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The Fixes / How to Draw / Northern Lights
Christmas & winter · Grades 6–8 · 10 steps

How to Draw the Northern Lights

Aurora Clocktower from The Drawing Fix™. An easy step-by-step drawing for Grades 6–8. Draw it with your class in about 20 minutes, one step at a time. Free to use and print. No sign-up.

By Christopher Allen · Ontario elementary educator10 stepsAbout 20 minutesUpdated Nov 5, 2026
Run it on the projector →Printable step sheet (PDF)

A challenge drawing for older students. Structure first, detail last. Good practice for line control, proportion and slowing down.

Before you start: a pencil, an eraser, a sheet of paper and something to colour with.

Draw lightly at first. Dark lines come at the end, once the shapes look right.

Step-by-step: how to draw the northern lights

  1. Step 1. Clocktower base

    Build a tall, slightly tapered tower.

  2. Step 2. Upper roof

    Place a strong roof over the tower.

  3. Step 3. Clock circle

    Center a large clock face.

  4. Step 4. Clock hands

    Make the two hands point in different directions.

  5. Step 5. Clock markings

    Add the four main clock marks.

  6. Step 6. Lantern doorway

    Build a tall arched doorway.

  7. Step 7. Roof details

    Give the roof a snowy ridge and trim.

  8. Step 8. Outer windows

    Add tall glowing windows on both sides.

  9. Step 9. Aurora ribbons

    Sweep two curving ribbons across the sky.

  10. Step 10. Winter finishing

    Add snowy ground, stars and drifting flakes.

The pink line is the new part in each step.

Make it theirs

  • Add falling snow with dots or tiny stars.
  • Draw a second, smaller one beside it.
  • Fold the paper and turn it into a card for someone at home.
  • Colour last. There is no wrong colour for the northern lights.

Teaching it with the projector

The projector version draws each step slowly on the board, pauses while students copy it, then checks in before the next step. Nobody has to talk, so you are free to walk around and help.

Quick Fix: 7 steps, about 10 minutes. Good for a brain break or the last few minutes before recess. Full Focus: all 10 steps, about 20 minutes, with the extra detail.

Open Aurora Clocktower on the projector → It works on any classroom screen. No accounts, no student names, no ads.

Curriculum connections

Visual arts: the elements of design (line, shape, space and proportion) and creating art for a purpose. Language: listening to and following multi-step directions. Directed drawing also builds fine motor control and focus.

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