Let me get right to the point here…I love this pointillism project for kids! This project presents one of many approaches we as parents, teachers, and caretakers can use to reinforce the idea that there are many ways to add color. This fantastic art unit for kids ages 4-8 illustrates how French artist Georges Seurat (best known for his work, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”) used dots upon dots, upon more dots, to explore color. These Georges Seurat teaching resources and lesson plans:
- expose kids to several of Seurat’s kid-friendly artworks,
- illustrate Seurat’s optical theory that different colored dots visually blend when placed side by side, and
- help you, as facilitator, feel confident about exactly how to connect all this to a super fun, hands-on mixed-media project specifically designed for young kids
In addition to a detailed overview of our art unit, below you’ll find a thoughtfully curated “hub” of supplemental resources that’ll have you feeling and sounding like an complete authority on all things Seurat-related in no time!
Keep scrolling for:
- 15 Seurat-Related Fun Facts
- Picture Books to go Along with Georges Seurat Art Projects
- Informational Books about Georges Seurat
- Informational Videos about Georges Seurat
- An overview with photos and screenshots of the Georges Seurat art unit
- Free Printable Georges Seurat Quote Poster
Famous Artist Facts
15 Fun Facts about Georges Seurat for Kids
- Georges Seurat was born on December 2nd, 1859.
- Seurat was a French painter from Paris.
- Georges Seurat was born to a rich family.
- Georges Seurat created the style called Pointillism.
- Pointillism is art made up of a bunch of dots to form a larger image.
- Seurat studied art at the École Municipale de Sculpture et Dessin, which was near his family’s home.
- Seurat’s most well-known painting is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is currently displayed held at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- There have been many pop culture references to Seurat’s work, including a reference in Looney Tunes!
- Georges Seurat had one son, born in 1890.
- Seurat also pioneered the chromoluminarism technique, which examines how colors interact visually.
- Seurat passed away on March 29th, 1891.
- Georges Seurat had two siblings, one brother and one sister.
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte took two years to paint, and is ten feet wide!
- Seurat cared about the science behind art, and studied color theory extensively.
For more information about Georges Seurat, visit the following pages.
Georges Seurat Biography and Complete Works Gallery
Books to go Along with Georges Seurat Art Projects
Picture Books that Go Along Well with this Art Unit
In the Georges Seurat Unit from Kids Art Projects 101 we experiment with pointillism. These picture books about dots can lead to great discussions that support student’s understanding of the concept and inspire creativity.
One Day a Dot by Ian Lendler
Start with a dot and learn how it becomes everything! {Full book details here.}
Press Here by Herve Tullet
A playful book full of interactive dots! {Full book details here.}
The Dot by Peter H Reynolds
Follow Vashti as she learns about art, starting from a single dot on a page! {Full book details here.}
Books About Georges Seurat
The following books are specifically related to Georges Seurat and can supplement the facts and information provided in the digital presentation that is part of the Georges Seurat Art Unit from Kids Art Projects 101.
Splat! Another Messy Sunday by Lin Oliver
Tiger and Luna enter the world of Seurat’s famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. {Full book details here.}
Georges Seurat (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia
This book presents the life and career of Seurat, best known for inventing the painting technique known as Pointillism. {Full book details here.}
The Primary Kids Meet Georges Seurat by Jacqueline Cassidy
Join the Primary Kids as they meet and learn about the famous artist, Georges Seurat. {Full book details here.}
Learn More About Georges Seurat with these YouTube Videos
Art with Mati and Dada – George Seurat by Art with Mati and Dada
George Seurat shows Mati and Dada the scientific magic of how colors in his paintings are mixed by their eyes! {See it on YouTube.}
A video biography of Seurat, and an overview of his art. {See it on YouTube.}
An introductory to pointillism for kids, including a small art project! {See it on YouTube.}
Learn about Seurat and his style in this fun, kid-friendly sketch. {See it on YouTube.}
Seurat Pointillism Unit for K-2 Art Students
The Seurat Unit is a project-based study of George Seurat that introduces young kids to pointillism as they create their own Seurat-inspired seascapes with cotton swabs and primary colors.
Inside the unit you’ll find a 24-page unit guide full of information and tips for teaching this series of art lessons to students in preschool through grade 2.
The unit is broken down into four 40-minute sessions.
For each session there is a guided presentation that has already been prepared for you and can be used via Google Slides or PowerPoint.
It’s a really easy setup! The presentation also introduces and guides you and your kiddos through completion of a studio project and follow-up activity. The studio project involves stamping primary colored dots to create a simple seascape, then cutting and gluing simple shapes to add a sailboat or two. It’s the kind of project that’ll fill the room with statements like, “It works! It’s working! Look!”
The 95-page combined PDF and Google Slides full resource includes:
- An original digital storybook designed to expose students to famous artworks and details about Georges Seurat
- A printable “Pointillism Practice” activity
- A literacy connection to The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
- A digital step-by-step studio project guide with clear directions, supply lists, and work sample photos
- Quick fun facts
- A digital lesson review
- An art show prompt with guided questions
- A printable self-assessment
- Early finisher suggestions
- Blank slide templates
Seurat Unit Teaching Tips Video
The Famous Artists units are designed to be open-and-go, but if you are the kind of teacher who likes to dig a little deeper, we’ve also created video tutorials for each of the units. In each video I share helpful tips that I’ve learned along the way as I use these units in my own elementary art classroom. These are currently available only to members of the Kids Art Projects 101 program. Learn more about becoming a member here.
Free Printable Seurat Quote Poster
I’m sharing a free printable quote poster to go with each of the famous artist units. These can be used as a way to connect art and literacy and inspire discussions about the meaning or significance of each artist’s quote.
The free printable includes a color option that can be placed on display in the art room as decor throughout the year or added to a student work showcase bulletin board.
There is also a black and white version that kids can use as an optional coloring page.
Get the Free Printable Seurat Quote Poster
Are you a Kids Art Projects 101 member? Download your printable quote poster here.
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