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Laminated images of Monet's paintings, Artifacts from CT pond life, A live animal for the Lutz Museum's Animal Room, Watercolor paper, Paint brushes, Water containers to share, Watercolor paint (oil pastels for AF programs)

A near by sink to fill water dishes and to empty watercolor dishes.A space on the floor to make a circle with the class, so we can pass pond life artifacts.A clean desk space for each student, so that we can paint.

Students will start in a circle on the floor if room allows. Students will move to their desks or tables to create a watercolor painting. Students will walk around the room to look at artwork at the end of class.

I CAN visualize how weather, seasons, time of day, and mood can change how a place looks. I CAN understand how weather, seasons, time of day, and mood artist"s interpretation of a place. I CAN name many unseen organisms and animals that make up a ponds ecosystem. I CAN explain how these organisms make up the food chain. I CAN describe how some organisms are best suited for pond life while others are not. I CAN say 'hello, my name is... and how are you' in Claude Monet's native language of French. I CAN describe how the five senses were important to impressionist paintings. I CAN interpret the mood of a work of art. I CAN share materials respectfully. I Can count/multiply while painting. I CAN appreciate that a painting is make of hundreds of brush strokes. I CAN see how season, time of day and amount of sunlight differs in Monet's paintings. I CAN keep my paintbrush in good condition. I CAN appreciate the similarities and differences in my painting and those of my classmates. I CAN recognize the difference between an impressionist painting and a photo or realistic painting. I CAN identify the belly and toe of a paintbrush. I CAN gently and properly take care of a paintbrush. I CAN identify the proper amount of paint needed for a watercolor painting. I CAN perseverance. I CAN tell you about Claude Monet, a man from a different culture and different time who made art.

Immerse yourself into the world of Claude Monet"s Impressionist Ponds as we investigate both the science and art history of Monet"s colorful ponds. Students will create their own beautiful impressionist watercolor painting, hold artifacts from a local Connecticut pond ecosystem, and meet a live animal!
1st Half: Discuss all the plants and animals that make up the eco-system of local pond life. Touch pond artifacts from the Lutz Children"s museum including topics of metamorphosis, food chain, soil, and plant adaptations. Look at 20 different Monet pond paintings. Listen to a speaker and participate in group discussion about past person Monet from France. Notice how the paintings are made up of hundreds of tiny yet visible dancing brush strokes. Notice how the paintings look like paintings not like realism or photographs. Notice variations in color and brush strokes in the paintings of the same pond. Discuss how weather, seasons, time of day, light, shadows, reflections, vision impairments and mood could have caused the pond to look different in each painting. Meet a live animal from the Lutz Museum.
2nd Half: With watercolor paper, paint brushes, and water, learn to paint with both the toe and belly of the brush. Learn to be gentle to the bristles to maintain long lasting tools. Practice the proper way to dip a brush into the water container and wipe excess water off the brush. Practice making tiny small brush strokes or dots on paper. Paint with one color at a time via instruction. We will count in various age appropriate ways as they make a painting consisting of over 500 marks. Students will look at each other"s paintings and discuss how each painting and interpretation is different despite the same instructions, colors, and tools.

One teacher or caregiver could help students.