This week we are going to focus on non-objective art with geometric shapes! This activity is geared toward kindergarten through second grade.

Shapes are flat, two-dimensional, enclosed (has no gaps) objects. Common shapes are squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, and triangles. These shapes, along with others, are part of a group called geometric shapes.

Geometric shapes are related to math (geometry) and usually are symmetrical (equal on both sides) or irregularly shaped.

Today, you will make an abstract, non-objective artwork full of geometric shapes. Your final artwork will be called Non-Objective because it will have no objects (or things) from our real-world. Real-world objects include houses, plants, machines, people, places, and animals.

Materials

-Paper (colored or white)

-Pencil/eraser

-Color drawing media (crayons, colored pencils, chalk, or markers)

-(Optional) Geometrically shaped items to trace: like lids, toys, or other items in the home. And/or a straight edge/ruler to help you draw shapes.

Steps

Kindergartners and first graders

First, if you are a kindergartner or first grader let’s watch Choo-Choo!

On YouTube, watch “Learn 2D shapes with Choo-Choo Train part 1. Shapes for kids (kindergarten and students of grade 1)” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uIjdI0qbi8.

Then watch “Shapes for kids (preschoolers and grade 1). Learn about 2D Shapes with Choo-Choo Train – part 2” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qny6CPtJvpo.

Second graders and older

If you are in second grade or older we will learn about Geometric Shapes by watching the Video “The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns – Children’s Book Read Aloud | Storytime with Elena” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xm3McQ6upw.

Diagram 1

After watching the video, we will start out drawing geometric shapes with your pencil. If you found things in your home to trace or a straight edge/ruler, use those to help you. If not, try drawing them by hand.

To help you remember the shapes you learned from the video(s), look at Diagram 1.

Diagram 2

Try to make some of the shapes go over the edges of other ones or inside, Overlapping them. Also, try to spread out the shapes across the page!

To start with color, follow your pencil lines by tracing them — making your pencil drawing disappear!

Now, decide if you are filling in the shapes with color, patterns or lines (maybe all three). Every time you start to color (or add lines/patterns) to a new shape or section of a shape, change the color (lines/patterns). It will make your design fun and festive!

Diagrams 3 and 4

I have two versions of my non-objective art:

-colored using crayons (Diagram 3)

-line patterns using chalk on black paper (Diagram 4)