Level
Grade 2-6

Objective
Students will learn about Dutch modern artist Piet Mondrian 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 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black)
Popsicle Sticks
Icing Bag (or sandwich bag)
Cookie Design Worksheet

Lesson

Step 1
Show the students a color plate of Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue (1921). Ask students, "Who remembers the name of the artist that created this art masterpiece?" (Piet Mondrian)

Step 2
Show students color plates of 2 similar works. Ask students, "Who can compare these three paintings and tell me what is the same?" (Primary colored rectangles with horizontal and vertical black stripes)

Step 3
Tell students "Our project will be to create your own art masterpiece following these examples of Mondrian's art on a cookie. While these paintings look very simple to paint, figuring out the perfect arrangement of squares, rectangles and black lines can be a significant challenge. It was, however, Mondrian's flawless ability to compose the perfect arrangement of these artistic elements that made him the successful artist that he was."

Step 4
Tell students, "On your table you will find an Art Masterpiece Cookie Design Worksheet with three large circles and four crayons - red, yellow, blue, and black. Begin by drawing a design for your cookie on this worksheet. When each of you have two or three designs that you like we will begin the 'paint' our cookies."

Step 5
Provide each student with two sugar cookies, a popsicle stick, and access to the premixed colors of frosting.

Step 6
Tell students, "Each of you have two cookies to paint. You may begin to transfer your design to your first cookie. Paint the primary colors first, and then use the icing bag to draw the black lines."

Step 7
Quiz students about Piet Mondrian as they paint.

1) Where was Mondrian born? (Netherlands)

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

3) What are the primary colors? (Red, Yellow, Blue)

4) What is similar about the three Mondrian paintings that I showed you? (Primary colored rectangles with horizontal and vertical black stripes)

Have fun!