This cut and paste lesson is inspired by the work of Eric Carle, a well known children's author and illustrator. Your students or child will enjoy reading the classic, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and creating their own picture of the caterpillar eating through an orange. Vocabulary to Introduce:
illustrator
Materials:
-construction paper in black, orange, green, red, and yellow
purple and yellow oil pastel or crayon
-scissors
-glue sticks
Preparation:
For younger students: Draw the circles in pencil beforehand. Do not give them all the pieces of paper at the same time as they will often loose parts when throwing away scraps. Children who are having a particular difficult time turning their paper to follow the curve of a circle can be shown how to shave small pieces to get closer to the line.
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.
Children will use chalk pastels to draw an evening city landscape. Discuss the different shapes that can be used and how they can be used to complete a skyscraper. Ask them what other things might they see in their picture? Are there birds? Trees? What is the weather like? Vocabulary to Introduce: chalk pastel fixative
line
geometric shapes (square, rectangle, circle)
Materials:
-black paper
-chalk pastels (chalk can be substituted) -fixative or hair spray
Preparation:
Working with chalk pastels is extremely messy! If you don't require your children to wear a smock or an old t-shirt you should consider it for this. Be sure to have the children wash their hands immediately afterward. When using a fixative or hair spray bring the artwork outside to spray it and don't plan on bring it immediately back inside.
This is a simple drawing lesson using shapes to create a dragonfly in long grass. The work of R. John Ichter can be used as an example. His work features brilliant colors in pastel on suede. Vocabulary to Introduce: texture
pastels
geometric shapes (circle, oval, triangle)
Materials:
-textured paper
-oil pastels (crayons can be substituted)
Preparation:
After placing bright colored oil pastels in the center of the table for the children to use, go over with them them different shapes that can be used to make a dragonfly ( triangle for the body, circles for the eyes, ovals for the wings).
Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:e paper for each child at a seat, choose brightly colored pastels or crayons to lay out. Colors such as light green, ange, red, yellow, pink, and white work wel
Piet Mondrian was an abstract painter from the Netherlands. He is well-known for his grid-like paintings using black lines to form squares and rectangles combined with the sparing use of primary colors. Choose a more complicated example for older children. The painting we used as an example is "Composition in Red, Yellow, and Blue."
Vocabulary to Introduce:
square
rectangle
horizontal line
vertical line
primary colors
abstract art
Materials:
-watercolor paper
-watercolor
-masking tape or painters tape
-water in bowls to wash brushes
Preparation:
If you know your children will be tempted to use colors other than the primary colors for this lesson and you choose to stick to the example, tape off the remaining colors with masking tape. Fill bowls with a minimal amount of water to prevent major damage in the event of a spill. Pre-tear the pieces of tape for the lesson. Painters tape pulls off easier than masking tape and decreases the chance of ripping the paper.
Age Modifications:
-Older children can create a larger, more complicated grid of lines. Either black oil pastel or black sharpie can be used to draw the lines.
-For younger children the lesson can be completed by either cutting strips of black paper to create the lines and allowing them to paint the primary colors in or using sponge cut squares and rectangles to print after allowing the students to use a paintbrush Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: to add black lines.
Kandinsky was a Russian law professor that gave up a successful career to devote himself to painting after seeing Monet's "Haystacks." This lesson is inspired by his picture, "Farbstudie Quadrate." Vocabulary to Introduce: circle concentric circles printing expressionism
Materials:
-watercolor/mixed media paper
-tempera paint
-bottle or jar caps of various sizes
-sharpie or black marker
-ruler
-paintbrush
Preparation:
For young children draw the squares using a ruler and black marker. Place tempera paint on paper plates or in bowls and place caps with desired colors.
Age Modifications:
Older students can complete the lesson by folding their paper in order to create the squares. This lesson can be completed using watercolor or water soluble oil pastels.
