Introduction to Matisse

Year Levels

Year 3–9 (Adapted in complexity for different year levels)

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

10 students

Learning Area

The Arts — Visual Arts Following the NSW Visual Arts Syllabus and Achievement Standards for Years 3–9

Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Links

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Explain who Henri Matisse was and outline key aspects of his life and artistic journey.
Identify and describe Matisse's use of bold colours and innovative artistic techniques, particularly his exploration of abstract and simplified forms.
Elicit and connect prior knowledge about abstract art and colour in artworks.
Respond to a selection of Matisse’s artworks through observation and discussion, highlighting his creative style and distinctive features.

Relevant NSW Curriculum Content Descriptions and Achievement Standards:

Years 3-4 Visual Arts: Students explore visual arts practices and understand how artists use colour, form, and materials to communicate ideas and emotions. They create artworks using colour and shape to express ideas and experiences.
Years 5-6 Visual Arts: Students investigate and experiment with visual conventions and materials to express ideas. They analyse the use of colour and form in artworks from different contexts and cultures.
Years 7-8 Visual Arts: Students analyse how artists manipulate visual conventions and materials. They generate and develop ideas inspired by artworks and cultures, selecting appropriate visual conventions to communicate meaning.
Year 9 Visual Arts: Students explore the reasons artists use specific visual elements like colour and form, including abstraction, and reflect on their own and others’ artworks in these terms.

Lesson Overview

This introductory lesson presents Henri Matisse’s life and art in an engaging format that caters for a wide age range (Years 3 to 9). The lesson focuses on understanding Matisse as a person and artist, his vibrant use of colour, and his approach to abstract and simplified forms. Students will connect these ideas to their own knowledge and experiences with art.

Resources Needed

Reproductions of Henri Matisse’s famous works (e.g., The Snail, The Red Room, Dance, Blue Nude, cut-out art examples) printed or projected
Whiteboard or chart paper and markers
Colour pencils, crayons, or paints for student activities
Art paper for sketches
Images of abstract forms and simple shapes from everyday objects or other artworks
Prepared brief biography timeline of Matisse (simplified for younger students)

Lesson Structure (60 mins)

1. Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)

Welcome and settle students.
Ask: "Have you heard of Henri Matisse?" "What do you know about colours artists use? What is abstract art?"
Record students’ responses on the board to gauge prior knowledge.
Briefly introduce Henri Matisse with simple biographical highlights appropriate to age level:
French artist, born 1869, famous for bold colours and shapes, created paintings and paper cut-outs.
Known for being innovative and very creative with colour and form.

2. Exploration of Matisse’s Artistic Style (15 minutes)

Show students a selection of Matisse’s artworks focused on:
Bright, bold colours.
Abstract/simple shapes and forms.
Guide a discussion about what they notice: colours, shapes, feelings the artworks create, unusual features.
Highlight how Matisse simplified forms to their essentials and used colour to express emotion and movement.

3. Interactive Activity: Exploring Colour and Shape (20 minutes)

Ask students to choose one Matisse artwork they liked during the viewing.
On large art paper, students create a simple artwork inspired by Matisse’s style using bold colours and abstract shapes.
Encourage experimentation with cutting shapes (paper optional), layering, or bold mark-making to reflect Matisse’s techniques.
Teachers circulate, supporting younger students with colour mixing and shape ideas, and encouraging older students to reflect on colour choice and composition.

4. Sharing and Reflecting (10 minutes)

Invite students to share their artworks with the group.
Facilitate reflection using prompts:
"What inspired your artwork?"
"How did you choose your colours and shapes?"
"How do you think Matisse’s use of colour changes the feeling in the artwork?"
Connect back to the initial discussion on abstract forms and colour use.

5. Conclusion and Wrap-up (5 minutes)

Summarise the lesson:
Henri Matisse used bold colours and simple shapes to create beautiful, expressive artworks.
Artists use colour and form to express ideas and feelings, not just to copy what they see.
Introduce that this is Lesson 1 of a series exploring Matisse's vibrant world.

Assessment and Feedback

Formative assessment through discussion: Observe students’ ability to recall facts about Matisse and describe his style.
Student artworks: Evaluate understanding of bold colour use, abstract forms, and creative application of Matisse’s techniques appropriate to age level.
Oral reflection: Check student ability to articulate why and how they used colour and shapes in their work.

Differentiation Strategies

For younger students or beginning learners: Use simpler language, focus on colour and shape identification, and guided art-making.
For older/more advanced students: Encourage deeper reflection on artistic choices, elements of design, and abstract art concepts. Offer opportunities to research deeper into Matisse’s techniques or art history context if time and interest permit.

This lesson plan aligns to the NSW Visual Arts curriculum by focusing on the exploration and appreciation of artists’ use of visual conventions (colour, form, abstraction) as a foundation for subsequent lessons in the unit "Exploring Matisse's Vibrant World".

Teaching Instructions