Known for her bold use of color and abstract patterns, Alma Thomas’s preschool art is guaranteed to be a success with the students. This project is easy to set up, create, and clean up – every preschool teacher’s dream! Thomas’s bright collage art is appealing to many preschoolers, and students won’t be able to resist coming to the art table to participate. This Alma Thomas preschool art project is a fantastic way to encourage students to explore collage while working on their fine motor skills, sorting skills, and more – all while having fun!
Who Was Alma Thomas?
Alma Thomas was an African American artist whose work was known for its joyful use of bright, vibrant colors. Her famous paintings often feature bold, swirling patterns and repeating geometric shapes, giving them a sense of movement and rhythm. Thomas used colors like bright reds, yellows, blues, and greens, often arranged in circular or mosaic-like designs. These striking patterns, abstract shapes, and bright colors captivate young children.
Introducing Alma Thomas’s Art
Begin by sharing a piece of Alma Thomas’s artwork with the class. One of her famous works, like “Resurrection“ or “Sky Light“—pieces that feature circles, stripes, or radiant color patterns—would be ideal to discuss. Encourage children to name the colors they see and trace their fingers around the big, bold shapes in the painting. This simple activity will help them connect to the artwork visually.
Getting Started with Alma Thomas Preschool Art
Creating a collage is ideal for bringing Alma Thomas’s art into the preschool classroom. This activity allows children to explore color, texture, and design while developing their fine motor skills.
Materials Needed for the Alma Thomas Preschool Art:
- Colorful paper strips (construction paper, magazine pages, or tissue paper)
- Scissors (optional, for adults or older children to help cut the paper)
- Glue or glue sticks
- Large sheets of paper or cardstock
- A sample image of Alma Thomas’s artwork (displayed on a poster, digital image, or printed handout)
Ripping Paper for Fine Motor Practice
Provide each student with a pile of paper strips in various colors. The goal is to give them a selection of vibrant, rainbow-colored papers that they can manipulate into their collage.
Begin by working together to rip the paper strips into smaller pieces. This is fun and also a great opportunity to strengthen fine motor skills. Ripping paper requires the use of small hand muscles and can be quite challenging for preschoolers. Don’t be surprised if some children try to twist or pull the paper rather than tear it—encourage them to keep trying. The effort involved is excellent practice for finger strength and dexterity.
Once ripped, separate the paper pieces into different baskets or containers by color. This step introduces the concept of organizing and sorting, which is another valuable skill for young learners.
Creating the Alma Thomas Preschool Art
Now comes the fun part—assembling the collage! Provide each child with a large sheet of paper and let them begin to place their ripped paper pieces onto the page, arranging them into colorful designs inspired by Alma Thomas’s art. The goal here is not to replicate Thomas’s work exactly but to create their own abstract patterns using the same colors and bold shapes. Allow them to explore freely, whether they form concentric circles, swirls, straight lines, or just playful patches of color.
Finishing the work with a coat of Mod Podge is one way to provide a more finished appearance. Another option is to run the artwork through a laminator to preserve it. Both options will help keep the project intact for display, but deciding to finish them is optional. For a more flexible, hands-on approach, it’s perfectly fine to let the artwork dry naturally and showcase it as is.
The focus should always remain on the process—the fun, discovery, and skill-building that comes with creating art. Consider leaving the leftover collage pieces at the art center for the rest of the week and see what the students create
Why This Project Works for Preschoolers
Not only is this project inspired by a famous artist, but it also provides several developmental benefits. Ripping paper and gluing pieces down helps improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. Glue stick practice is always an important skill to practice as well. Additionally, this project encourages creativity and individual expression as each child creates their own unique design.
Working with bright colors also supports sensory exploration as children experience how different hues come together to create new patterns and visual effects. The joy of using their hands to build something from scratch is an essential part of early learning, and Alma Thomas’s art provides an excellent backdrop for this kind of exploration.
A Perfect Story Time Ending
After the collage activity, wrap up the lesson with a story that ties it all together. “Alma’s Art” by Roda Ahmed is a wonderful book to share with young children. It offers a simple yet engaging introduction to Thomas’s life and artwork. This book beautifully highlights the themes of color and creativity, reinforcing the day’s lesson in an accessible and enjoyable way.
For anyone looking to replicate this activity in the classroom, it’s important to remember that Alma Thomas’s art is beautiful because of its simplicity and joy. Giving preschoolers the freedom to explore art leads to them creating their own unique masterpieces. They also develop valuable skills that will last a lifetime.
