer key
• Sight Word Tracking List (from the story), Tricky Word Vocabulary Bank, Spelling Word List and Spelling Test
• Writing: opinion prompt on New Year traditions vs. new beginnings, and a narrative write and draw prompt
• Art Reflections: message, feelings, materials, learning and goals
• Compare and Contrast: Old Year vs. New Year, with answer key
• Artist Statement Pages and 3 Stars and a Wish
• Extensions: Principles of Design radial symmetry mandala, and Elements of Art shape, form and line exploration
• Student Example Artwork

HOW TO USE IT

Teach it as a stand-alone New Years art lesson, as part of a winter or January unit, or as a cross-curricular art and ELA project. The art usually takes 2 to 3 class periods, and the reading, writing and reflection pages can stretch it across more days.

It also works for sub plans, a homeschool winter unit, a reflection activity after winter break and a January bulletin board or hallway display.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Classroom teachers, art teachers, homeschool families and substitute teachers working with students in Grades 2 to 5.

How long does the lesson take?

The art project typically takes 2 to 3 class periods, depending on student age, class behavior, teaching style and available time. Reading, writing and reflection pages can extend it.

Do I need an art background to teach it?

No. The lesson plan and 18-step photo demonstration make it easy to teach in any setting.

Is it editable?

No. All pages are 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 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