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The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
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Patterns
Lesson Plan for Grade 1-3
Jock MacDonald, Phoenix, 1949, watercolour and ink on paper. Gift of Alexandra Luke, 1967.
What is a pattern?
A Pattern is a repeated design
Patterns are like the beat to a song, repeating in a logical sequence. Whether
it's stripes on a sweater or a series of numbers, shapes, or images, it's all about
the repetition. Picture a pattern of alternating colors or a display of repeated
lines and shapes.
What types pattern are there?
Patterns come in various forms, ranging from organic to geometric shapes, and can
be found in both nature and human-made creations. They can be playful, precise, or
free-flowing, and the options are limitless.
Types of patterns
Patterns Created by Humans Patterns Created by Nature
Let draw some simple line patterns
Grab a sheet of paper and a drawing tool, and give these type lines a try!
bumpy
zig zag
curly
wavy
circular
dotted
spiral
Let draw some simple patterns
Print out the worksheet and practice drawing lines and shape patterns.
line
radial
shape
Jock Macdonald Who Was
He?
He was Canadian and part of a group
1
called the Painters 11.
2 He was often inspired by nature and
the natural world.
3 Worked as an artist and a teacher.
4
Jock
Macdonald
Let's play a fun game of
"I Spy" with patterns!
Can you describe one of
1
the lines you see in the
artwork?
2 Count up all the
different line patterns
you can spot!
Can you give us a clue
3 about what the overall Jock Macdonald, Phoenix, 1949, watercolour and ink on paper. Gift of Alexandra Luke, 1967.
image looks like to you?
Hortense Gordon
Who Was
1
She was Canadian and part of the She?
Painters 11.
She was very involved in her
2
community.
3 She spent time both as a student of
art and a teacher of art.
4 She learned many different ways and
styles of painting.
Hortense Gordon
Count the bird shapes -
1
how many do you see?
Can you spot any other
2
designs that keep popping
up in this piece?
3 Are these patterns
inspired by nature or by
human-made things?
Hortense Gordon, Plate, Bird Design, 1928, hand-painted porcelain. Gift of the heirs of the Hortense Gordon
estate, 1971.
Robert Wilson
Can you describe one of the patterns you see
1
being used this artwork?
2 Can you find these patterns in the artwork?
Robert Wilson, Untitled, date unknown, ink, coloured crayon.
Gift from the Douglas M. Duncan Collection, 1970.
Mary Celistino
This artwork is made up of tiny patterns squares.
Do you spy the tiny patterns? What do they bring
to mind?
Mary Celistino, Capricorn, 1978, watercolour, graphite. Purchase, 1981
Who Was Alma Thomas
She?
1 African-American artist and teacher.
She was best known for her colourful,
2
abstract paintings using line and
pattern.
3 She achieved success as an African-
American female artist despite facing
segregation and prejudice.
4 Her most renowned works were
created during retirement following a
35-year teaching career.
Alma Thomas
1 What kind of line does she use?
2 What shape does she use?
3 How would you describe her colours?
4 If you had to name this artwork, what
would it be?
Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970, acrylic on canvas. Collection of the Smithsonian American Art
Museum.
Pattern Scavenger Hunt
Here's how to conduct a Pattern Scavenger
Hunt activity:
1. Distribute a copy of the Pattern
Scavenger Hunt to each student.
2. Give them a time limit and ask them to
identify and sketch as many patterns as
they can within the classroom (or another
designated area).
3. Take note of the common and unique
patterns discovered by the students.
4. Initiate a discussion about where the
patterns were found most frequently
(such as clothing or walls).
Pattern Bingo
How to Play Bingo in the Classroom:
1. Print out 16 unique Bingo cards, with
four cards on each page, and cut out
the individual cards.
2. Hand out one card to each student.
3. Print and cut the pattern cards, which
will serve as the Bingo balls, and place
them in a container.
4. Draw a card from the container and
display it to the class. Ask the
students to locate the corresponding
pattern on their Bingo cards and mark
it off.
Art Activity : Patterns
Materials Needed
This activity will guide students through Watercolour Paper
the process of creating their own art Watercolour Paint
using patterns. Feel free to swap out any Brush
of the materials listed in this lesson plan Water Container
if necessary. Rag/Paper Towel
Making or Painters tape
For example, if you don’t have Colour paper
watercolour paint or watercolour paper Wax Crayons
you could just use markers or coloured Glue (sticks or PVA)
pencils. Coloured paper could be Scissors
swapped out for zen tangling.
1 Adding Tape
Let's get artsy! Hand out some
watercolor paper and a strip of
painter's tape.
Next, it's time to get creative as
you stick the tape in random
patterns, dividing their paper
into funky sections.
2 Creating Patterns with Crayons
Time to jazz up those sections
with a pop of color! Pick a
crayon and let your creativity
run wild with spirals, dots, lines,
zig-zags, or any of the patterns
you've made before.
Let your designs go off the
edges and onto the tape for a
real masterpiece!
3 Adding Watercolour Paint
After filling each section Look at the stunning Why not jazz things up by
with crayon patterns, use patterns you've created layering a second splash
watercolour paints next. and pick a watercolor of color on those cute
that will electrify those little areas, or mix it up
design! with a whole new hue?
4 Dry. Peel off tape.
After painting the canvas, allow it to dry completely before removing the tape,
revealing clean white lines between each section.
5 Add cut strips of paper.
To create a colourful design, cut strips of coloured construction paper or cardstock,
glue them into place, and cut them into segments to fit the space.
6 You’re done!
Isn't it amazing
how everyone
followed the same
steps, yet their art
is unqiue?
Post Art Activity Discussions
6
Let's get creative! Line up your masterpieces on your desk and let's have a
gallery walk! Stroll around the room and soak up the artsy vibes. Don't forget
to mull over these questions while you're exploring:
Did a particular pattern show up in multiple artworks?
Which watercolour hue made the crayon patterns really pop when
combined?
Did anyone come up with a one-of-a-kind pattern that no one else
used?
Did you notice more nature inspired patterns or human inspired
patterns?
Which was your favourite pattern to look at?
Which was your favourite pattern to draw?
Bibliography
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/teaching-patterns-to-infants-and-toddlers#:~:text=Patterns%20are%20things%20that%20repeat,swim%20versus%20animals%20that%20fly.
https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/jock-macdonald/
