Salvador Dalí was a famous Spanish artist known for his eccentric personality and surrealist artworks. His dreamlike paintings, sculptures, and films often depict impossible landscapes and bizarre imagery. These qualities make his art particularly engaging for children, as it invites imagination, playfulness, and creativity.
Playdough Dali Sculpture
- Objective: Explore portraiture and self-expression through sculpture.
- EYLF: Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity.
- Materials: Playdough, sculpting tools, photos of Dali.
- Steps:
Show children images of Dali’s face and moustache.
Provide playdough to sculpt facial features.
Encourage exaggeration of moustaches and hair.
Educator Tip: Highlight how Dali used his appearance as part of his art identity.
Paper Plate Melting Clocks
- Objective: Understand surrealism by creating distorted timepieces.
- EYLF: Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners.
- Materials: Paper plates, paint, markers, scissors.
- Steps:
Cut and bend paper plates into wavy shapes.
Paint clock faces with melting numbers.
Attach cardboard hands.
Educator Tip: Discuss how Dali’s melting clocks were inspired by cheese.
Surreal Dream Collage
- Objective: Encourage imagination by combining unrelated images.
- EYLF: Outcome 5 – Children are effective communicators.
- Materials: Magazines, scissors, glue, and large paper.
- Steps:
Children cut out unusual images.
Arrange them into dreamlike collages.
Share stories about their surreal worlds.
Educator Tip: Prompt children with “What if animals could fly?”
Upside-Down World Drawing
- Objective: Experiment with perspective and inversion.
- EYLF: Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners.
- Materials: Drawing paper, pencils, crayons.
- Steps:
Ask children to draw a familiar scene upside down.
Add surreal twists like floating houses.
Educator Tip: Encourage laughter and fun in breaking rules of reality.
Melting Cheese Painting
- Objective: Connect food inspiration to surreal art.
- EYLF: Outcome 2 – Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
- Materials: Paints, brushes, paper.
- Steps:
Show children Camembert cheese images.
Paint exaggerated melting cheese shapes.
Educator Tip: Link to sensory experiences — “What foods look funny when melted?”
Surreal Shadow Play
- Objective: Explore distortion through shadows.
- EYLF: Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners.
- Materials: Flashlight, toys, paper, pencils.
- Steps:
Shine light to create long shadows.
Trace shadows on paper.
Add surreal details (wings, clocks).
Educator Tip: Use outdoor sunlight for natural shadow play.
Dream Animal Sculptures
- Objective: Invent imaginative creatures.
- EYLF: Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity.
- Materials: Clay, recycled materials, paint.
- Steps:
Brainstorm unusual animal combinations.
Sculpt creatures with added surreal features.
Educator Tip: Encourage storytelling about their dream animals.
Dali Dress-Up
- Objective: Explore identity through costume play.
- EYLF: Outcome 3 – Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
- Materials: Dress-up clothes, props, mirrors.
- Steps:
Provide flamboyant costumes.
Children dress up as surreal characters.
Take photos for display.
Educator Tip: Celebrate individuality and eccentricity.
Surreal Landscape Painting
- Objective: Create dreamlike environments.
- EYLF: Outcome 2 – Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
- Materials: Watercolors, brushes, paper.
- Steps:
Paint deserts, skies, or oceans.
Add floating or distorted objects.
Educator Tip: Encourage children to imagine, “What if gravity didn’t exist?”
Butterfly Clock Craft
- Objective: Combine nature and time in surreal art.
- EYLF: Outcome 5 – Children are effective communicators.
- Materials: Cardboard, paint, scissors, butterfly templates.
- Steps:
Cut clock shapes with butterfly wings.
Paint and decorate with surreal colours.
Educator Tip: Discuss how Dali often merged natural and symbolic imagery.
Further Reading
Jackson Pollock For Children
Pablo Picasso For Children
Andy Warhol For Children
Vincent Van Gogh For Children
Claude Monet Art Projects For Children
References:
Salvador Dalí For Kids
Salvador Dali-Inspired Paper Plate Melting Clock
Seven of Salvador Dalí's sharpest (and wildest) outfits
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