Who says ghosts have to be scary? These happy, friendly ghosts are easy to draw and make, even for preschoolers or kindergarten kids.
This project is based on the book, How to Make Friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green. This charming and art room perfect book offers strategies to not only find ghosts but how to lure them into your world and become friends.
This project requires just a few supplies and is very easy to make. Follow along my video tutorial showing you the quick and easy steps:
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
– “How to Draw a Ghost” handout drawing guide (download below)
– 9″ x 12″ white drawing paper
– Black oil pastel
– Black paper
– Pink chalk pastel
– Scissors
– Glue stick
Start by drawing the outline of the ghost using a black oil pastel on your white 9″ x 12″ paper. Drawing with black oil pastel can get a bit smudgy but for this lesson, that’s exactly what we want.
Use the instructions in the drawing guide for reference (download guide below). Add a few scribbly lines around the outside of the ghost.
Smudge the pastel with your fingers so the white ghosts look like he is moving!
Continue to draw the ghosts’ arms and mouth inside the outline with the black oil pastel.
Grab some black paper and cut out two circle shapes for the eyes.
Use the pink chalk to add rosy cheeks and then begin to smudge the pink with your fingers.
Cut out your ghost with scissors and hang around your art room!
Gustavo The Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago is another great children’s book that can accompany this lesson with your students. Read to the class before the lesson as a source of inspiration for students to begin!
The October Project Guide is chock full of Fall themed lessons, drawing guides, technique tips and video tutorials. Download this handy drawing guide before you get started:
If you created this lesson in your art room, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
I think that’s an awesome ghost and super simple to follow and complete. May try using it for one of our Halloween crafts at the library.
Very nice and fun for elementary area of Art
Love this lesson! I can’t wait to let my Kinders try this!
I am wondering what you use to mix your watercolor? I don’t actually have it so we used the tempera pucks, after modelling the scarecrow and emphasizing lots of water, many students in their enthusiasm, probably felt they needed deeper colors and missed the point. So, next time I want to have it pre-mixed. I want to try the fall trees, so I am wondering what I can do until I get actual watercolor paint… thanks
Cute.
Thanks.
Wondering about similar steps and expressions for Christmas stars~
I love Deep Space Sparkle! It has got me through being an art teacher as a substitute teacher for a couple of months. Now that I’ve transitioned to Montessori, I can use it to plan for non school institute days where I have a smaller amount of students, and I need fun activities for them to do.
Thank you!
The book How To Make Friends With A Ghost seems to be out of print according to Barnes and Noble and on Amazon it says “unavailable.” How can I buy a copy?
The paperback is available on Amazon if that helps. Otherwise keep searching! I did see a read aloud on Youtube if that helps 🙂
Wow this is so cool. In school my teacher told us to watch your videos, and I’m so happy that i watched them.
I tried to download the October freebie, but there are no links associated with the yellow button. Is there anyway I can get that so I can try the ghosts in my art class?
Click the BLUE Click to Access Freebie Pack and you’ll get the email prompt 🙂 Or just go HERE and click on the freebie pack you are interested in 🙂
https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/monthly-freebie-pack/
I clicked on the link above and it said “File Not Found”
Thank you
Your youtube videos always work, but the last two emails I have not been able to download the activity.
Try clicking on the button “Access Freebie Pack” and please provide your email when prompted.
The PDF will be available by download through your email.
Melanie from Team Sparkle
Thanks
Looks fantastic. I have used so many of your neat ideas to supplement our Art Curriculum!
Great!
Love It !!!!!
Love it, thank you. Perfect for Pre-K and Kinders!
great project!!!!!!!!!!
The link is broken to download.
This is geniously simple! Thank you so much for generously sharing this free video and instruction! This is so kind of you! I found your channel by coincidence…. well, maybe nothing is coincidental. I have since yesterday watched more than a dozen of your videos. (I am from Germany). One video is better than the other! You have great charisma and You will be my idol for my coming up art class with handicapped 8-10 year olds this coming school year. Bless you and your fantastic work! You are so inspiring ♥️
So happy the videos are helpful and inspiring! Wishing you the absolute most fun and joy while teaching your sweet class. Can’t wait to see what they create!
Hi!
I am a Sparklers member and i cant seem to down load the Freebee Fall project down loads. Help! Thank you!
Alycia Veeland
Hi Alycia! Everything is working on our end. If you click the download button and add your email address we will send the lesson directly to your inbox. Be sure to check your Spam or Junk folders to make sure it didn’t end up there. If you are trying to access this from a school computer there could be a firewall preventing you for seeing it. Also, we have noticed that the Firefox browser doesn’t work well with our website so if you use that browser you might have better luck on Chrome or Safari.
great idea
Perfect lesson! Worked wonderfully.
I’m not seeing a link to click on to download and print PDF?
Click the orange box that says Click to Download and we’ll email you the PDF. Enjoy! 🙂
We did this today and loved it! I just want to be able to print the instructions to keep in my files…
Hi Kristi! The instructions are included in the October Freebie pack. Just scroll down to the download link, click it and add your email address and we will send it to you so you’ll have it on your computer! Enjoy.
Everybody keeps saying the link is broken – because it is Lol It’s working on your end, but not our end?
Darn! It all looks so fun. I’ve tried every link available to me and nothing is working out
Hi Wendy! What browser are you using? I’ve tried this with both the Chrome and Safari browser and the link is working. We’ve noticed Firefox does not work well on our site. Please double check that there is no firewall up preventing the download and try one of the browser that I have suggested. Click the download link and add your email address. If you continue to have problems please email support@deepspacesparkle.com for assistance.
I just love Deep Space Sparkle! Thank you so much for all the Art projects.
I really appreciate this since I only have 30 minutes to teach. I love the easy ghost activity with the book suggestions. 😊
so cute!
I did this lesson with my first graders, and they received so many compliments!
PDF Download link doesn’t appear to be working and the Fall Projects Pack link just circles back to the same email. Any other way to access the pdf instructions? Thank you!
Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for your interest in our free downloads. I just tested the link and had no issues. Everything seems to be working on our end. I’m not sure what browser you’re using but Chrome and Safari work best for me. Be sure to check your spam folder to make sure they aren’t ending up there. This lesson was emailed to my inbox in less than a minute. Enjoy.
I can’t wait to try these with my students!
You guys are absolutely life savers! I love all you do. Thank you so much!
Great
I love this idea.
love this thank you!
Great ideas!Love the activities for October!
This was amazing and simple to follow!
Hello, I am a 1st year Art teacher. I have been in education 20 plus years but majority in Special Education. I am loving all of these helpful, fun resources. I can use all the resources I can get. Thank you so much! I am hoping to get better at making art fun but the kids are so different now its hard to do fun things with them. Thanks again for these resources, they are so helpful.