Skip to Main Content

Lesson Plans

Spark creativity with Crayola lesson plans. With hundreds of activities, the learning possibilities are endless. 

Chagall's Perspective

Artist Marc Chagall was a modern artist whose works include abstract, cubist, and surreal elements. Students will explore his work and create original Chagall-inspired art.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • White Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian-French modern artist associated with cubist, surreal, and abstract art movements. He was known for his figurative style and flat compositions that lacked perspective. Figures in his paintings would often float in midair or appear inverted. And there might be many disparate subjects in one painting, such as a rabbi holding a Torah next to a goat playing a violin, but all had meaning to Chagall.

  • Step 2

    Have students view images of some of his works, such as "I and the Village" (1911), "Solitude" (1933), or "L'Ange devant l'Opéra" (1981). Have them note the rotated perspectives and the odd juxtapositions. Have them also explore the images that appeared in many of Chagall's works and what they represent, such as a rooster, a goat, a violin or violinist, etc.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to create a Chagall-inspired drawing that includes images that might seem unrelated but be meaningful to them. For example, if they enjoy eating hot dogs and playing an instrument, they might include floating hot dogs surrounded by music notes.

  • Step 4

    Have them present their art and discuss the colors and symbols they used and what they represent.

Standards

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

Adaptations

Marc Chagall is also known for his stained-glass artwork. Have students explore the 12 stained glass windows that are installed at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centers in Jerusalem. What symbols are used and what do they represent?

Chagall was commissioned to create sets and costumes for several productions. Ask students to investigate his designs for "Aleko" for the Ballet Theatre of New York (now the American Ballet Theatre), "The Firebird" for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and "The Magic Flute, also for the Metropolitan Opera.