Introduce your class to the famous modern female artist Yayoi Kusama and her dotty artwork! Known as the princess of polka dots, Kusama and her artwork are a fun and engaging focus for your famous artists KS1 lessons.

Have your class explore different ways that they can create dots using a variety of materials which they can record in their sketchbook to use in future artwork. The children can then use this in further lessons, including a collage lesson and a Yayoi Kusama pumpkin art lesson in which they can create their own clay pumpkin sculpture.

This five-lesson Yayoi Kusama lesson plan pack comes with everything you need to teach your KS1 class about this fabulous female artist.

Who is she?

This first Yayoi Kusama lesson plan focuses on the artist herself and leads the class through discussions about her life, as well as discussions about her artwork.

The children are challenged to spot similarities and differences between each of her pieces as well as the common theme... dots! They will then attempt to create a sketchbook page about Kusama and mimic her style using different mediums.

Making Dots

This lesson is all about experimenting! The children will use different mediums and techniques to create dots in different shapes and sizes, allowing them develop a repertoire of ideas for future artwork.

You can either model and inspire the experimenting with your class discussions, led by the included lesson slides, or by reading 'The Dot' by Peter H Reynolds. The children can use their sketchbooks to build a reference of the different ways they have created dots.

The Obliteration Room Collage

In this lesson you and your class will explore Kusama's 'The Obliteration Room'. Discuss how you think it has been created before jumping in and watching videos and pictures of the installation in various galleries.

The included lesson slides show your children how they can use collage to recreate the effects of this installation in their own artwork. They are challenged to use their cutting skills and paper to create their own artwork inspired by Kusama's patterns.

Clay Pumpkins

This lesson focuses on Kusama's obsession with pumpkins and the resulting sculptures. The children will focus on the shape and form of the sculptures in order to recreate this shape from clay during the individual activities.

The included lesson slides and printable resources help to guide you and your class in creating your own clay pumpkin sculptures.

Pumpkin Paintings

In this final lesson the children will draw on their previous experimentation of creating dots using a paintbrush. The included lesson slides challenge them to think back to their experiences of using a paintbrush to create dots. They can discuss their favourite technique and put this into practice as they recreate Kusama's pumpkins.

The children can either decorate their pumpkin sculptures from the previous lesson, or create a painting of a pumpkin using the supporting printable resources.