Free Downloadable Art Lessons
at TPT Store:
Art with Mrs. Smith
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/art-with-mrs-smith
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
The Great Wave by Hokusai, Japan
Updated post from Sept, 2009
| The Great Wave off Kanagawa | |
|---|---|
| 神奈川沖浪裏, Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura | |
 Print at the Metropolitan Museum of Art | |
| Artist | Katsushika Hokusai |
| Year | 1831 |
| Type | Ukiyo-e (Woodblock print) |
| Dimensions | 24.6 cm × 36.5 cm (9.7 in × 14.4 in) |
This was one of those lessons that turned out better than I could have imagined. The kids were so excited about the subject matter. The giant wave, with the clawlike hands reaching toward the brave fishermen. Mt. Fuji in the background, with the Mt. Fuji wavelet mimicking Japan's most revered mountain. And of course the Yin/Yang symbolism and shape of the wave and the sky. (The 4th grade students doing this lesson knew all about Yin/Yang and were enthused to share with me their knowledge. Needless to say, the skateboard and surfing culture has given kids insight that I wouldn't have expected.)
Since this lesson was so well received, I decided to add it to my collection of PDF lessons available here. The lesson also includes a wonderful story about a time that Hokusai enlisted the help of "chickens" to create some art that earned him an honor among the Shogun military regime in Japan.
Big thanks to San Gabriel 4th graders for their art enthusiasm!
Big thanks to San Gabriel 4th graders for their art enthusiasm!
Update - June 4, 2025....Here are some fun "knock-offs" of The Great Wave, or as some might call it these days, "Creative Dupes (duplicates)" of The Great Wave.
https://www.artmajeur.com/art-now/en/artworks/11003218/the-big-wave
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Monday, November 29, 2021
FALL Inchies!
I think these turned out great, but they were much harder for the kids to make then I expected. I thought they could do it in an hour, WRONG!
But I still love them:)
Friday, November 13, 2015
Back in the Saddle!
I'm back in the saddle teaching "lots" of art lessons to "lots" of kids in a public school again, and it's feeling good!
One of the local elementary schools in my area was in need of a substitute art teacher for an undefined amount of time. The current art teacher had to take a leave to care for her injured son. My prayers are with her, I can only imagine the stressful situation she is living.
The school where I'm teaching is K-2nd grade, with 2 transitional kinder classes and there's a total of about 525 kids! Are there any art teachers out there in a similar situation? ALL primary grades at one school. I still walk on the campus marveling at the notion that the "Big Kids" are only 2nd graders. It makes me giggle.
Normally the smaller children are my biggest challenge, but this school has a designated art room, and it has made a huge difference. In the past I taught art in the kids' regular classrooms, I would go to them. I sure like having an art room better. If you're teaching in a state where most of the elementary schools have "Art Rooms", you may not realize how lucky you are. And for those of you who teach in a state where the elementary art teacher is on the same pay scale and benefit scale as the other classroom teachers, then you are especially lucky!! I don't know of a single elementary school in my state of California where such is the case? ------uh, oh, I may be boring you now with my soapbox banter.
What's your favorite art lesson for kindergartners? A comment from you would be much more fun that scrolling through the bazillion ideas on Pinterest ;)
The school where I'm teaching is K-2nd grade, with 2 transitional kinder classes and there's a total of about 525 kids! Are there any art teachers out there in a similar situation? ALL primary grades at one school. I still walk on the campus marveling at the notion that the "Big Kids" are only 2nd graders. It makes me giggle.
Normally the smaller children are my biggest challenge, but this school has a designated art room, and it has made a huge difference. In the past I taught art in the kids' regular classrooms, I would go to them. I sure like having an art room better. If you're teaching in a state where most of the elementary schools have "Art Rooms", you may not realize how lucky you are. And for those of you who teach in a state where the elementary art teacher is on the same pay scale and benefit scale as the other classroom teachers, then you are especially lucky!! I don't know of a single elementary school in my state of California where such is the case? ------uh, oh, I may be boring you now with my soapbox banter.
What's your favorite art lesson for kindergartners? A comment from you would be much more fun that scrolling through the bazillion ideas on Pinterest ;)
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Iditarod Art!
Does your class celebrate the Iditarod race in Alaska? The race starts in TWO days, March 7.
Many years ago I was substitute teaching in a middle school classroom and the teacher left plans for the class to do an Iditarod Unit. The kids really enjoyed it! Who doesn't love Husky's?
One of my most popular art lessons I do with kids is painting a Siberian Husky.....I love the way that each dog ends up with its own personality when the kids finish their paintings!
If you'd like to do this project with your students, I have a Step-by-Step drawing and painting lesson in my store. Here's a PDF version and a Power Point version. Each are just $2.99.
Hope your students love it!
Many years ago I was substitute teaching in a middle school classroom and the teacher left plans for the class to do an Iditarod Unit. The kids really enjoyed it! Who doesn't love Husky's?
One of my most popular art lessons I do with kids is painting a Siberian Husky.....I love the way that each dog ends up with its own personality when the kids finish their paintings!
If you'd like to do this project with your students, I have a Step-by-Step drawing and painting lesson in my store. Here's a PDF version and a Power Point version. Each are just $2.99.
Hope your students love it!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Kids make their own "Seasons" accordion booklet!
If you are looking for a fun resource to help you teach the seasons to your students, check out my latest accordion booklet lesson, available here. It includes "Weather Words" handouts, a "Seasons- Before and After" worksheet, and more. Cost $4.99.
Kids seem to always enjoy their own accordion booklets. The accordion style folding is such a soothing activity, sometimes I think I should try to incorporate it into every lesson I teach;)
Teachers can choose to use the blackline masters where students create their own seasonal art in the frames, or simply color the already drawn art in the frames.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Super Moons?
I wish I could say I've been more in tune with what's going on outside my little world, but I haven't....hence the reason I'm excited to see this latest "feedback post" submitted regarding one of the art lessons for sale in my store. Now I'm going to google "Super Moons" - Thanks Mr. Murray for cluing me in!
Dear Art with Mrs Smith,
User Robert Murray has written the following comment regarding "Moon Art: "Moon Phases Booklet & Moon Cookie Sculpture"":
I bought this last spring and we just used it again when school started because of the super moons. It is a wonderful packet and I am using it with my special Needs, so anyone can benefit from this.
Dear Art with Mrs Smith,
User Robert Murray has written the following comment regarding "Moon Art: "Moon Phases Booklet & Moon Cookie Sculpture"":
I bought this last spring and we just used it again when school started because of the super moons. It is a wonderful packet and I am using it with my special Needs, so anyone can benefit from this.
You can find the lesson here.
Happy Super Mooning!!!
(Sorry, I couldn't resist;)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
HAVE YOU SEEN WIKIPAINTINGS?
Wow, I can't believe I didn't know this website existed??????????
Have you already found it?
What a resource - Yipes, I know I'll be getting lost in it every time I go to look up one painting……You know, the way you go to the grocery store for milk, and end up going down other aisles getting lost in shopping for other things you weren't planning on buying:)
Here it is: http://www.wikipaintings.org
Have you already found it?
What a resource - Yipes, I know I'll be getting lost in it every time I go to look up one painting……You know, the way you go to the grocery store for milk, and end up going down other aisles getting lost in shopping for other things you weren't planning on buying:)
Here it is: http://www.wikipaintings.org
I've always loved this painting by Matisse, and I've used it for lessons where the kids did one similar in crayons, and when possible, I've had kids do it in paint too.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Monochromatic Color Scheme Paintings
Another lesson I've been wanting to teach forever! So pleased with the results. Students used one color and black and white acrylic paint for this assignment. After they chose their subjects from a magazine (they were instructed to choose a living subject that was photographed), I made black and white copies of their photos to help them better see the different values.
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