Concentric Squares: A Cut & Paste

This cut and paste lesson is inspired by the abstract geometric work of Frank Stella, an American painter and printmaker born in 1936.  Stella graduated from school at Princeton where he majored in history and painted.  After his graduation he would move to New York where he would begin painting more seriously.  Frank Stella is considered a leading figure of the Minimal art movement.

Vocabulary to Introduce:

minimalism
concentric
geometric shape (square, rectangle, circle)
abstract art

Materials:

-construction paper in bright colors

-scissors

-stencils of squares out of card stock or poster board

-pencils

-glue sticks

Preparation:

For younger students:  Cut squares of varying sizes using an inch difference between each size.  You can place these squares in a container or on a paper plate at the center of the table.

For older students:  Older students can either trace the shape using a stencil or create the square using a ruler depending on the age. 

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: