### Lesson Plan: Basic Shapes in Art
**Grade Level:** Kindergarten
**Length:** 45 minutes
**Subjects:** Visual Arts, Mathematics, Fine Motor Skills
#### **Lesson Objective:**
- Students will be able to identify and name basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle).
- Students will be able to create a picture using these shapes.
- Students will develop fine motor skills through drawing and cutting.
#### **Materials Needed:**
- Construction paper in assorted colors
- Safety scissors
- Glue sticks
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Shape templates (circle, square, triangle, rectangle)
- Chart paper and markers
- Examples of art that incorporate shapes (e.g., Kandinsky's Circle artwork)
#### **Lesson Plan:**
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Greeting and Attendance:** Greet students as they come in and take attendance.
2. **Introduction to Shapes:**
- Gather students in a circle on the rug.
- Show a chart paper with the four basic shapes drawn on it.
- Ask the students if they can name the shapes and where they might see them in real life (e.g., circle – clock, square – window).
3. **Shape Hunt:**
- Plan a mini shape hunt around the classroom where students have to find objects that match each shape shown on the chart.
**Direct Instruction (15 minutes):**
1. **Demonstrate Using Shapes in Art:**
- Show students examples of artwork that feature basic shapes.
- Explain how artists use shapes to create different pictures.
2. **Introduce the Activity:**
- Show a simple example you have created (e.g., a house made from a square and triangle, a tree from a rectangle and circle).
- Explain that they will be creating their own pictures using these shapes.
**Guided Practice (10 minutes):**
1. **Distribute Materials:**
- Hand out the construction paper, safety scissors, glue sticks, and shape templates.
- Go over safety rules for using scissors.
2. **Shape Creation:**
- Show students how to trace and cut out the shapes from the construction paper.
- Walk around and assist students as needed.
**Independent Practice (5 minutes):**
1. **Creating a Picture:**
- Allow students time to arrange their cut-out shapes on another piece of construction paper to create a picture.
- Encourage students to use a variety of shapes.
2. **Glueing the Shapes:**
- Once students are satisfied with their arrangement, help them glue the shapes down.
- Ensure they put their names on their artworks.
**Sharing and Clean Up (5 minutes):**
1. **Gallery Walk:**
- Display the students' shape pictures on a wall or table.
- Allow students to walk around and admire each other's work.
2. **Discussion:**
- Ask students to point out which shapes they used in their pictures.
- Discuss the different pictures and how everyone used the same shapes in multiple ways.
3. **Clean Up:**
- Encourage students to help clean up the workspace by putting away materials and scraps of paper.
**Closing Activity (last 5 minutes):**
1. **Reflection:**
- Sit the students back down in a circle.
- Ask a few students to share what their picture represents and which shapes they used.
2. **Wrap Up:**
- Give positive feedback and encourage them to keep looking for shapes around them.
- Explain that practicing using shapes helps with drawing and other important skills.
3. **Homework (Optional):**
- Ask students to look for shapes at home and draw a picture using those shapes to show the class during the next session.
### **Assessment:**
- Observe students during the activity to ensure they can identify and use the basic shapes.
- Review the completed artworks to see how effectively students can integrate the shapes into a cohesive picture.
- Participation and engagement during discussions and activities.
#### **Modifications/Notes:**
- For students who might struggle with cutting, provide pre-cut shapes.
- For advanced learners, encourage them to use more than one of each shape or to explore more complex compositions.
By focusing on basic shapes, this lesson helps build foundational skills in both art and math while promoting creativity and fine motor abilities.