How to Make a Hedgehog Artwork with Student Storytelling?

Several years ago, during the early days of my teaching career, I created a hedgehog art prompt to teach triangle shapes to kindergarteners. But I never used it. The idea involved cutting and gluing triangle shapes for quills, which—let’s be honest—can get tricky with young hands (and tired teacher scissors!). So, the lesson quietly tucked itself away, traveling with me in a file folder from school to school, year after year. Until now. Now I decided to connect Storytelling Through Art using the Hedgehog Drawing and Collage Lesson, and I will discuss it in the following post: How to Make a Hedgehog Artwork with Student Storytelling?

Recently, I revisited the lesson with fresh eyes, fine-tuned it, and turned it into something imaginative, engaging, and classroom-ready. And I’m thrilled to share both a YouTube drawing tutorial and a Teachers Pay Teachers resource that bring this hedgehog idea to life in a new way. Let’s burrow in and find out How to Make a Hedgehog Artwork with Student Storytelling.

✏️ How to Draw a Hedgehog – Step-by-Step YouTube Video

With the recent buzz around Sonic the Hedgehog 3, hedgehogs are extra popular with students right now! This drawing video isn’t about Sonic—but it does show kids how to:

• Divide the hedgehog’s body for correct proportion
• Use line to create texture (think: spiky but cute!)
• Fill the space around the animal with thoughtful background design

It’s a step-by-step, fun tutorial perfect for elementary students, homeschool art time, or anyone new to drawing, who wants to draw a super cute hedgehog.
👉 Watch it here: How to Draw a Hedgehog for Beginners

🖍️ TPT Resource: “What’s in the Hedgehog’s Quills?” – Drawing & Collage Lesson

This easy-to-follow art lesson engages students through storytelling, drawing, and collage, while reinforcing visual art concepts like texture, space, and composition. Students imagine all the curious things a hedgehog might carry in its quills—books, pencils, candy, dreams, a lunchbox… anything! All of this comes from How to Make a Hedgehog Artwork with Student Storytelling?

It’s perfect for:

• Creative thinking and visual storytelling
• Teaching or reviewing line, shape, space, and texture
• Reinforcing color theory or background/foreground concepts
• Sub plans or art centers (low-prep and standards-aligned)

🛒 Grab the lesson here: What is in the Hedgehog Quills? A Drawing and Collage Art Lesson

💡 Teaching Tips for This Lesson:

• Start with a class brainstorm: Where might it travel? What might it collect?
  • This allows students to personalize the ideas behind the work of art. Students may pull from personal life experiences or show their silly side during this activity.

• Turn it into a writing + art crossover project by having students write a short story to accompany their artwork.
  • A great way to keep early finishers busy or to persuade students from rushing through the drawing process, if they do n ot like to write. By using writing your students will make the connections to Storytelling Through Art: Hedgehog Drawing and Collage Lesson

• Pair the lesson with fun hedgehog facts or a mini nature study!
  • Share a video or read aloud a book about hedgehogs to hook the learners.

Whether you’re looking to spark student creativity, reinforce core art vocabulary, or prep a sub-friendly plan, this lesson offers structure with plenty of room for imagination.

🦔 Try the video here: YouTube Drawing Lesson for a 30 minute drawing activity.

AND

🎨 Grab the classroom-ready resource: What is in the Hedgehog Quills? A Drawing and Collage Art Lesson. You will shine student artistic success within an hour with What in the Hedgehog Quills?: Drawing and Collage.

Check out the following page to see more creativity: Snyder’s Sunshine Art Studio Lessons