Last Year in Kindergarten, my art lessons were centred around investigating different art materials.  This year, now they are in first grade, we will explore those materials further, whilst learning about the elements of art and introducing new artists.

A Lesson about Line

• Ask a child to draw a line. The first child I chose drew a bumpy line. The next child drew a straight line.
•  Discuss different types of lines and introduce the terms horizontal, vertical and diagonal.
•  Look at how to use the different lines to make shapes, two diagonal lines and a horizontal line make a triangle etc.
• Introduce Mondrian’s paintings. Talk about  how he arranged horizontal and vertical lines to make the shapes and sizes he wanted.

It is then time for the children to try their own.

Materials needed

• Black tempura paint in a flat tray
• A square or rectangle of stiff cardboard
• Paper

1.  Show the children how to dip the edge of the cardboard in the paint and remove any excess paint by dabbing it on the tray.
2. Show them how to print lines on the paper in different arrangements to make shapes.  Though Mondrian only used horizontal and vertical lines, the children in my class were also allowed to use diagonal lines in their compositions.

 

3. While the children print, talk to them about the shapes and arrangements they have made. Remind them to close up their shapes so they can be coloured later. As Hallowe’en was looming, spider webs were particularly popular.

Making a Fancy Line 

While we waited for the paint to dry, we talked a little more about lines.  We looked at a sketch and found the different types of lines used in the picture.

The next challenge was to make one long line, composed of five different types of lines, without taking their pencil off the paper.

I demonstrated them some examples.

They tried their own in pencil and then went over their lines in marker.  Some children had difficulty making a single line and wanted to join it to make a shape.  For those that did this I encouraged them to focus on the line by outlining it in marker without filling in any colour in the centre.

Mondrian and Primary Colours

• Look at Mondrian’s compositions again. How does he use colour?
• Talk about primary colours, what they are and why are red, blue and yellow  the primary colours?
• Look at how Mondrian paintings used primary colours to shade some of the shapes in his compositions.

The second part of the project

Ideally, I would leave the black paint overnight to dry.  We have limited time for art so this was not possible and some of the paint was still wet. We blotted the worst of the paint off with a tissue.

Materials

Red, yellow and blue markers (you may also want to include black)

What to do

Use the markers to fill in some of the shapes,  leaving some  of them white.  Try to fill in each shape with solid colour and not leave any gaps so they look like Mondrian’s compositions.

The Finished Products

 

If you like this lesson and you’d like to save the idea, use this image to save it to Pinterest. You can find my other art lessons and those that inspire me, on my Art lessons for Kids Pinterest Board or art activities for home and free play on my art and craft for kids board.