3rd Grade: Matisse

this is a collage lesson based on Henri Matisse. we talk about organic and geometric shapes and positive and negative space. this lesson brings in math in that we use fractions and measuring to place our shapes on the paper.

the students get one 8"x 8" piece of paper and three 4"x 4" squares of colored paper. they cut organic shapes out of the colored squares and use those and the negative pieces left behind to organize a composition. then we simply glue them down!

here are some student examples, 3rd grade.

can you guess which are by boys and which are by girls?