Winter Symmetry for High School
Winter symmetry is a great winter drawing activity to incorporate in your high school classroom. If you are a high school art teacher this is a great calming activity to help calm students either before or after the school holiday break. To learn more about winter symmetry, keep reading.
For high school art teachers looking to inspire both artistic skill and seasonal spirit, the Winter Drawing Activity – High School worksheet pack is a perfect fit. Other winter symmetry for other grades is mentioned at the bottom of the page.
Winter Symmetry for high school
This resource includes 34 different winter-themed designs printed on plain paper and another 34 on grid paper. Students can practice techniques like shading, symmetry, and fine detail as they complete the mirrored half of each image, developing their observational drawing skills while engaging with winter motifs
Why this Resource Works Well for Winter Lessons:
The imagery taps into winter’s familiar forms—whether it’s the silhouette of a snow-covered tree, a steaming mug or an icy skyline—prompting students to reflect on the season while practicing fundamental techniques.
Offering both plain and grid paper caters to a range of skill levels. Grid-based copies support students who benefit from visual structure, while the plain versions challenge more advanced students to rely on spatial reasoning
The content is ready-to-use: print, distribute, and let students draw. It’s ideal for sub plans, early finishers, or a cozy winter-themed bell ringer.
Ideas for Incorporating this into your Winter Teaching Plan:
Seasonal Starter Activity
Try having students begin each class with a 10-minute symmetry sketch. It helps transition them into a focused, calm mindset as winter winds howl outside.
Art + Math Integration
Use grid-based symmetry drawing as a cross-curricular bridge with geometry units. Encourage comparisons between artistic symmetry and mathematical reflections or transformations.
Layered Skill Development
Start with grid versions to build confidence, then challenge students to move on to plain-paper versions. Allow them to choose tools—pencil, charcoal, or coloured pencil—to explore different textures and contrasts.
Creative Variation and Reflection
After completing a drawing, invite students to add their own twist—perhaps sketching subtle background details (e.g., falling snow or lantern light). Let them write a short artist’s note: What emotions does winter evoke? What does symmetry in nature suggest?
Student Choice Projects
Allow students to select one or two of their favourite winter images to develop into a more polished piece. They might add colour, collage, or mixed media, transforming a simple symmetry exercise into a creative statement piece.
Display and Celebrate
Create a “Winter Reflections” hallway gallery. Pair each completed symmetry drawing with a caption: “Completed on [date]—medium used—student reflection.” The mirrored imagery and the season’s themes align beautifully, inviting everyone into a wintry visual moment.
Sub plan-Friendly Option
The clear format and ready-made content make this an excellent option for guest teachers or supply days. Simply leave copies, pencils, and perhaps a word wall of winter vocabulary nearby, and let students explore at their own pace.
Conclusion:
Winter’s an exceptional opportunity to slow down, observe, and create. Using this symmetry-focused activity, teachers can guide students to deepen their understanding of form, shading, and spatial awareness while absorbing the unique mood of the season.
Around the winter holiday break, students can be more tired, more irritable or more excited so this winter symmetry drawing activity provides the perfect calming space to allow students to truly focus be quiet and reflect as they complete their symmetrical winter themed, drawing as accurately as possible.
You can also use this winter symmetry activity as a fun competition. You can allow students to choose from a couple different options of the winter symmetry, drawing pages and then get them to complete their drawing that students can vote on the best, most realistic and symmetrical drawing, and that student can be awarded a small prize. By your choosing. This is a fun way to celebrate the winter season. Please note that the winter symmetry includes no Christmas imagery. I have a separate Christmas symmetry drawing resource that you can find right here put the winter symmetry is great for all students especially students that don't celebrate Christmas in the classroom.