Spring Bird Nest Art Project Spring Birds Art Lesson Oil Pastel Resist Painting

In this Spring Bird Nest Art Project, students draw three baby birds sitting in their nest, with branches and leaves overhead. The lesson combines drawing, oil pastel resist and watercolor painting, so students explore texture, line and color while making a bright seasonal artwork.

It suits spring art lessons, bird and nature units, elementary art classes, homeschool art and seasonal bulletin boards. Students see how oil pastel resists paint to create patterns and layered effects, and they build confidence in drawing and painting along the way.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Spring bird nest lesson plan with learning goals and teaching guidance
• Step-by-step drawing tutorial pages for the baby birds, nest, branches and leaves
• Visual instruction pages paired with written directions for each stage of the project
• Full-color finished example poster to show students before you begin
• Student step-by-step reference handout to follow while drawing
• Printable art rubric for assessment
• Coloring page version of the artwork for early finishers or simplified instruction
• Teacher guidance on how to demonstrate and guide the project

HOW TO USE IT

Students start by drawing the baby birds and nest with the guided drawing steps. They outline their artwork in black marker, add color and texture with oil pastels, and finish with watercolor paint. The pastel marks show through the paint, creating decorative patterns in the background.

Project the step-by-step tutorial pages for students to follow, or use them as your guide while you demonstrate live. The lesson works for spring art units, nature lessons, homeschool art, substitute teacher art plans and seasonal displays.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Classroom teachers, art teachers, homeschool educators and substitute teachers who want a spring art project.

How do I teach it?

Project the step-by-step tutorial pages for students to follow, or use them as a guide while you demonstrate the lesson live.

How long does this project take?

Most classes finish in 2 to 3 class periods, depending on student age, skill level, class behavior, teaching style and class length.

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 who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured educator on the cover of OCO Magazine (October 2025). She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, with clear step-by-step instruction that makes art easy to teach. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

This resource is licensed for single classroom or personal use only.

YOU MAY: use it with your own students, print copies for classroom use, and use it in homeschool settings.

YOU MAY NOT: share it with other teachers, upload it to shared drives or school systems, redistribute or resell the files, or post it online where others can access it.

If another educator would like to use this resource, please ask them to purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic