Description
Kickstart New Year 2026 with these fun selfie portrait art and goal-setting activities. Help students refocus and reconnect after winter break.
These engaging New Year coloring pages, art, and writing prompt activities are perfect for reviewing 2025, and setting new goals for 2026.
Students choose their favorite glasses or spectacles, create a unique self-portrait, and then complete the year-in-review and resolution activities, encouraging a balance of art and writing.
I will update this activity every year, so you can download free updates if you would like to continue to use the activity beyond 2025.
1. Self-portraits
What’s included in this New Year activity?
- Choose from four templates to create a unique self-portrait
- Face templates with masks are included
- Select according to age and ability from a variety of options
2. Writing tasks and prompts
- Reflecting on 2025 and goal-setting for 2026
- A variety of writing prompt templates include spectacles and balloons
3. Explore letting go of 2025
- Write about your stand-out memories of 2025
- What did you learn?
- How did you feel?
- What will you be glad to leave behind?
- What will you miss?
4. Explore hopes and dreams for 2026
- Explore your hopes and dreams for 2026
- What are your goals?
- How do you feel about this coming year?
- What will you do differently than in 2025?
- What might you bring with you from 2025?
5. Colored finished examples
- Print these finished artworks to generate ideas and discussion
6. Digitally created collage-style posters
- Display and use these as inspiration – some students may enjoy cutting shapes from magazines to collage a self-portrait
7. New Year banners and classroom decor
- Create a colorful and welcoming classroom with this modern confetti-theme banner
8. Doodle pages
- Additional coloring pages are included for early finishers
What materials are needed?
- Print onto cardstock for the best results
- Oil pastels, marker pens, watercolor paints, colored pencils
- Collage materials are optional – magazines and glue sticks
- Scissors and string for the banners
You might like to view my popular Back To School / All About Me resources here:
Back to School, All About Me Resources
View further New Year activities here:
New Year, Chinese New Year Resources
Follow my store on TPT to receive notification of new products, where I will be offering a 50% discount for the first 48 hours after they are posted.
How can I use this resource with my students?
- End December 2024 in a positive, forward-thinking way
- Use as an engaging first-week-back activity for January 2025
- Encourage students to reflect, plan, and set goals
- Explore hopes and dreams for the future
- Acknowledge challenges and explore possible solutions
- Generate lively group discussion
- Create an impressive display for a positive environment
- Build creative confidence
- This makes a handy, print-and-go sub-plan
- Add to a New Year unit
Happy teacher feedback
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Erin M says, “This was such a fun and engaging resource for my 7th grade students, it was a great activity to get them into the swing of things after the holiday.”
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Natalie M says, “This was a really great twist to the usual New Year’s Resolutions. My students are enjoying creating their “selfie”. I am loving how different and creative each student has created their character. Thank you for this product.”
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Natasha J says, “This was well done! I needed something as an icebreaker for my 8th grade Honors ELA, and this was an easy decision to make. I am so glad I did. All I had to do was print, copy, and discuss. My students were able to express themselves and they loved it. All students were engaged. This had something for all students regardless of their artistic ability. Thank you!”
You may like to view these creative seasonal resources:
New Year 2026 Cool Cell Phone Art Activity
Year of the Horse 2026 Art Activity
New Year and Chinese New Year Art Activities
Like my work? Please stay in touch!
Please get in touch with me if you have any questions regarding this resource, I am always keen to help,
Thanks!
Diane
Copyright ©The ImaginationBox/Diane Pagan 2022.
All rights reserved by the author.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only
