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Suggested Grade Level:
2-3
Estimated Time: One class period
Introduction:
The artist Claude Monet
and his future wife, Camille
Doncieux, spent the summer of 1868 in a small village outside
Paris. There Monet began
On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt, a scene depicting Camille
sitting by the River Seine
on a quiet summer day. One of Monet’s finest oil sketches, this
painting reveals many of the characteristics of Impressionism. They
include:
- Broken, vibrating brushstrokes that depict the fluctuations of light
and its reflection
- A high-keyed palette
of blues, greens, and yellows, rapidly applied without shading
or modeling
- Briefly described forms that suggest rush and movement
- Subject matter: a friend of the artist relaxing in an open air,
waterside setting in the countryside near Paris
By examining this painting, students will gain an understanding of
the Impressionist style and then learn how to write and address a postcard.
Lesson Objectives:
- Learn to describe and analyze works of art
- Develop letter writing skills and learn to address correspondence
Key Terms:
Instructional Materials:
- Blank index cards without lines
- Watercolors
- Pencils
- Postcard stamps
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Procedures:
Discussion:
- Examine On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt
with students. Start discussion with the following questions:
- What do you see?
- What catches your attention first? Why?
- What might the lady in the painting be thinking?
- Where do you think the artist was when he
painted this scene? Why?
- Ask students to discuss Monet’s
painting technique:
- What kinds of brush strokes did the artist
use in this painting?
- How do the brush strokes and use of color
suggest movement in the water?
- How do they show light coming through the
leaves?
- Explain that this style is called Impressionism.
Activity:
- Have students design a picture postcard from
the woman in the painting. Before students begin, ask them to consider
the following questions:
- What image would she choose to be on the
front?
- To whom would she send it?
- What message would she write?
- Have students imagine and paint a scene of the
village for the front of the postcard and write a short note on the
back.
- Discuss the proper way to write a postal address
and have students address their postcards to their homes. Explain
the use of postcard stamps and help students mail the postcards to
themselves.
Evaluation:
Base students’ evaluation on their participation
in class discussion and creative and written work.
Illinois
Learning Standards
Language Arts: 3
Fine Arts: 25, 26
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