Warm Sun Cool Moon

 Warm Sun, Cool Moon: An Easy Two-Day Art Lesson

If you’re looking for a colorful art project that uses supplies you already have, Warm Sun, Cool Moon is a fun way to teach warm and cool colors, straight and curved lines, and pattern. Students combine a sun and moon in one drawing, then make it their own with facial expressions and decorative details.

This lesson is especially fitting for Hispanic Heritage Month. Before drawing, students look at sun and moon artwork by Mexican artists. We talk about the materials the artists use and notice how each one approaches color and design. The art connection makes the lesson meaningful during Hispanic Heritage Month, while the color concepts make it useful throughout the year.

Supplies

• Square white construction paper (9" × 9" or 12" × 12")
• Pencils and erasers
• A plate or lid to trace
• Markers
• Crayons
• Black Sharpies, if desired

How the Project Works

Students begin by tracing a circle. They move the plate slightly to create an overlapping curved line, then turn that line into the division between the sun and moon faces. After adding eyes, a nose, and a mouth, they draw straight rays extending from the sun and curved rings expanding around the moon.

Next comes my favorite part: the patterns. Students use markers to add dots, stripes, zigzags, and other designs within the rays and rings. Finally, they use red, orange, and yellow on the sun side and blue, green, and purple on the moon side. The shared starting steps help everyone get going, but the finished pieces show plenty of individual choices.

I plan this as an easy two-class-period project. The first class can focus on the artists, color concepts, and drawing. The second gives students time to add patterns and color without rushing.

A Lesson Students Can Make Their Own

Some students choose a quiet smile; others give their sun and moon a playful expression. Their patterns can be simple or detailed, and no two finished artworks need to look alike. It’s a practical lesson for teaching color theory while leaving room for creativity.

The complete Warm Sun, Cool Moon resource includes a Google Slides lesson, a PDF version, teacher directions with notes for each slide, and an art rubric.