STEAM Lesson Plan: Make Your Own Mondrian
November 16, 2018
Image
Make Your Own Mondrian: Grades 4-6
Piet Mondrian is considered the father of abstract art. In this STEAM lesson, students will learn about the artist, and use geometry to create their own works of art.
Materials Needed
- Black Markers (thin and thick)
- Red Marker (thick)
- Blue Marker (thick)
- Yellow Marker (thick)
- White Construction Paper
- Rulers
- Pencils
Opening Activity
- Introduce students to Dutch Artist Piet Mondrian, who is considered the father of abstract art.
- Show photos of his work and ask what they notice about each piece (shapes, primary colors, how often color is used)
- Ask for opinions of his art. Like? Dislike? Why? Inform students one of his pieces sold for over $50 million at an auction in 2015.
- Let students know they will be creating their own Mondrian-inspired art.
Procedure
- Each student is given a ruler, a pencil, and a white piece of construction paper.
- Using a pencil, students will lightly draw straight lines to create their canvas of squares and rectangles of various sizes. Make sure they draw lightly so they can erase and make changes if they want to.
- After the layout is complete (students should show you their completed work in order to get markers), students will trace over pencil lines with a black marker (thin or thick or both).
- Using a pencil, students will begin lightly marking which shapes they would like to color and what colors they will use for each.
- Students will color shapes to create their own piece of art.
Discussion
- Think/Pair/Share: How did you choose the placement of colors?
- Think/Pair/Share: What color(s) do you notice first in your partner’s drawing?
- What size is the largest colored shape? What size is the smallest? (students will write their answers on the back of their artwork)
- What size is the largest white shape? What size is the smallest? (students will write their answers on the back of their artwork)
- What is the most space you have between colored shapes? What is the least? (students will write their answers on the back of their artwork)