Torn Paper Christmas Tree 

 

Grade: 1st 

Date: December 

Medium: torn construction paper 

Reason for the Lesson:  The children will learn about collage and experiment with a torn paper technique to create their own.  A collage is an artwork made up of portions of various existing materials and arranged so that they join, overlap or blend to create a new image. Eric Carle is a great connection to make with this type of collage art. He was influenced by Henri Matisse who was famous for his quote, "I paint with scissors." Eric Carle used collage in his children's book illustrations such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Element of Art:  A torn paper collage is an example of texture in art.  The small pieces of tissue will give the tree more texture by adding a 3-demensional piece.  This is an example of tactile texture. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes 

Class Time: 45-60 minutes 

Materials:  black, green, brown and yellow construction paper, glue, tissue paper. 

Instructions: 1. Tear up several pieces of green construction paper. 2. Tear up small amount of brown construction paper. 3. On a plain piece of black construction paper, have kids draw a triangle shape with glue and cover with green pieces of construction paper. 4. Draw the trunk of tree with glue and cover with brown construction paper. 5. Crumble small pieces of tissue paper (red,purple,yellow and blue)and glue onto the tree. 6. Glue 3 pieces of yellow on top of tree for the star. 

Credit: http://playandlearnwithdana.blogspot.com/2010/12/scrap-christmas-tree.html? 

Spiral Christmas Tree Ornaments

Matisse Inspired Christmas Tree Ornaments

Medium: Paper, Scissors

Reason For Lesson: To learn about Henri Matisse and how he used scissors as a tool for creating artwork. Also for creating ornaments to be hung in the Winter Extravaganza.

Elements of art: Paper, collage, form, color, pattern

Preparation prior to lesson: gather supplies, photocopy spiral onto green cardstock, photocopy star template onto yellow cardstock

Materials: Green construction paper with spiral, yellow stars, Q-tips, tempura paint, glue sticks, scissors

Instructions to teach art lesson:

Introduce the lesson and let the Children know they will be learning about Henri Matisse and also creating ornaments to be hung in the Winter Extravaganza. Remind the students to do their very best work

2.       

Introduce Henri Matisse. Give a brief bio and try to relate his life in some way to the kids (keep this lesson time brief, take no more than 5-10 minutes for the Artist lesson)

Show examples of Henri Matisse’s artwork and have the students discuss what makes Matisse’s artwork unique. Talk about what the artist is trying to convey with his art. 

What feelings are evoked?

Have the students discover different repeating patterns in Matisse’s artwork. Have them look for all the different variations of pattern. What colors, themes, medium does he use? 

What feeling  does the repeating pattern create in the artwork? 

Be sure to point out that Matisse “Painted with Scissors”. He used collage and patterned paper in much of his later artwork.

 Point out that Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) was influenced by Matisse. You may wish to show some of Eric Carle’s books to show how he was influenced.

Eric Carle (1929) was influenced by Matisse.  How do you take what you like from your friends and make it your own?

Let the kids know they have the opportunity to "paint with scissors" just like Matisse to create their Christmas tree ornament for the Winter Extravaganza

1. Cut out the spiral circle

 2. Starting from the outside follow the lines to cut the circle into a spiral

 3. Following the lines on the template cut until it makes a spiral.

4. Place a small amount of each paint onto a extra piece of cardstock or paper plate
5. Dip a Q-tip into a small amount of tempura paint and dot the spiral in a pattern

6. Cut out 2 stars from the templates on the yellow cardstock
7. Fold a 2 inch piece of ribbon in half.
8. Using a glue stick place the glue onto the insides of both stars.
9. Place the folded ribbon inside the stars and press together to form a hanger for the ornament.
10. Be sure the 4th graders put their Name and Teacher's Name on the inside of the ornament.

credit: parent's magazine

Matisse Flower Vases

Title of Lesson:  Matisse Flower Vases

Medium:  Paper collage and sharpie

Reason for Lesson:  Learn about the artwork of Henri Matisse and the principle of patterns and color.

Label:  Color, movement, harmony, Matisse, Flower, Collage, 5th grade

Prep Time:  20 miutes

Preparation prior to lesson:  gather supplies, cut tissue paper into 2x2 inch squares

Class Time:  1 hour

Materials: White Background paper. Many different colors of construction paper. Markers, Sharpies, Glue, 2x2 inch square colored tissue paper

Instructions to Lead Lesson:  

Introduce Henri Matisse. Give a brief bio and try to relate his life in some way to the kids (keep this lesson time brief, take no more than 5-10 minutes for the Artist lesson)

• Show examples of Henri Matisse’s artwork and have the students discuss what makes Matisse’s artwork unique. Talk about what the artist is trying to convey with his art. What feelings are evoked?
• Have the students discover different repeating patterns in Matisse’s artwork. Have them look for all the different variations of pattern. What colors, themes, medium does he use? What feeling  does the repeating pattern create in the artwork? Be sure to point out that Matisse “Painted with Scissors”. He used collage and patterned paper in much of his later artwork.
• Point out that Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) was influenced by Matisse. You may wish to show some of Eric Carle’s books to show how he was influenced.

In 5th grade for the month of January the students are learning about the Renaissance. Use this art lesson to highlight how art is influenced and evolves over time.

• Art prior to the Renaissance (the 1200’s) was flat and lacked perspective or realism. The subjects were not drawn in believable or realistic settings. Show Cimabue, Madona Enthroned
• Most artwork was of a religious theme prior to the Renaissance
• The Renaissance was a time of artistic change. Leonardo Davinci influenced how artists created during the Renaissance. He started adding more realism and made the subjects more lifelike. He also added more believable settings and included nature in his artwork. Show Leonardo, Madonna on the Rocks, 1483)
• What differences do you see in these two pieces? What similarities?

• Fast forward to Henri Matisse (1900’s). Show pictures of Henri Matisse. How is his artwork the same or different from the Renaissance artwork. What elements are the same and what has changed?
• Art is still changing. Eric Carle (1929) was influenced by Matisse.  How do you take what you like from your friends and make it your own?

• Create the patterned vase on a collage background artwork

• Begin with Vertical 12x18 in white watercolor paper and 5 sheets of various sizes of colored construction paper and 1 8x10 piece of colored construction paper
• Cut large blocks out of the colorful construction paper students may wish to cut some wavy lines for edges (keep it simple for time)
• Choose two color blocks and draw a repeating pattern with sharpie (time permitting. To finish in an hour this step may need to be omitted)
• Clue colored blocks to cover the entire white paper background.
• Take a 8x10 solid piece of colored construction paper and with the sharpie draw a repeating pattern to fill the entire page.
• Fold patterned paper in half (vertical) with pattern on the inside.
• Draw and S shape on the fold. Be sure to draw the lines from top to bottom staring from the top right corner and finishing at the bottom of the page.
• Cut along the lines and open up to form a vase.
• Glue the vase onto the background aligning bottom edges
• Place Elmers glue drops on the background several inches above the vase at various heights
• Glue down 5-7 pieces of tissue paper. Wait until dry and then crinkle.
• Add stems with construction paper if desired.

Credit:  artwork influenced by http://artiswhatiteach.blogspot.com/2010/04/2nd-grade-matisse-flower-vases.html?m=1

Matisse: Drawing with Scissors

Jazz (Icarus) by Matisse - "Painting With Scissors"

Medium: Colored construction paper. 

Reason for lesson: Help students learn about Henri Matisse and his style of art. Focus on his use of color, natural subjects, and especially his "painting with scissors."

Label: 2nd grade, Matisse

Preparation prior to class: Collect supplies. Cut 8.5x11 yellow construction paper in half, cut 8.5x11 red construction paper into small swuares, about 1"X11".

Class time: 1 hour

Materials: Colored construction paper (red, black, blue, yellow). Glue sticks (can use Elmer's glue but be careful of extra glue showing..leaves shiny spots). Scissors. Printed pics of Matisse artwork; include Jazz (Icarus).

Lesson Instructions:

1. Give each child one piece each of 8.5x11 blue and black paper, one of the half pieces of yellow, and one square of red, and a glue stick.

2. Give short bio of Henri Matisse.

3. Show 3-4 examples and discuss artwork of Matisse.

4. Display a copy of Jazz (Icarus) artwork for students to use as a guide. 

5. Demonstrate cutting in one connected line around the shape of a body. 

6. Demonstrate cutting a star freehand and allow students about 6 stars. Tip: show students how to cut a circle and then cut star points around it. 

7. Demonstrate cutting either a circle or heart from red paper. 

8. Have students glue all pieces on.