Daycare Lesson Plans on Louise Bourgeois

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Welcome to a fun daycare lesson plan that will enrich your kids and expose them to fine arts. These Daycare Lesson Plans on Louise Bourgeois are fun and super interesting.

Louise Bourgeois was an inspiring artist known for her imaginative sculptures and unique storytelling through art. In this lesson plan, we will introduce the children to her fascinating works and explore their creativity through hands-on activities.

Louise Bourgeois’ art, characterized by its whimsical yet meaningful style, will help the children discover the joy of self-expression and the power of imagination. Teaching enriching lessons is an important part of running a home daycare.

Fine art study for preschool

Studying fine arts in preschool offers numerous benefits that support the holistic development of young children. Here are some compelling reasons to include fine arts in early childhood education:

1. Enhances Creativity and Imagination
   • Engaging in art activities allows children to explore their creativity and imagination. It provides an outlet for expressing thoughts and ideas that might be difficult to communicate with words.
2. Develops Fine Motor Skills
   • Activities such as drawing, painting, cutting, and sculpting help develop fine motor skills. These actions enhance hand-eye coordination and dexterity, which are crucial for tasks like writing.
3. Encourages Cognitive Development
   • Art education supports cognitive development by encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking. Children learn to make decisions about colors, shapes, and compositions, which strengthens their analytical skills.
4. Builds Emotional Awareness and Expression
   • Art provides a safe space for children to express their emotions. Through their creations, children can explore and convey feelings they might not fully understand yet, promoting emotional intelligence.
5. Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem
   • Completing art projects gives children a sense of accomplishment. Displaying their work and receiving positive feedback builds confidence and self-esteem.
6. Promotes Cultural Awareness
   • Introducing children to various artists and art forms from different cultures broadens their understanding of the world. It fosters appreciation and respect for diversity and cultural heritage.
7. Encourages Social Skills and Collaboration
   • Group art projects and activities encourage teamwork and communication. Children learn to share materials, take turns, and appreciate each other’s contributions, which enhances their social skills.
8. Supports Language Development
   • Discussing their art projects and the work of famous artists helps children develop their vocabulary and language skills. They learn to describe their thoughts, ask questions, and tell stories through art.
9. Stimulates Sensory Experiences
   • Art activities engage multiple senses, from the tactile experience of molding clay to the visual delight of mixing colors. These sensory experiences are vital for young children’s development.
10. Provides a Fun and Enjoyable Learning Experience
    • Most importantly, art is fun! It keeps children engaged and excited about learning, which fosters a positive attitude towards education.

Fun facts about Louise Bourgeois for kids

1. Her Nickname was “Spiderwoman”
   • Louise Bourgeois is famous for her giant spider sculptures. She saw spiders as protectors, inspired by her own mother who was a weaver. This large-scale sculpture is one of her most famous works of art. She made many pieces of installation art and experience art in this fashion. 
2. She Was Born in France
   • Louise was born in Paris, France, on December 25, 1911. She moved to the United States in 1938. She is one of the most famous women artists.
3. Art Inspired by Emotions
   • Louise used her art to express her feelings. She believed art was a way to understand and deal with emotions.
4. Loved to Sculpt
   • While Louise made drawings and paintings, she is best known for her sculptures. Her works were made from various materials, like wood, marble, and bronze.
5. She Was a Teacher
   • Louise taught art to many students. She loved sharing her knowledge and inspiring others to create.
6. Her Art Explored Family and Childhood
   • Many of Louise’s artworks were inspired by her family and her experiences growing up. She often reflected on her relationships with her parents and siblings.
7. She Worked Well into Her 90s
   • Louise continued creating art until she was very old. She stayed active and passionate about her work her entire life.
8. First Female Retrospective at MoMA
   • In 1982, Louise Bourgeois became the first woman to have a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. (She also displayed art at the Brooklyn Museum, Hayward Gallery, Guggenheim Museums, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, in her own gallery, and in private collections among other places)
9. Loved to Experiment
   • Louise wasn’t afraid to try new things. She experimented with different styles and materials throughout her career.
10. Art as Therapy
    • Louise believed that making art could help people understand their feelings and experiences. She saw art as a form of therapy.
11. Created Over 1,000 Works
    • During her lifetime, Louise created more than 1,000 pieces of art, including sculptures, drawings, and paintings.
12. Famous Spiders
    • Her most famous spider sculpture, “Maman,” is over 30 feet tall! It’s displayed in many cities around the world.

These facts about Louise Bourgeois can inspire kids to learn more about art and encourage them to express themselves creatively, just like she did.

How to make an art gallery for daycare

Creating an art gallery for daycare is a fantastic way to showcase the children’s creativity and build their confidence. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up an engaging and fun art gallery:

1. Choose a Theme
   • Decide on a theme for the art gallery, such as “Nature,” “Animals,” “Colors,” or “Seasons.” This can help guide the children’s artwork and create a cohesive exhibition.
2. Gather Artwork
   • Collect artwork from all the children. Ensure you have a variety of pieces, such as drawings, paintings, collages, and sculptures.
3. Prepare the Display Area
   • Select a space in the daycare to set up the gallery. This could be a hallway, a classroom wall, or a dedicated room. Ensure the area is clean and safe for the children.
4. Create Labels
   • Make labels for each piece of artwork. Include the child’s name, age, and the title of their artwork. This adds a personal touch and helps visitors understand the context.
5. Mount the Artwork
   • Use child-friendly methods to mount the artwork on the walls. For 2D pieces, you can use poster putty or double-sided tape. For 3D pieces, consider setting up tables or shelves to display sculptures and other three-dimensional creations.
6. Decorate the Gallery Space
   • Add decorations to make the space inviting and exciting. You can use streamers, balloons, or themed decorations related to the artwork.
7. Create a Gallery Sign
   • Make a sign for the entrance of the gallery. It could read something like “Welcome to Our Art Gallery” or “Daycare Art Exhibition.” Get the children involved in decorating the sign.
8. Plan an Opening Event
   • Host an opening event where parents, guardians, and other visitors can come and view the artwork. This can be a simple gathering with refreshments like juice and snacks. Consider having a ribbon-cutting ceremony to make it extra special. When we did our art exhibit, we served fancy juice (sparkling grape juice) and charcuterie snacks.
9. Interactive Elements
   • Include interactive elements like a guestbook where visitors can leave comments and compliments for the young artists. This feedback can be very encouraging for the children.
10. Engage the Children
    • Encourage the children to give mini-tours of their artwork, explaining what they made and why. This can boost their confidence and public speaking skills.
11. Take Photos
    • Capture the event by taking photos of the gallery and the children with their artwork. These photos can be shared with parents and used in daycare newsletters or websites.

Lesson Plans on Louise Bourgeois

These lesson plans are designed to introduce preschoolers to the art and life of Louise Bourgeois. Through engaging activities and discussions, children will explore her work and subject matter, study the work of artists and get an art lesson out of it, learn about her inspirations, and create their own art inspired by her sculptures.

When I plan a study of anything, I love to start with a book. It’s the anchor for all of the ideas I come up with. For our Louise Bourgeois study, I used the book: “Louise Bourgeois Made Giants Spiders and Wasn’t Sorry” by Fausto Gilberti

For a printable lesson plan with a supply list and schedule that includes the Oklahoma ELGs, click here.

Introduction to Louise Bourgeois

• Read a child-friendly story or biography about Louise Bourgeois. Highlight key points about her life, such as her love for art, her famous spider sculptures, and her belief in expressing emotions through art.
• Show examples of the work of Louise Bourgeois in abstract sculptures and pieces and explain that abstract expressionist art doesn’t have to look like something real—it can be shapes and colors that express feelings.

Create Your Own Spider Sculpture

• Demonstrate how to make a simple spider sculpture using clay/playdough for the body and pipe cleaners for the legs. Encourage the children to create their own spiders, adding unique features and decorations. Also, invite the children to sculpt whatever they wish. It doesn’t have to be a spider. You could also incorporate Little Miss Muffet or Itsy Bitsy Spider into this lesson plan.

Drawing Circles

• Give kids markers and paper and show them Louise’s circle art.
• Encourage them to draw circles all over their paper. Encourage them to think about how it makes them feel and talk about it.

Drawing Leaves

• Louise liked to make art about nature. Collect a bag of leaves on a walk.
• Give the kids some white paper and have them place a piece over a leaf and trace around the leaf.
• They can hold up the paper and see if they are satisfied with how the leaf looks and continue on until they are.

Emotion Sculptures

• Encourage children to create a sculpture that represents a feeling (e.g., happiness, sadness, excitement). They can use clay/playdough to shape their emotions and decorate with colored paper and markers. Or they can use found objects such as bottle caps and boxes to glue together and create art.
• Talk to them more about abstract expressionism and how art makes them feel. Let them know that an artist’s work is for the artist first.

Watercolor Painting Images

• Give the kids paint and paper. I like to use liquid watercolors for this project.
• Encourage kids to create an image of a person and tell about how that person is feeling.

M is for Mother

• Many of her art pieces were representative of her Mother, especially the famed Maman spider sculpture. Trace a large M on a piece of paper.
• Allow children to glue buttons, ribbons, pasta, beads, or whatever you have available onto the M to represent their moms as they see them.

Fabric Art Woven Child

• Give the kids scraps of fabric in small pieces, glue, and paper.
• Encourage them to create something by gluing the fabric onto the paper.
• This piece could be representative of clothing or a blanket or it could be a 3D sculpture if that’s what they prefer.
• Encourage them to use their imaginations to create with fabric like Louise Bourgeois did.

Building an Art Gallery

• Help the children create labels for their artwork, including their name and the title of the piece. Set up a display area in the classroom or hallway, arranging the artwork thoughtfully.
• Invite parents, or staff to visit the gallery. Children can act as tour guides, explaining their artwork and the inspiration behind it.

By following these lesson plans, preschoolers will not only learn about Louise Bourgeois and her unique artistic style but also gain valuable skills in creativity, self-expression, and confidence.

For more unique enrichment lesson plans for daycare, check these out:

• Daycare Lesson Plans on Shakespeare
• Daycare Lesson Plans on Picasso
• Daycare Lesson Plans on “The Secret Garden”
• Daycare Lesson Plans on Wuthering Heights
• Daycare Lesson Plans on Frida Kahlo
• Kids Nature Activities and Bug Facts

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!