Internet based lesson based on the lives and work of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso

1. Matisse or Picasso?
Which famous artist’s artwork would you choose to
hang in your living room?
In this lesson you will be introduced to the lives and artwork
of these famous artists in order to inspire our creative
thinking and learn the elements of art from these great
masters.

2. Explore the Links Below to View
Information About the Art and Lives of
Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse
Pablo
Picasso
Henri
Matisse

3. Student Activity
• Now that you
researched these two
artists and viewed
some of their work,
print out the artist fact
sheet. If you need
help, feel free to use
the links on the
previous page to
spark your memory.
Artist
Fact
Sheet

4. Assessment Task
After completing the artist fact
sheet, use the two paintings that you
chose as your favorites and enter
their titles into the Venn Diagram on
the attached worksheet.
Compare and Contrast these
artworks using the elements of art.
Make sure to include line,
shape/form, color/value, texture, and
space in your analysis.
Create a quick sketch of each
painting in the boxes provided.
Finally write a short paragraph on
the back of your paper stating which
artwork you would rather have
hanging in you living room and
explain the reasoning behind your
answer using the proper art
vocabulary.
Venn
Diagram

5. Enrichment Activities
Check out these fun interactive websites on
the artists and styles that we covered
Matisse for Kids
Mr. Picasso Head
Collage Machine
Getty Games

6. Teacher Resources
By the end of this unit, the 5th grade students will be able to meet the
following PA Standards for the Arts & Humanities
• 9.5.1.A Visual Arts: Color, Form/Shape, Line, Space, Texture, Value
• 9.5.1.E. Know and demonstrate how arts can communicate experiences, stories or emotions through the
production of works in the arts.
• 9.1.5.1.J. Apply traditional and contemporary technologies for producing, performing and exhibiting works in
the arts or the works of others.
• • Experiment with traditional technologies (e.g., ceramic/wooden tools, earthen clays, masks, instruments,
folk shoes, etching tools, folk looms).
• • Experiment with contemporary technologies (e.g., color fills on computers, texture methods on computers,
fonts/point systems, animation techniques, video teleconferencing, multimedia techniques, internet access,
library computer card catalogues). performing and exhibiting works in the arts or the works of others.
• • Analyze traditional technologies (e.g., acid printing, etching methods, musical instruments)
• 9.2.5.A. Explain the historical, cultural and social context of an individual work in the arts.
• 9.2.5.C. Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created
(e.g., Bronze Age, Ming Dynasty, Renaissance, Classical, Modern, Post-Modern, Contemporary, Futuristic,
others).

7. Matisse or Picasso Slam Dunk Lesson Plan Rubric
Name:_____________
Section:____________ Plus Check Minus
Research
The student looked at all
of the links on the website
and thoroughly researched
the artists work and life
The Student looked at
most of the website links
and researched some of
the artists work and life
The student did not look
at the website links and
did not research the
artists life and art
Artist Fact
Sheet
The student completed
the artist fact sheet and
had all of the information
completed correctly
The student completed
most of the artist fact
sheet with the correct
information
The student did not
complete the artist fact
sheet
Venn Diagram
The student filled out the Venn
Diagram by comparing two works
of art by the artist and used all of
the elements of art to thoroughly
justify their observations
The student filled out the Venn
Diagram by comparing two works
of art by the artists and used
some of the elements of art to
somewhat justify their
observations
The student did not fill out the
Venn Diagram completely. They
did not use the elements of art to
justify their observations that
they made in the artwork
Matisse or
Picasso
Paragraph
The student wrote a paragraph
about a piece of art that they
would hang above their sofa. In
the paragraph they described
their aesthetic viewpoint using art
vocabulary words
The student wrote a paragraph
about a piece of art that they
would hang above their sofa. In
the paragraph they attempted to
describe their aesthetic viewpoint
using art vocabulary words
The student attempted but did
not succeed in writing a paragraph
about a piece of art that they
would hang above their sofa.