Claude Monet Art Projects For Children

Claude Monet, founder of Impressionism, captured light, colour, and atmosphere in everyday scenes. His style encourages children to notice nature, experiment with brushstrokes, and explore how light changes what we see.

Impressionist Garden Painting

Objective: Observe and paint nature with loose brushstrokes.
EYLF: Outcomes 2 & 4.
Materials: Paper, paints, brushes.
Steps:
Visit a garden or show photos.
Children paint flowers using short, quick strokes.
Layer colours to show depth.
Add dabs of light colours for highlights.

Educator Tip: Encourage children to notice how colours blend when viewed from a distance.

Water Lily Collage

Objective: Explore Monet’s famous water lily series.
EYLF: Outcome 4.
Materials: Blue paper, tissue paper, glue.
Steps:
Use blue paper for the pond background.
Tear tissue paper into lily shapes.
Glue it onto the pond.
Add paint dabs for reflections.

Educator Tip: Discuss how Monet painted the same pond at different times of day.

Outdoor Light Study

Objective: Notice how light changes colours.
EYLF: Outcomes 2 & 4.
Materials: Sketch pads, crayons.
Steps:
Choose an outdoor subject (tree, building).
Sketch in morning light.
Repeat sketch in afternoon.
Compare differences.

Educator Tip: Use this to introduce science concepts about shadows and sunlight.

Impressionist Brushstroke Experiment

Objective: Practise Monet’s dabbing technique.
EYLF: Outcome 4.
Materials: Paints, brushes, sponges
Steps:
Dip brush in paint.
Dab short strokes across paper.
Layer colours without blending fully.
Step back to view the effect.

Educator Tip: Remind children that Monet’s art was about capturing impressions, not details.

Monet’s Sunrise Painting

Objective: Explore colour blending for atmosphere.
EYLF: Outcomes 4 & 5.
Materials: Paper, warm‑coloured paints.
Steps:
Paint the horizon line.
Blend reds, oranges, and yellows for sunrise.
Add water reflections with horizontal strokes.
Highlight with white dabs.

Educator Tip: Compare with Monet’s Impression, Sunrise to show inspiration.

Seasonal Landscape Painting

Objective: Show how seasons change scenery.
EYLF: Outcome 2.
Materials: Paper, paints.
Steps:
Choose a landscape (tree, hill).
Paint in “summer” colours.
Repeat with “winter” colours.
Display side by side.

Educator Tip: Link to discussions about seasonal changes in nature.

Monet’s Bridge Construction

Objective: Combine art and design.
EYLF: Outcome 4.
Materials: Cardboard, paint, glue.
Steps:
Build a simple cardboard bridge.
Paint surroundings with Monet‑style brushstrokes.
Add water lilies below.
Display as 3D artwork.

Educator Tip: Connect to Monet’s Japanese bridge paintings.

Reflection Painting

Objective: Explore symmetry and reflection.
EYLF: Outcome 4.
Materials: Paper, paints.
Steps:
Paint a simple scene (tree, house).
Fold paper to press paint and create a reflection.
Open to reveal mirrored image.
Add brushstrokes for water ripples.

Educator Tip: Use this to introduce the concept of symmetry.

Impressionist Sky Painting

Objective: Capture clouds and atmosphere.
EYLF: Outcome 4.
Materials: Paper, paints, sponges.
Steps:
Paint the sky background in light blue.
Dab white and grey with a sponge for clouds.
Add hints of pink/orange for sunset.
Layer strokes for depth.

Educator Tip: Encourage children to look at the sky before painting.

Monet’s Garden Diorama

Objective: Create a 3D impressionist scene.
EYLF: Outcomes 2 & 4.
Materials: Shoebox, paints, tissue paper, cardboard
Steps:
Paint the shoebox interior as a pond/sky.
Add tissue paper flowers.
Create cardboard bridge.
Assemble into diorama.

Educator Tip: Use this as a long‑term project to revisit over weeks.

Monet’s Impressionism teaches children to observe, experiment, and appreciate nature’s beauty. These 10 activities balance artistic freedom, science connections, and collaborative projects, all while linking to EYLF outcomes. The aim is not to copy Monet but to inspire children to see the world through light, colour, and imagination.