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Visual Arts · Introduction to Impressionism Preschool Lesson Plan Printable Activities
Ages 2.5 to 6 Preschool - Early elementary
Materials:
- printer
- paper
- paints: finger paints, tempera and brushes (choose depending on the age group)
- old large t-shirts for covering clothes or equivalent
Get ready for a very soothing and peaceful experience with the children. Educators, caregivers and parents will enjoy this change of pace and the children as well. We are going to explore impressionism and have loads of fun making our own unique painting on screen. After that let's all try to do an impressionist painting. Here is some basic background of impressionism and various images of paintings.
Activity 1: Search for a simple lesson in impressionist painting in YouTube
Find an age appropiate video that shows some basic lessons in impressionist painting to get inspired. Here is an example.
Activity 2: View impressionist paintings and color a matching coloring page
Ask the children if they like them, why yes or no. What do they see in the paintings? Are they happy or sad? 1. Have the children choose between these two paintings which one they would like to paint:
| Monet | Painting | coloring page |
| Renoir | Painting | coloring page |
Provide the children with watercolors, diluted tempera or fingerpaints in shades that are similar to the ones in the paintings.These can be mixed in paper plates or clean recycled Styrofoam trays. The youngest chidlren can use their finger, provide brushes with different sizes and older children may work with Q-tips as well. Join the children in the painting project, it is fun! Impressionist painters captured the moment in their canvases outdoors -- try it if you can. Go outdoors to do the paintings!
Optional Activity 3: Free-Style Impressionist Painting
Together with the children get some paper, watercolors and brushes and have fun doing an impressionist painting. Decide perhaps on a theme, scene or season to portray. Go outdoors if weather permits and paint just like the Impressionists did!
The children can experiment also painting with things from nature: a twig, leaves, a pinecone, a few pine needles tied together, cotton balls or Q-tips.
