What kid isn’t fascinated by the jungle?  And is there a subject matter that translates to inspiring kid’s own artwork more easily?  Henri Rousseau is a natural when it comes to getting kids talking about art!  Teaching about Henri Rousseau for kids is easy with these free printable resources and books!

The life of an artist…

Henri Rousseau was a French Post Impressionist painter with a life story that kids will find relatable and a body of art work they will find exciting!  Dig in!

Talk about an inspiring story.  This guy spent most of his adult life working as a tax collect; a tax collector turned artist!  I love the idea of showing kids that people are always learning and growing.  (Check out a list of books about this growth mindset here!)

What you are today does not have to be what you are for the rest of your life. Rousseau took a real chance when leaving his occupation and beginning a new career as an artist.

Take that critics…

Rousseau’s whole life is a tale of growth and staying true to himself.  While he started life as a tax collector and only began practicing art as an adult he was known as a “naïve” painter.  He received criticism for his flat, unrealistic shapes and his lack of proper proportion.

And guess what?  He kept on painting in his own style despite the criticism.  And eventually he was accepted into the art world and even celebrated for his talent.

Books about Rousseau for kids…

If you want to bring the life of an old famous guy to life for kids what better way than books?  While Rousseau does not have the same body of work about him as some artists do there are still some good ones out there that are especially suitable for kids!  Kid’s book make such an easy way for kids to learn about artists.

Not only do they usually contain reproductions of the artist’s work but they bring the life of the artist into color.  Facts turn into stories through children’s literature!  These books could be an art history lesson in and of themselves.

Henri Rousseau’s Jungle Book (Adventures in Art)

Henri Rousseau Art for Children

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau: A Jungle Expedition (Adventures in Art

Henri Rousseau (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)

If you’re into learning about art through children’s literature you’ll love this list of series of books about famous artists you’ll love this list!  Talk about a no prep art history lesson! 

eaching about Henri Rousseau for kids becomes easy with free resources like this! This is a no prep art history lesson for kids- artist study & more!

 

Talking about Rousseau…

If you’re like me you learn just as much from reading these books as your kids do.  Information gleaned from these books will hopefully spark some conversation with your kiddo; both about the artwork and the artist himself.

It’s always interesting to see in what way kids relate artwork to their own life.

Writing about Rousseau….

This artist study asks for more opinions than facts and this is a purposeful design.  When kids are first introduced to an artwork I think the “big ideas” are more important than the facts surrounding those big ideas.  In my opinion there is plenty of time to memorize dates and facts later.  That’s what college lecture classes are for.

This artist study is meant to spark an interest in a story and get kids used to putting their thoughts and opinions on paper.  Putting thoughts onto paper can be scary.  Get your kids used to doing it by writing about art often and making sure they have a chance to be successful!

eaching about Henri Rousseau for kids becomes easy with free resources like this! This is a no prep art history lesson for kids- artist study & more!

Want to grab the Henri Rousseau for kids printable resources….

These resources are available in my Free Resource Library in easy to print PDF form.  Just subscribe using the form below.  Upon confirming your subscription you’ll get a subscriber only password to my Free Resource Library and a weekly update with my newest printables and fun projects!

eaching about Henri Rousseau for kids becomes easy with free resources like this! This is a no prep art history lesson for kids- artist study & more!

 

Great places to find art for kids….

Whether you’re a mom or a teacher (or both, like me) scrambling to throw together resources to teach with can be time consuming and daunting.  Beyond children’s books here are a couple of sources I use to teach about any artist!

Local art centers and museums often have prints and other materials available for educators to borrow.  Our local art center has “portfolios” of artists work that can be checked out by educators…for free!  It’s worth a couple of phone calls to see what’s out there!

The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. provides digital access to a large body of “open access” work. This means there is a large body of work that is no longer under copyright and is available free of charge for download and use.  The NGA can be a huge resource for educators looking for ways to expose their kiddos to great work!

If you’re in a rural location (like me) these websites with amazing virtual gallery tours and art museums with interactive websites meant just for kids can be a lifesaver!  Expose your kids to some of the greatest art collections in the world without leaving home! 

eaching about Henri Rousseau for kids becomes easy with free resources like this! This is a no prep art history lesson for kids- artist study & more!

These Henri Rousseau for kids printables are for subscribers to use freely in your home or classroom! 

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Artists and the Elements is a visual arts curriculum that connects the elements of art, art history, and hand on, fun art projects!