Level
Grade 3-6

Objective
Students will learn about German/Swiss modern artist Paul Klee by being introduced to his art, and then by creating their own masterpiece after his work. This free lesson plan is designed to fulfill the National Standards for Art Education: Grades K-4/Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; and Grades 5-8/Standard 2: Using knowledge of structures and functions.

Materials
4" Sugar Cookies
Cookie Frosting
Food Coloring
Popsicle Sticks or Paint Brushes
Cookie Design Worksheet

Lesson

Step 1
Show the students a color plate of Park Bei Lu (1938). Ask students, "Who remembers the name of the artist that created this art masterpiece?" (Paul Klee)

Step 2
Show students color plates of 2 similar works: Viaducts Break Ranks (1937) and Zitronen. Ask students, "Who can tell me what is the same about all three artworks?" (Black lines define shapes, works are in a middle ground between representational art and abstract art)

Step 3
Tell students "Our project will be to create your own art masterpiece following these examples of Paul Klee's art on a cookie."

Step 4
Tell students, "On your table you will find an Art Masterpiece Cookie Design Worksheet with three large circles and several crayons. Our first step is to draw a design for your cookie on this worksheet. Your design should use elements that we have seen in Paul Klee's art."

Step 5
Provide each student with a sugar cookie, a popsicle stick or clean paint brush, and access to the premixed colors of frosting.

Step 6
Tell students, "You may begin to paint your Klee cookie."

Step 7
Quiz students about Paul Klee as they paint.

1) Where was Paul Klee born? (Switzerland)

2) What era was he from? (Modern Era)

3) What is similar about the three works that I showed you? (Black lines define shapes, works are in a middle ground between representational art and abstract art)

Variation
Students may enjoy learning about Paul Klee by printing a Klee Cookie Worksheet, and recreating the cookie featured in this lesson.

Have fun!