Kindergarten Art Docent Lesson

 

Art Concept: Color

Artist: Picasso

Recommended Print: “The Tragedy”

Lesson developed by: Karen Hirsch with Doris Jew, Tacoma School of the Arts

 

What you need:

 

Red, yellow, blue and white tempera paint

2 plastic plates for each child (plus 2 for you)

aprons for the children

tarps or newspaper for tables

brushes

cups for water

small sheets of paper for each child

9x12 poster sheets for each child

one large sheet of posterboard

red, yellow and blue markers

name tags for children (and volunteers)

some pencils

 

Required books:

 

Mouse Paint

 

Recommended books (if kids finish early):

 

When Pigasso Met Mootise

 

Preparing the room:

 

1.   Put tarps or newspaper on the art room tables. Get out aprons for children.

 

  1. Prepare plastic plate palettes for part one of the lesson. You will need one plate for each child with: 2 small pools of red paint, 2 of blue, 2 of yellow. Put the plates on the tables. At each work space there should be: a plate, a half or third sheet of paper, a paper towel, and a small cup of water.
  2. Prepare back-up activity. Large poster board with Red, Yellow and Blue written on it in respective colors. Pull out lots of red, yellow and blue markers.

 

Part 1: Introducing the Art Concept (5-10 minutes)

 

 

Have children put on aprons and sit down on the carpet.

 

Explain that today’s lesson is about color. We will use primary colors – red, blue and yellow - to make new colors. We will talk about how artists use different colors to express different feelings.

 

Read Mouse Paint.

 

Tell the children that in a few minutes, they will get to make colors just like the mice in the story. Do a demonstration for them using a sample plate (set up just like theirs). Dip fingers in red and swirl them in the yellow to make orange. Dip fingers in blue and swirl the yellow. Then you will need almost equal parts red and blue to make purple. (Making orange requires very little red in the yellow – same with making green – a little blue will do it).

 

Part 2: Exploring the Art Concept (10 minutes)

 

Send the children to the table (in small groups). Tell them not to start until you say so. Have them wiggle their fingers in the air like mice feet. Then walk them through the exercise: they dip their fingers in red then swirl in yellow for orange. Let them paint with orange on the page. Have them wipe their fingers on paper towel. Fingers in blue and then yellow for green, wipe, paint, and then they make purple. Give them time to explore making colors and moving their fingers on the page.

 

Part 3: Introduce Picasso/Color Expresses Emotion (5-10 minutes)

 

Gather the children back in a circle on the carpet.

 

[The teacher and volunteers take away first set of materials and put out a new set of plates at each workstation with a dollop of white paint on the plate. They will probably need new paper towels too.]

 

Introduce Pablo Picasso and some background on him. They will listen for about five minutes.                                                                                           

 

Introduce the idea of Picasso’s blue period. Discuss how color shapes the feeling of a picture.

 

Ask the kids: Have you ever drawn a picture when you are really mad? What kinds of colors would you use? What colors might you use to make a picture about playing on a sunny day?

 

Tell the children they will get to choose one color – red, blue or yellow – to make a painting of their own. Send them back to the tables.

 

Part 4: Expanded Exploration of the Concept (10-25 minutes)

 

Have volunteers and teacher give each child the color of their choice. Have the kids write their names on their paper. Children typically work between 10 and 25 minutes. When children are done, have them name their picture. Write the name of the piece on their work.

 

Those finished early can listen to When Pigasso Met Mootisse and/or draw with the markers in the three primary colors on the large sheet of posterboard.