Initial Lesson- study Henri Matisse and telling stories through pictures

To begin with I got the children to draw things they considered patterns. This was an interesting exercise as several children have ‘leaked’ that knowledge over the holidays.

We analyses some paintings of Henri Matisse, picking out the patterns he uses. The children then went around the school taking photos of all the patterns they could find in the environment.

We viewed all the images on overhead projector then the children had to practice drawing patterns on A3 paper. After this exercise the children were put into groups of 3-4, given an A2 cartridge paper and had to draw their patterns in permanent markers. The task was to cover the paper in patterns. This task completed we then looked at the colours Matisse used.

We discussed primary and secondary colours, and what makes complimentary colours and what effect they have on each other.

The task (still in process) is to paint the patterns using complimentary colours for each pattern and the background.

It was amazing to see the problem solving, decision making, the communication within the group. This kind of collaborative work helps children to take risks with their artwork, they appear to be more confident.