After learning about the artist Yayoi Kusama and her love of pumpkins and polka dots, the 2nd and 3rd grade students created their own version of, “Pumpkin (1998).”

On the first day of the lesson, the student’s learned about Kusama’s artwork and her life story. Then, the students focused on the patterned background of Kusama’s, “Pumpkin (1998"),” and drew out their own patterned background onto 12x18 black construction paper. Once they were done drawing out their patterns, they went over their pencil lines with their choice of an oil pastel or colored pencil.

On the second day of the lesson, I reviewed with the students Kusama’s artwork and her life. The students drew out a pumpkin with step-by-step instructions onto their chosen colored construction paper. Next, they outlined their pumpkin lines with a black marker. Then, they were able to practice their cutting and gluing skills by cutting out their pumpkin and gluing it onto their patterned background.

On the final day of the lesson, I reviewed with the students about Kusama and we focused more on the polka dots on Kusama’s “Pumpkin (1998).” The students then were able to learn new techniques of creating art like using q-tips to paint dots onto their pumpkins. After a quick demonstration on how to apply paint to a q-tip and then onto their paper, the students followed suit onto their pumpkins.