Pieter Bruegel the Elder Winter Landscape Art Lesson | K–4 | Observation, Color and Snow Painting
 
Bring the Northern Renaissance to your classroom with this engaging art lesson inspired by Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap (1565). Students analyze the painting, explore its warm yellow tones, and create their own simple yet striking winter landscapes using black oil pastels and white paint. Perfect for K–4 students, this lesson combines art history, observation, and hands-on creativity with minimal materials and maximum impact.
 
What’s Included: 
1-page Artist & Painting Background – Learn about Pieter Bruegel the Elder and the story behind Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap.
1-page Student Analysis/Questions – Observation, analysis, and interpretation prompts to guide learning.
Enlarged Painting Image – High-quality version of Bruegel’s painting for print or digital display.
2-page Lesson Plan – Includes:
Objective and skills learned
Materials list
Teacher tips and discussion points
Step-by-step process for drawing and painting
Real Student Examples – Showcasing previous K–4 student work to inspire creativity and demonstrate outcomes.
Why You’ll Love It:
Art History + Hands-On Learning – Combines observation and analysis with a simple, creative project.
Focus on Color and Composition – Explore Bruegel’s use of warm yellow tones in a winter scene.
Minimal Materials, Maximum Impact – Easy-to-prepare materials create striking results that students love.
Encourages Observation & Critical Thinking – Students practice foreground, middle ground, and background while adding unique details.
Adaptable Across Grades – Works with K–4, but can easily be scaled up for older students or larger paper sizes.