Monet's Magical Garden

Overview

This immersive 150-minute visual arts lesson introduces Year 1 students to the iconic works of Claude Monet, with a particular focus on his Water Lilies series. Students will explore the themes of nature, light, and impressionism, and will engage in a multi-modal, hands-on art-making experience using mixed media techniques inspired by Monet's painting style.

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Australian Curriculum Links

Learning Area: The Arts – Visual Arts
Year Level: Year 1
Curriculum Code: ACAVAM107
Strand: Making and Responding
Content Description:

• Use and experiment with different materials, techniques, technologies and processes to make artworks
• Respond to visual artworks and consider where and why people make visual artworks

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Learning Intentions

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Know who Claude Monet is and why he is famous
• Understand the elements of impressionist art, particularly light, movement, and colour
• Explore and respond to Monet's Water Lilies
• Create a mixed-media artwork inspired by Monet’s painting techniques
• Use visual elements such as line, colour, and texture in their own artwork

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Success Criteria

Students will: ✅ Describe Monet’s style using three new art-related words
✅ Use a variety of materials to construct a layered water lily artwork
✅ Share their artistic choices with confidence in a reflective group circle
✅ Demonstrate collaborative studio behaviour and respect for classmates’ artworks

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Timeframe: 150 Minutes (Including Break)

Time	Activity
0:00–0:15	Welcome & Sensory Entry (Monet Garden Walk-In)
0:15–0:35	Who Was Monet? (Interactive Storytelling + Images)
0:35–0:50	ART CHAT – Looking Closely at Water Lilies
0:50–1:10	Technique Exploration: Dabbing, Blending & Layering
1:10–1:15	Transition to Break
1:15–1:35	RECESS BREAK
1:35–2:30	Collage Creation: Monet-Inspired Water Lily Pond
2:30–2:45	Monet’s Gallery Walk (Student Art Exhibition Reflection)
2:45–3:00	Circle Share & Emotional Colour Check-Out

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Resources & Materials

For the Teacher:

• Laminated image cards of Monet’s Water Lilies
• Interactive storytelling mat and props (mini hat, faux lily pads)
• Portable speaker (play classical music e.g. Debussy or nature sounds)

For Each Student:

• 1 x A3 blue or navy cardboard (pond background)
• Pre-cut green water lily shapes (variety of sizes)
• Tissue paper in purples, pinks, whites (flower cut-outs)
• Cotton buds, sponges, plastic palettes
• Non-toxic acrylic or tempera paint: pastel blues, whites, lilacs, greens
• Glue sticks, child-safe scissors
• Smocks/old shirts for art clothes

Set-Up:

• Art stations with rotated resources
• “Inspiration Wall” with labelled Monet art images
• Monet hat and pond mat reading space

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Detailed Lesson Sequence

🔹 0:00–0:15 | Welcome & Sensory Entry

As students enter, shift the classroom atmosphere:

• Dim lights
• Nature soundscape playing (birds chirping, water flowing)
• Green fabric and faux lily pads lead to a circle area

Warm-Up Activity:
Invite students to sit in the "pond circle" and imagine they’re stepping into a magical garden in France. Ask sensory questions:

• What do you hear?
• What colours do you see?
• If you picked a flower from the pond, how would it feel?

This sets the emotional and creative tone for the day.

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🔹 0:15–0:35 | Who Was Monet? (Interactive Story)

Teacher reads a child-friendly narrative: “Monet and the Magic Garden”, incorporating props (Monet’s straw hat, toy paintbrush). Use Australian-centric language to explain the French setting, connecting with local examples (e.g., “Imagine painting in the Botanic Gardens in Melbourne or the lily ponds in Perth!”).

Visuals:

• Show images of Claude Monet & his garden
• Introduce vocabulary: Impressionism, brushstrokes, light, blend, texture

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🔹 0:35–0:50 | ART CHAT – Looking Closer at Water Lilies

Using large visuals or projected images:

• Analyse the colours used: “Lots of greens – why do you think that is?”
• Zoom in: “Look at the brushstrokes. Do they look real or dreamy?”
• Brainstorm what feelings the painting gives them

Think-Pair-Share:
In pairs, students guess what time of day Monet painted the piece and share why (linking to Australian Curriculum’s “consider where and why people make artworks”).

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🔹 0:50–1:10 | Technique Exploration: Monet’s Brushwork

At art tables, demonstrate:

• Dabbing with sponges (to mimic Monet clouds and leaves)
• Layering with cotton buds and tissue (to build up water lily textures)
• Blending paints to soften edges like in Monet’s style

Students rotate through mini stations to freely explore each technique.

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🔹 1:15–1:35 | RECESS BREAK

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🔹 1:35–2:30 | Let’s Create! – Monet-Inspired Water Lily Pond

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Background: Paint rippling pond base using sponge dabbing and blending methods
2. Lily Pads: Glue pre-cut lily pads in layers (some folded, overlapping)
3. Flowers: Scrunch or swirl tissue paper flowers on top of lilies
4. Add details – dragonflies? Frogs? Students encouraged to individualise

Early Finishers:
Use texture stamps to decorate the border or sketch frogs to include in the pond.

Teacher roams and captures mini "artist statements" on voice recorder or sticky notes.

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🔹 2:30–2:45 | “Monet’s Gallery Walk”

• Clear tables, artworks displayed across room
• Students walk quietly in a gallery-style loop
• Teacher plays calming music
• Peer comments encouraged: “I love how you used swirly colours!”
• Use 'Two Stars and a Wish' commenting method

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🔹 2:45–3:00 | Circle Share & Colour Check-Out

Gather students in the pond circle.

Reflection Prompt Menu:
💬 “Something I LOVED painting was…”
💬 “One new word I learnt today was…”
💬 “If I were in Monet’s pond, I would...”

Colour Check-Out: Students choose a pastel paint swatch that matches their mood and explain their choice.

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Assessment Strategies

Criteria	Assessment Method
Visual expression of Monet's style	Anecdotal notes during art-making
Use of texture, colour and layers	Analysis of final product
Verbal responses in circle sessions	Teacher observations
Use of vocabulary (e.g., ‘impressionist’, ‘blend’, ‘layers’)	During ART CHAT or exit reflection
Collaboration & behaviour	Studio rules checklist completion

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Differentiation & Inclusive Practice

• Fine motor support: Pre-cutting materials, using chunky brushes
• Extension: Include deeper textural elements (raffia, foil reflection) or allow exploration with digital brushes on a tablet
• ESL Support: Provide visual cards with vocabulary and action pictures
• Sensory support: Offer noise-cancelling headphones and quiet breakout nook

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Follow-Up Ideas

• Visit to local pond or botanical gardens for sketching
• Monet-inspired digital art using paint apps
• Create a collaborative Monet mural across the term
• Link to science: Discuss lily pad habitats and ecosystems

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Final Note for Teachers

This lesson is designed not only to meet Australian Curriculum standards but also to immerse students in a sensory and expressive journey. Young learners thrive on storytelling, touch-and-feel exploration, and the freedom to interpret. Let this become a memorable adventure into the magical world of Monet – right from your classroom!

🎨 Impressionism is more than a painting style – it’s how we notice the world around us. Let your students notice, create, and fall in love with Monet’s magical vision.