2nd Grade: Matisse Flower Vases

The Matisse Exhibit is underway at the Art Institute of Chicago right now so I thought it would be a great time to show his work to my second graders and give them a chance to use pattern.  It also happens to be close to Mother's Day, and I think moms would love to have these flowers for their day!  We start by looking at Matisse's The Purple Robe.  I have students point out the different patterns they see repeating in this painting- there are a TON.  Next we pick out two different color papers (9x12), and fill each page with a different type of pattern using markers.  They have to fill up the whole page.  Next, I show them how to create the vase- I stress that all vases will turn out different and that is good!  We fold one of the patterned papers in half like a "hot dog", then draw the letter 's' starting at the top and working down to the bottom of the "hot dog" page.  I remind students that the folded paper should be like a book (fold on the left side, opening on the right).  Once they draw their 's' then they cut it out to get their vase.  Next, they glue their "tablecloth" (the other patterned page) onto a 12x18 white paper- turned portrait style, not landscape.  Then their vase is glued on top of that close to the bottom of the page.  Next we add several dots of glue above the vase, stick on layers of pre-cut tissue paper squares, let them dry for a few minute, crinkle them up with our fingers, and finally- draw green stems from the flower to the vase with a green marker. Voila! Beautiful flower vases!

(my demo, unfinished)

(finished demo)