Monet's Garden Sponge Painting

Submitted by: Cathy Gaul, Beck Middle School
UNIT: Impressionism - Painting
Lesson: Monet's Garden
Grade Level: 4th Grade (Elementary 4 through 6)

 

      

 

Below is Cathy's lesson summary - add her steps to the lesson above to create your own lesson plan. Pam Stephens has provided her summary to help other art teachers write lesson plans. (click to see larger images).

 

From Cathy Gaul:

This is a 'suitable for framing' parent favorite. To begin we discuss impressionism and I show Linnea in Monet's Garden video. We talk about garden structures, all the man-made parts that go into a garden like fences, bird baths, arbors, arches, paths, benches, etc. The fence and gate and path are a must, and everything else is extra.

 

To begin the project, we cut the man made parts from oak tag paper and fix them to the paper to act like stencils. In the past we used little bits of 'Ticky Tack' but last year I used a Removable Restickable Glue Stick that is removable. Just be sure to wait at least 30 seconds to put the pieces on the background paper or they won't come off! The stencil cutting and placing usually takes at least one whole class period. Another option are Tac-On Pads.

 

When all the man made stuff is put in place, we sponge paint around all the stencils where flowers or grass would go. We also sponge a tree border that will be in the background. They can make shapes of evergreens (triangles) or deciduous tree tops. This also insures that the entire fence will be sponged around with the paint color for the garden. I use 3 layers of color and use small cut pieces of sponges. They start with yellow, then green, then blue for shadow areas, especially in the trees. Then they can do the sky, first with white, then a tiny bit of blue, leaving some areas white for cloud shapes if they choose.

 

The flower painting is done with Q tips. I show pictures from garden catalogs and Impressionist garden paintings. They can make taller perennial flowering shrubs using the edge of cut rectangles of cardboard. They often make flowering vines growing on the arches and fences. We talk about how flowers grow in the sun, not on the ground for the vines. I emphasize that it isn't really a painting as much as a dabbing. They can layer colors to make their flowers look less like colored lollipop blobs sitting there and more like a planting of flowers. This project usually takes 3 full classes (of 75 minutes each).

 

This project is one of the favorites of the kids and the parents!

 

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LESSON SUMMARY: MONET’S GARDEN
Submitted by: Pam Stephens
Grade Level: Elementary K-2
See Monet Lesson for 4th grade by Cathy Gaul below!

 

Objectives(s) Student will:

• Actively investigate and accurately interpret with supporting evidence the artwork of Claude Monet

• Vividly communicate a deep understanding of Impressionism

• Accurately reflect upon learning

Essential Questions

1. Who is Claude Monet?

2. What is Impressionism?

Motivation

1. View video and discuss artwork

2. Display posters and discuss Impressionism

Title of Lesson: Monet’s Garden
Grade level: 1st

 

Resources & Materials

Poster images of Impressionism and artwork by Monet: Dusk Venice by Claude Monet Le Pont Japonais a Giverny by Claude Monet Venice Palazza Da Mula by Claude Monet The Parliament in London by Claude Monet View of the Tuileries Gardens by Claude Monet DVD's: Linnea in Monet's Garden and In Winter Still: A Claude Monet Story Greg Percy's Songs in the Key of Art Volume 4 "Monet's Mom" Blue Construction Paper, 12 x 18 (30.5 x 46 cm) Manila Paper, 12 x 18 (30.5 x 46 cm) Block Printing Inks (red, blue, yellow, green) Sponges, clothes pins, Crayons

Activities/Sequence

Create an Impressionistic landscape Distribute manila paper, 1 per every 2 children Distribute blue paper, 1 per child Demonstrate how to tear the manila paper from side to side to create an uneven horizon Glue manila paper to blue paper so that the straight edge of the manila matches the straight edge of the blue Demonstrate and then ask students to draw elements of a garden (trees, stems of flowers, park bench, pond, etc.) Demonstrate printing with a sponge that is held by a clothes pin Use the sponge to print leaves and flowers Contrast and compare student work to Monet’s Impressionistic landscape

Assessment Rubric

Objective	Novice	Acceptable	Mastery
Actively investigate and accurately interpret with supporting evidence the artwork of Claude Monet	Does not or will not investigate and interpret with accuracy and supporting evidence the artwork of Claude Monet	Investigates and interprets with limited accuracy and supporting evidence the artwork of Claude Monet in limited ways	Investigates and interprets with accuracy and with a variety of supporting evidence the artwork of Claude Monet
Vividly communicate a deep understanding of Impressionism.	Communicates an inaccurate understanding of Impressionism	Communicates a limited understanding of Impressionism	Communicates in a variety of ways a deep understanding of Impressionism
Accurately reflect upon learning	Does not or cannot reflect learning	Reflects with limited ability	Reflects upon learning with supporting evidence of understanding

 

Student Reflection

Name _______________________ Teacher __________________ Date ____________

 

1. What does Claude Monet try to show in his art?

 

2. How is your artwork similar to Monet’s artwork? How is it different?

 

3. What did you learn in this lesson?