Toddlers and preschoolers should know basic scissors skills when they enter kindergarten, so it’s a good idea to practice using scissors with children. One of the best ways to teach toddlers how to cut is to just let them hack at pieces of paper. (Remember to encourage them to hold their scissors correctly and also to turn the paper rather than turn the scissors.)
This cutting with Henry Matisse collage is a great activity for kids who are just learning to use scissors, as well as children who are more experienced with scissors. Have the kids cut out shapes, glue them on cardstock or a canvas board, and voila! a Henry Matisse masterpiece!
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*Mentor Public Library did this craft with older kids. Thanks for sharing the great idea!
How to: The Artwork
Supplies:
- Large poster boards cut in quarters, canvas boards, or card stock
- Child friendly scissors
- Construction paper in dark green, light green, orange, yellow, red, black, lavender, and purple
- Glue stick or glue bottle
Directions:
First, the kids can cut the construction paper into whatever shapes they want. If they hack at the paper, that’s fine. Once they have enough shapes, they can glue the shapes onto the poster board/card stock/canvas. That’s it! Even the youngest cutters can create a museum-worthy piece of artwork.
How To: The Program
My Young Artists class allows 2-5 year olds and their caregivers to explore art in a way that engages the senses and helps them understand the world around them. Exploring famous artists and their work allows kids to see that they are capable of making beautiful, creative and thought-provoking artwork. Plus, exploring famous artists and their work provides a unique way to teach children about basic art techniques.
Like shapes, cutting, and gluing. Which brings me to Henri Matisse.
Henri Matisse is the perfect artist to introduce shapes, cutting, and gluing to toddlers and preschoolers. After all, the art he did later in life is generally made up of cut-out unique shapes. Today’s project is inspired by The Snail.
Group Art:
To kick off the class, I had the kids stick silly shapes (cut out of sparkly craft foam with the sticker back) onto black poster board. They loved the fun colors, crazy shapes, and the sticking process. I explained that they were making a collage – a bunch of different shapes put together on one paper to make a picture. They loved it.
Group Story:
Next, I had the kids sit on the storytime cushions to listen to an improvised longer picture book about Matisse’s transition to cutting as a method for creating art: Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter. While reading, I pointed out the shapes he cut, as well as his choice to use scissors to create rather than paint or a pencil. The kids were held captive and enjoyed the illustrations.
Individual Art:
When I explained their art project to them, they got excited to create. They each got a quarter of a large poster board, children’s scissors, glue, and construction paper.
The caregivers were wonderful about helping their children use the scissors. For some of the children, it was their first time cutting and a great learning experience. The highlight was gluing the shapes onto the page. The parents were also a great help with cutting out shapes when their children grew tired.
The young artists were happy, the young artists’ parents were happy and the young artists’ librarian was happy, so it was a successful morning in Young Artists! Woohoo!
For additional cutting practice, try these other Matisse-inspired art projects: