Daycare Lesson Plans on Frida Kahlo-Little Sprouts Learning

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Enrich the learning of your kids by studying an iconic artist in these daycare lesson plans on Frida Kahlo. Introduce young children to the world of art, culture, and self-expression. You’ll love these home daycare lesson plans for toddlers and preschoolers.

daycare lesson plans on frida kahlo, free ideas you can use today

These daycare lesson plans centered around one of our favorite famous artists, Frida Kahlo are designed to introduce young children to the world of art, culture, and self-expression through the inspiring life and works of Frida Kahlo. It would also be a great way to celebrate Hispanic heritage month in September and October.

toddlers loading oil paints into brushes to paint

Frida Kahlo Lesson Plans

Why Frida Kahlo? Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her vibrant self-portraits and works inspired by nature and Mexican culture. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and individuality, making her an excellent role model for children. Through Frida’s famous paintings, we can teach children about embracing their uniqueness, expressing their feelings, and appreciating cultural diversity. We can learn:

Art Appreciation: Introducing children to Frida Kahlo’s artwork, discussing her use of color, symbolism, and themes.
Creativity and Self-Expression: Encouraging children to create their own art inspired by Frida, exploring self-portraits and nature themes.
Cultural Awareness: Educating children about Mexican culture and traditions, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of diversity.
Emotional Development: Using Frida’s life story to talk about feelings, resilience, and the importance of self-acceptance.

Let’s inspire the next generation of little artists and dreamers! Classic art is a great way to do this. Enrichment programs for kids are so important because they teach so many concepts. When I start a daycare lesson plan, I like to start with a book. For these Daycare Lesson Plans on Frida, I used this Frida counting book. I like to use board books with simple concepts that I can spin into the lesson plans as we go.

Fine Art for Kids

Teaching fine art to toddlers offers numerous benefits that extend beyond simply learning about art. Here are several compelling reasons to introduce fine art to young children:

1. Encourages Creativity and Imagination

Creative Expression: Fine art allows toddlers to express themselves in non-verbal ways, helping them to communicate emotions, ideas, and experiences.
Imagination: Engaging with art fosters imaginative thinking, encouraging toddlers to think outside the box and explore new ideas.

2. Enhances Cognitive Development

Problem-Solving Skills: Art projects often require decision-making and problem-solving, which help to develop these critical cognitive skills.
Observation and Interpretation: Looking at and creating art encourages children to observe details, recognize patterns, and interpret visual information.

3. Boosts Emotional Development

Emotional Expression: Art provides a safe outlet for toddlers to express and manage their emotions, which is crucial for emotional development.
Self-Esteem: Successfully completing art projects boosts confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

4. Supports Fine Motor Skills

Hand-Eye Coordination: Activities like drawing, painting, and sculpting improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating art materials helps toddlers develop the fine motor skills necessary for writing and other tasks.

5. Fosters Cultural Awareness

Cultural Exposure: Introducing toddlers to art from various cultures helps them appreciate diversity and understand different cultural perspectives.
Historical Context: Learning about famous artists and art movements provides a basic understanding of history and cultural heritage.

6. Encourages Focus and Patience

Attention Span: Engaging in art projects helps toddlers develop focus and concentration, as they need to pay attention to detail and follow through on their ideas.
Patience: Creating art requires patience and persistence, teaching toddlers the value of taking their time to achieve their goals.

7. Promotes Social Skills

Collaboration: Group art activities foster teamwork and cooperation, helping toddlers learn to work together and share materials.
Communication: Discussing their art with teachers and peers enhances language skills and encourages toddlers to articulate their thoughts and feelings.

8. Stimulates Sensory Development

Multi-Sensory Experience: Art activities engage multiple senses (sight, touch, sometimes smell and sound), providing a rich sensory experience that is crucial for development.

9. Encourages Critical Thinking

Art Critique: Discussing art encourages toddlers to think critically about what they see and create, developing their analytical skills.
Interpretation: Learning to interpret visual information enhances toddlers’ ability to understand and respond to their environment.

10. Provides Joy and Enjoyment

Fun and Enjoyment: Above all, engaging in art is fun! It provides a joyful and enjoyable experience that can lead to a lifelong love of creativity and self-expression.

Frida Kahlo Art Lesson

For a printable version of this Frida Kahlo lesson plan with the Oklahoma elgs listed and a supply list, check out this Etsy listing.

Introduction to Frida Kahlo

Materials:

Picture book about Frida Kahlo
Photos of Frida Kahlo and her artwork
Large paper and crayons

Activities:

Read a picture book about Frida Kahlo’s life.
Show photos of Frida Kahlo and her famous paintings.
Discuss Frida’s life and art in simple terms. Highlight her love for painting and her unique style.
Talk about her use of bright colors and nature elements.
Encourage children to draw a picture of themselves using bright colors, inspired by Frida’s self-portraits.
Display their artwork on a classroom wall.

a child drawing her own likeness while she looks in the mirror

Exploring Self-Portraits

Materials:

Mirrors
Paper
Crayons, markers, paints

Activities:

Give each child a mirror and ask them to look at their reflection.
Discuss facial features and expressions.
Provide paper and art supplies.
Encourage children to create self-portraits, focusing on their unique features.
Create a mini-gallery with the self-portraits.
Have a short “gallery walk” where children can view each other’s art.

Create Frida

This Frida activity is a great way to introduce her.

Materials:

Print out of Frida activity on Etsy (Price 1.99)
Scissors, glue, and crayons

Activities:

Have the kids cut out the shapes in the activity (or cut them out for them if they are little)
Give them glue and encourage them to create their own version of Frida and use bright colors to color it.

Nature and Art

Materials:

Pictures of Frida’s paintings featuring nature (e.g., “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”)
Leaves, flowers, twigs
Glue, paper, paints

Activities:

Take children on a short walk to collect natural items like leaves and flowers.
Show Frida’s paintings that include nature elements.
Help children create a collage using the collected natural items.
Talk about how Frida loved nature and included it in her paintings.
Discuss the importance of nature and its beauty.

a child coloring a frida kahlo activity sheet

Mexican Art

Materials:

Paper and markers

Activities:

Encourage children to draw flowers and fruits in bright colors similar to what Frida liked to portray. Talk to them about how different styles of art are liked by different people and it’s all beautiful to someone.

Cultural Exploration

Materials:

Music from Mexico
Photos of Mexican culture (e.g., traditional clothing, festivals)
Craft materials (construction paper, scissors, glue)

Activities:

Play traditional Mexican music.
Encourage children to dance and move to the rhythm.
Show photos of traditional Mexican clothing and festivals.
Create simple paper flowers or Mexican flags.
Talk about Frida Kahlo’s Mexican heritage and how it influenced her art.
Highlight the importance of embracing and celebrating different cultures.

Emotions and Art

Materials:

Photos of Frida Kahlo’s expressive self-portraits
Art supplies (paper, crayons, markers, paints)
Emotion cards (happy, sad, angry, etc.)

Activities:

Show emotion cards and discuss different feelings.
Relate emotions to Frida’s self-portraits.
Ask children to draw or paint a picture that shows how they feel today.
Encourage them to use colors and shapes to express their emotions.
Have each child share their artwork and talk about the feelings they expressed.
Discuss the importance of expressing emotions through art.

Art Medium Exploration

Materials:

Real art materials such as actual oil paints or acrylics for grown ups
Paper or canvases
Art easels

Activities:

Give the kids meaningful interaction with art medium by giving them real art materials. We used oil paints because Frida used them almost exclusively and they feel different than any other paints. Inform parents that you are using materials that don’t wash out so they can dress kids accordingly.

Set up the easels on a covered table and place a canvas on each one.

Put oil paints out on a painter’s palette and let the kids explore and paint as they wish.

For more ideas for Daycare Lesson Plans on Frida, check these out:

Art Gallery Walk: Create a gallery space in the classroom or hallway to display the children’s self-portraits for everyone to admire. You can invite parents to an exhibit and let kids show off what they have made.
Storytime with Frida: Read more books about Frida Kahlo’s life and art.
Nature Art: Go on a nature walk to collect more items that can be used in future art projects, emphasizing the connection between nature and creativity.

For more unique lesson plan ideas, check these out:

Here are a ton more helpful printables you can get to make your business easier!

And more helpful tools for providers here. I wish I would have had access to these years ago, they are such a blessing!

Daycare Lesson Plans on Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo Lesson Plans

Fine Art for Kids