Teaching Mosaic Making to Kids: A Substitute Art Lesson Plan

Teaching Mosaic Making to Kids: A Substitute Art Lesson Plan
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It is essential for substitute art lesson plans to be fun, flexible, and easy to teach and do! They must also be applicable to a wide variety of themes and subjects, as well as a big range of grade levels. In this way, you can easily pull one out in case of sudden substitutions.

Creating mosaics is an interesting way for students to employ their creative juices and artistic skills. Here is a great art lesson plan you can follow:

Objectives

At the end of the session, your students must be able to:

  1. Know what a mosaic is.
  2. Create a picture mosaic with the use of different materials.
  3. Realize the value of small things put together to create a larger, more beautiful output.

Materials

You will need the following:

  • Samples of picture mosaics
  • Jigsaw puzzles
  • Numbered coloring puzzles
  • Illustration board
  • Construction papers
  • Art papers
  • Old magazines
  • Small beads, sequins, buttons, seeds, and beans in different kinds and colors
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Scissors
  • Glue

Motivation

Divide the students into four groups. Give different jigsaw puzzles for the two groups, and numbered coloring puzzles for the other two groups. The first two groups need to connect the jigsaw puzzle pieces in order to see the picture formed. On the other hand, the other two groups must follow a color code to color each numbered part to have the actual picture come out clearly. Give a time limit. Afterwards, ask each group to share the experience and to show the picture that was the outcome of the puzzle. Ask them what they learned from the activity. Then emphasize the value of putting together small things or working together to form something bigger and greater.

Discussion

What is a mosaic? Tell the students that the puzzles they accomplished during the prior activity are just like mosaics, in which small parts form a montage to create a bigger picture. Show examples of different mosaics.

Different Samples: Tile Mosaic, Picture Mosaic, Art Paper Mosaic, Scrap Paper Mosaic, Seed Mosaic

Image from https://scienceblogs.com

Image from https://www.kids-crafts-creations.com

Image from https://craftstew.com

Image from https://www.firstpalette.com

Evaluation

Substitute art lesson plans for elementary students should focus more on the art work rather than the discussion. Not only is this enjoyable for kids, but it also addresses their need to develop the basic skills necessary for more advanced creative endeavors. For the younger ones, this is also a way for them to hone their fine motor skills. Thus it is important that you allot a huge amount of time just for the generation of the art work.

For younger students, you may have them first draw a large object in the center of their construction paper (or plain white paper that is a bit thick). This could be a truck, a fruit, a house, or a table. It really depends on the theme or lesson you want to integrate it with. Ask them to cut small pieces of art paper which they can glue on different parts of their paper. A more challenging way of doing this is to have the kids cut out tiny pieces from old magazines and use these to fill up the picture and the background. If there is enough time, remind the children to fill up the entire paper with color! Just remember to guide them in producing a clear contrast between the picture and its background, or among the different parts of the picture.

You may give older students an option to create a mosaic with different-colored beads, sequins, seeds, buttons, and beans. Have them make an outline of their picture first, before filling it in. And again, the important reminder is to have that contrast. Or else, their pictures may merely blend into the background and will not be recognizable.

Now you are ready to be a substitute art teacher! Substitute art lesson plans such as this one are your secret weapons in the classroom. So do not go charging into that class unarmed with the best art lessons and activities! Good luck and enjoy!