Grinch-Inspired Self Portrait Art Lesson | Christmas Art Lesson

Description

Draw a Grinch-Inspired Self Portrait in One Class

What would you look like as a character in the Grinch story? In this Christmas art lesson, students use a black marker and crayons to turn their own features into a cartoon self portrait. It’s designed for grades 2–5 and fits into one 45-minute class.

See how much the eyes can say

I like to start by asking students what they notice about the eyes. Tilt the eyebrows, narrow the eyelids, or move the pupils to one side, and the same face can suddenly look curious, suspicious, or a little mischievous. Once students see how much those small changes can do, they can choose an expression for their own portrait.

Four examples give students room to make it their own

I’ve included four finished examples that show different ways to draw the hat, face, and clothes. Put them side by side so students can see how many directions one tutorial can take. Then invite them to bring in something of their own, like a favorite pair of glasses, an extra swoop of hair, or a grin that stretches from cheek to cheek.

What’s included in your download

• Links to the step-by-step PDF drawing tutorial, Google Slides, and ad-free lesson videos
• Four finished examples with different hats, faces, and clothing
• A short Dr. Seuss biography to connect the project to the author and illustrator behind the Grinch
• A materials list and a student-friendly I Can statement
• National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) alignment and an assessment rubric

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Ready to draw?

Download the lesson, set out the markers and crayons, and see how many different expressions your students can come up with.