Create cubist art with preschool-aged children.
With its highly geometric focus, cubism is an imaginative way to help preschoolers learn about basic mathematics concepts as well as the artistic process. As a founding member of the cubist movement, Pablo Picasso is often seen as the quintessential artist in this style. Making a cubist-inspired collage using paper and glue is a simple way to introduce Picasso to young students. Get ready to watch your preschooler cut, paste, color and create the day away while designing his own mini masterpiece.
Instructions
1. Discuss Picasso, cubism and portraiture with the preschooler. Show pictures or reproductions of cubist art from nonfiction books or online. Encourage the child to look more critically at the art style by asking open-ended questions such as "Why do you think that Picasso chose to make art like this?" "How do you think that he made this artwork?" or "What do you think you could do to make a cubist art work of your own?" Include points such as shapes or geometry, the artistic process and drawing what a person looks like.
2. Provide the preschooler with a light-colored piece of 8-by-10-inch construction paper. Ask him to use the markers to draw a portrait (face only). Make sure that the child includes two eyes, one nose, one mouth and two ears. Ask him to count the facial features.
3. Have the preschooler use kids' safety scissors to cut the portrait into geometric shapes such as squares and rectangles. Instruct him to cut the shapes no smaller than a playing card. smaller shapes may easily get lost or end up on the floor.
4. Have the child use the glue stick to attach the shapes, in random order, onto a second piece of construction paper. Use a different-colored paper for contrast. Encourage the preschooler to mix and match the facial features in terms of placement or vary the angles. For example, place one eye near the bottom of the page next to a sideways ear. The pieces may overlap.
