Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Art Lesson with Reading, Writing & Step-by-Step Tutorial (Grades 1–4)

Ignite your students’ creativity this October with the Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Art Lesson — a complete, no-prep, classroom-ready resource that makes celebrating Halloween fun and educational! Designed for Grades 1–4, this engaging art project focuses on the Elements of Art: Line, Shape, and Value while exploring the history and tradition of the Jack-O’-Lantern through art, reading, and reflection.

Using oil pastels and colored construction paper, students will design expressive pumpkin faces while learning how to blend, layer, and create tints and shades for visual impact. The built-in literacy tie-ins, reflection pages, and critical thinking prompts make this more than an art project—it’s a complete, standards-aligned learning experience.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, art educator, or homeschool parent, this low-prep art lesson builds creativity, confidence, and cross-curricular connections with ease.

By the end of the project, your students will have:

• Created a bold, expressive Jack-O’-Lantern artwork using oil pastels

• Learned about Halloween history and the origins of pumpkin carving

• Strengthened reading, writing, and art vocabulary skills

• Explored art elements like line, shape, and value

• Reflected on their creative process with guided writing activities

This Resource Includes (Non-Editable PDF & PowerPoint Versions):

• 2-Page Lesson Plan – Objectives, materials, Think-Pair-Share prompts, and clear teaching flow

• Mini Creativity Challenge Hook – Quick warm-up to spark imagination before the main project

• KWL Chart (Know–Want to Know–Learned) – Encourages curiosity and reflection

• About the History of Jack-O’-Lanterns Reading Passage – Nonfiction text on Irish and Scottish lantern traditions and how they evolved into pumpkins

• Reading Comprehension Story – The Perfect Pumpkin – A short, heartwarming story about creativity and perseverance

• Reading Comprehension Questions + Answer Key – Builds literacy through text-based analysis

• Sight Word Tracking List & Word Bank of Tricky Words – Reinforces vocabulary and comprehension

• Opinion Writing Prompt: Is creativity or perfection more important when making art?

• Creative Writing Prompt: Write a story about a pumpkin that came alive on Halloween night.

• Compare & Contrast Activity + Answer Key: Perfection vs. Creativity in Art

• Critical Thinking Questions for Artists – Inspires reflection about art, mistakes, and imagination

• Step-by-Step Visual & Text Art Tutorial (13 Steps) – Large visuals with clear written instructions for projection or print

• Example Artwork – Completed sample for classroom modeling

• Symmetry Practice Page – Develops balance and precision

• Shape & Form Exploration Worksheet – Identifies geometric and organic shapes in pumpkin design

• Explore Line Worksheet – Builds pattern and texture skills

• Art Reflection Pages: 3 Stars & a Wish, Feelings About My Art, The Message, Top 3 Things I Like About My Art

• Artist Statement Template – Encourages creative ownership and reflection

• Display Sign – Ready-to-print poster for hallway or bulletin board displays

• Assessment Rubric – Evaluates creativity, craftsmanship, and effort

• Curriculum Alignment – Meets National Core Arts Standards (VA:Cr1–VA:Cr2) and Common Core literacy standards