On April 20, Ms. Leuchtmann and her French 3R students moved their class outside to enjoy the beautiful weather while they learned about French painter, Claude Monet. This activity was part of their unit on French art and a really fun way to learn. Monet was an impressionist painter who got inspiration while painting outdoors, or en plein air. Water Lilies are a series of approximately 250 oil paintings that depict his flower garden at his home in Giverny. One of the paintings from this collection, Water Lilies and the Japanese Bridge, painted in 1899, was used as inspiration for Ms. L’s activity. She explained that impressionist painters used sunlight as a focus and it was important for the students to have the same experience.

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The students loved the opportunity to create art and learn about a French artist through this hands-on activity. Utilizing the courtyard was a welcomed change of pace and something that more teachers are looking to do as the weather warms up.

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