Colourful Cutouts Creation

Overview

This 60-minute art session introduces Year 2 students (ages 6-7) to Henri Matisse's famous cutouts, focusing on the concept of complementary colours. Through hands-on collage work inspired by Matisse's style, children will explore bold shapes and vibrant colour contrasts, aligning with the UK National Curriculum for Art and Design (Key Stage 1).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand what complementary colours are and identify pairs on the colour wheel (e.g., red & green, blue & orange, yellow & purple).
• Recognise the work of Henri Matisse and his use of cutouts as an art form.
• Experiment with cutting and arranging coloured paper to create their own balanced, vibrant composition.
• Demonstrate basic skills in colour matching, cutting shapes safely, and glue application.
• Express personal creativity while applying knowledge of complementary colours.

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Curriculum Links

Art and Design – National Curriculum (England) below outlines key focus:

• Key Stage 1: Pupils should be taught to:
  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities and making links to their own work.

Skills covered:

• Exploring materials and techniques
• Understanding colour theory (complementary colours)
• Developing fine motor skills through cutting and pasting

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Resources Needed

• Pre-cut coloured paper in vibrant shades (red, green, blue, orange, yellow, purple)
• Safe scissors sized for Year 2 use
• Glue sticks
• Plain white A4 card as base
• Colour wheel poster or laminated printout for demonstration
• Images and prints of Matisse’s cutouts (e.g., “The Snail”, “Blue Nude II”)
• Pencils for sketching shapes (optional)
• Tables arranged in pairs/groups for collaborative work

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather students in a circle or seated view to show images of Matisse’s cutouts.
• Brief history: Explain Henri Matisse was a French artist who created artwork using cut coloured paper because he couldn’t paint much later in life.
• Demonstrate complementary colours with a large, easy-to-see colour wheel. Engage students by asking them to spot pairs and give everyday examples (e.g., strawberries and grass).
• Use questions like: “What colours do you think look good next to each other?” to promote discussion.

2. Mini-Experiment: Colour Matching Game (5 minutes)

• Distribute small coloured squares to each child.
• Children find their complementary colour partner by walking around and matching their paper.
• Reinforces recognition of complementary colours through movement and social interaction.

3. Main Activity - Matisse Style Cutouts (35 minutes)

• Explain the task: Create a collage on A4 card using pre-cut coloured shapes inspired by Matisse’s style and using complementary colours.
• Pupils will:
  • Choose two complementary colours.
  • Cut or arrange shapes such as simple organic forms (leaves, figures, abstract shapes) or geometric shapes.
  • Glue shapes creatively, overlapping or spacing as they prefer for balance and visual interest.
• Circulate and support children with colour choice, cutting techniques, and gluing.
• Encourage students to think about how colours “pop” when paired correctly.

4. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Invite pairs or groups of students to share their artworks with the class, explaining which complementary colours they used and why.
• Highlight imaginative uses and successful colour combinations.
• Reinforce learning by revisiting how Matisse used colour to make art vibrant and expressive.

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Assessment

• Monitor children's ability to identify and use complementary colours correctly during activity.
• Observe skill development in scissor use and glue application.
• Evaluate creativity in composition and engagement during discussion.

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Differentiation

Need	Support	Challenge
Fine motor skill difficulties	Provide pre-cut shapes for arrangement	Challenge to cut own organic shapes independently
Colour theory understanding	Pair with a peer or use additional visual aids	Encourage mixing secondary complementary pairs
Greater artistic confidence	Encourage independent design choices	Prompt students to create multiple compositions

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Extension Ideas

• For homework or further study, ask students to create a larger collaborative mural using complementary colour cutouts.
• Introduce painting with complementary colour contrasts inspired by Matisse’s later painted works.
• Use digital art tools on tablets to mimic cutouts and experiment with layering and colour.

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Notes for Teachers

• Ensure safety guidelines for scissors and glue use are adhered to.
• Remind children that there are no “wrong” ways to create – encourage freedom and joy in art.
• This lesson can be linked to literacy by writing a few sentences about their artwork or Matisse.
• Keep materials and working spaces organised to maximise art-making time.

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By embracing Henri Matisse’s playful exploration of colour and form, this session offers Year 2 a memorable, interactive experience that links art history, theory, and hands-on creativity in a lively, age-appropriate way.