The Met Claude Monet: He Saw the World in Brilliant Light (What the Artist Saw)



Last updated Friday, March 10, 2023

Author: Amy Guglielmo
Illustrator: Ginnie Hsu
Date of Publication: 2022
ISBN: 0744054702
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2023

Synopsis: See the world through Claude Monet’s’ eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces. In What the Artist Saw: Claude Monet, meet famous French painter Claude Monet. Step into his life and learn how he pioneered the Impressionist movement. Learn all about his love of nature and how he was inspired to paint light, water, and water lilies. Have a go at producing your own art inspired by what you find most beautiful about nature!

Note to readers:
•  If time permits, read the entire book. There are not many words per page.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Has anyone been to an art exhibit and saw different pictures on the wall?
•  Can you name some of the tools they used to create their pieces?
•  Who has done a wall piece using paint and brushes? What did you paint?

Vocabulary:

•  Doodling - writing or a drawing abesentmindedly, carelessly or hurriedly.
•  Rations - a fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to each person during a time of shortage, as in wartime. "1918 saw the bread ration reduced on two occasions"
•  Caricatures - pictures, descriptions, or imitations of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.
•  Sculptor - an artist who makes sculptures. (the art of making three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster.)
•  Portrait - a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What items would you need to take with you for a day of painting outside?
•  Who encouraged Monet to paint?
•  What did Monet’s father want him to do as a job?
•  What was unusual about Monet's first house?

Craft ideas:
•  Check our craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/march-2023-music-entertainment/
•  Have children make a caricature of another student or themselves for fun.
•  Have children create a pencil sketch to take home to paint so it’ll dry flat at home or use construction paper to replicate Monet's first home and garden. (Creating the different variety of florals.
•  Have children find the words from the story in a word search/crossword puzzle combination
•  St. Patrick’s Day Is March 17th and Easter Sunday is April 9th. Make a greeting card for someone. (Remember: Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day)

Special activities:
•  Use a white sheet of construction paper and the volunteer start by adding a flower and have each of the kids add a floral with markers or crayons to make a garden piece of art work.
•  Do the Word Search. Hard copies will be provided with the book.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!