Daycare Lesson Plans on Henri Matisse

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Here are fun and engaging daycare lesson plans on Henri Matisse, tailored for young children (ages 2-4). Matisse is known for his bold colors and cut-out collage art, making his style perfect for little hands. And studying fine art is a great way to find unique lesson plans for your home daycare.

Young artists will dive into the colorful world of Henri Matisse, a famous French artist. Matisse created beautiful paper cut-outs, turning simple sheets of paper into masterpieces filled with organic shapes, geometric shapes, and negative space.

In this Matisse art lesson, we’ll explore his use of vibrant colors and learn how he worked with different colors to create eye-catching designs.

Our art activities will introduce children to modern art while encouraging creativity, fine motor skills, and independent work. With a glue stick in hand, they will turn simple pieces of paper into a work of art, just as Matisse did!

Let’s get ready to cut, glue, and create like Matisse!

If you want a printable copy of this lesson plan including a schedule and the Oklahoma ELGs for your 5 star requirements, check out the listing for Lesson Plans on Henri Matisse on Etsy.

Introduce Matisse

I love to introduce every new subject with a book that we read over and over again throughout the time we study it. We loved this book about Henri Matisse showing how he cut paper to make collage and all kinds of other art.

• Activity: Read “Henri’s Scissors“ by Jeanette Winter.

Meet Henri Matisse

• Activity: Show pictures of Matisse and his artwork. Discuss colors and shapes. Talk about how he used dots to paint and torn paper to make collage.

Color & Emotion

• Activity: Show Matisse’s colorful paintings and ask how each color makes them feel. Let kids create a colorful scribble drawing with crayons, then cut and paste pieces onto a new sheet. Play soft vs. energetic music and let kids color based on how the music makes them feel.

Big & Small Shapes

• Activity: Look at The Snail and talk about big and small shapes. Have kids cut or tear big and small paper shapes, then glue them into a collage.

Painting with Scissors

• Activity: Show Matisse’s The Parakeet and the Mermaid and discuss how he “painted with scissors.” Let kids practice cutting freeform shapes and assembling them into an ocean or garden scene. Play a “shape dance” where kids move like different cut-out shapes.

Slot Sculpture

• Activity: Give the kids two pieces of paper and let them paint on them. Lay one on top of the other and cut them into a vase shape. Then cut a vertical line down the top of one and the bottom of the other so you can slide them together and they stand up. Display the vases for parents to see at pick up time.

Matisse Inspired Murals

• Activity: Create a large collaborative mural inspired by Matisse’s The Dance. Each child adds one shape to the mural. Move in a circle and pretend to be Matisse’s dancing figures.

Storytelling with Shapes

• Activity: Look at Icarus and discuss how it tells a story. Let kids arrange paper shapes into their own “story,” like a person, house, or animal. Encourage kids to explain their artwork in their own words. Write down what they say.

Nature-Inspired Art

• Activity: Look at The Sheaf (leaf cut-outs) and talk about nature in art. Have kids collect leaves outside, then cut and glue their own paper leaves onto a collage. Try leaf rubbings with crayons and paper.

Matisse’s Window Views

• Activity: Look at Matisse’s window paintings and discuss what they see outside their windows. Have kids create a “window collage” using paper shapes for trees, the sun, and houses.

Abstract Faces & Figures

• Activity: Look at Matisse’s abstract portraits. Let kids arrange cut-out paper shapes to make silly faces or figures. Use mirrors and discuss different facial expressions.

This plan introduces kids to shapes, colors, storytelling, movement, and collaboration while making art fun.

For more ideas for enrichment activities for daycare, check these out:

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