Matisse Shape Collages (3rd Grade)

We learned about shapes in this Matisse lesson!  The students learned what makes a shape a shape (it has to have lines that connect) and they also learned the difference between geometric and organic shapes.  First we made a colorful backdrop for our shapes out of tissue paper.  I encouraged the students to overlap their tissue paper to invent new colors.  Once the tissue paper was finished, the students cut out various geometric and organic shapes out of black and white construction paper to finish their design.