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Lesson Plan: Colorful Torn Paper Mosaic

1 piece of sturdy white paper or cardstock
A thick black marker
2-3 different colors of construction paper (e.g., red, yellow, blue)
Child-safe liquid glue or a glue stick
A small dish or plate for the glue (optional)
A surface to work on that can get a little messy (like a placemat or old newspaper)

Learning Objectives (15 Minutes)

By the end of this lesson, the student will:

Practice fine motor skills by tearing paper into small pieces.
Identify and name at least two primary colors.
Apply creative choice by arranging and gluing paper pieces to create a unique mosaic artwork.

Prepare the Canvas: Before starting, use the black marker to draw a large, simple shape on the white paper. Good shapes for this age are a circle, a heart, or a square.
Engage Curiosity: Show your child the shape. Ask, "What shape is this? Today, we are going to wake up our fingers and fill this shape with beautiful colors, but we're not going to use crayons. We are going to use our hands!"
Introduce the Colors: Lay out the colored construction paper. Point to each one and ask, "What color is this?" Help them name the colors they don't know.

Model the Skill: Pick up a piece of colored paper. Say, "Watch me use my pinching fingers!" Use your thumb and index finger on both hands to pinch the paper close together and tear a small strip. Then, tear that strip into smaller pieces. Let them fall onto the table. Make it fun by making little "rrrrip" sounds.
Student's Turn: Give your child a piece of construction paper and encourage them to tear it. It doesn’t have to be perfect! The goal is the tearing motion. Celebrate their efforts. Let them tear pieces from all the colors and make a colorful pile.
Start the Mosaic: Show them how to apply glue inside the shape. If using liquid glue, pour a small puddle onto a dish and show them how to dip a paper piece in it. If using a glue stick, show them how to rub the glue inside the shape.
Create!: Let your child take the lead. Encourage them to pick up the torn pieces and stick them anywhere inside the black lines of the shape. There are no rules here—they can overlap colors or leave white space. This is their unique creation.
Talk While You Work: As they work, ask engaging questions like, "Ooh, you chose the blue piece! Where will you put it?" or "Can you find a red piece to put next to the yellow one?" This reinforces color recognition in a playful way.

Admire the Masterpiece: When they are finished (or when time is up), hold up their artwork. Praise their hard work and creativity. Say things like, "Wow, look at all the beautiful colors you used!" or "You worked your fingers so hard to tear all this paper!"
Display Their Work: Find a special place to let the artwork dry, like on the refrigerator or a bulletin board. This shows them that their creative work is valued.

For Extra Support: If tearing is difficult, you can pre-tear the paper into long, 1-inch wide strips. This makes it much easier for little hands to tear the strips into smaller pieces. Using a glue stick is also less messy and easier to manage than liquid glue.
For an Extra Challenge: Encourage the student to try and cover all the white space inside the shape. You can also challenge them to create a simple pattern (e.g., red piece, blue piece, red piece). After it dries, they could use a crayon to draw a face on their shape to turn it into a "mosaic monster."

Assessment is informal and based on observation during the activity:

Fine Motor Skills: Did the child attempt to pinch and tear the paper? Did their coordination improve during the activity?
Color Recognition: Was the child able to correctly identify a color when asked?
Engagement: Did the child actively participate and show interest in creating their mosaic? The finished artwork serves as a testament to their application of the skills.