📖

Positive and Negative Space

Exploring Shape Relationships

Day 13of 180
Week 3of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the concept of positive and negative space

2

Create artwork that highlights both shape and surrounding space

3

Develop spatial awareness and creative thinking

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 1:31

“God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”

— Genesis 1:31 (WEB)

Just as God carefully designed creation, we can be creative in how we see and use space in our artwork

📦 Materials Needed

  • white drawing paper
  • black construction paper
  • scissors
  • glue stick
  • pencils
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and discuss how space can be just as important as the shapes we draw

💭 Review Question: What makes something stand out in a picture?
2Teaching (8 min)

Explain positive space as the main shapes in an artwork, and negative space as the area around and between those shapes

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Positive space is like the main characters in a story
  • Negative space is the background that helps those characters shine
  • Both are important in creating interesting art
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Can you think of a picture where the space around something is interesting?
  • How does empty space help us see shapes better?
3Activity: Space Cutout Artwork (10 min)
hands-on

Create an artwork that explores positive and negative space using paper cutting

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a simple shape on black paper
  2. Carefully cut out the shape
  3. Glue the cut-out shape onto white paper
  4. Use the remaining black paper piece as a frame around the white paper
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn simple shapes like hearts or stars

Challenge: Create a more complex silhouette design

4Closing (2 min)

Share and discuss artworks, noticing how both the shape and the space around it are interesting

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you notice about the space around your shape?
  • How is negative space different from positive space?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for teaching us to be creative and to see beauty in everything, even empty spaces.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn how to create pictures using different shapes!

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 139:14

“I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.”

— Psalm 139:14 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trace hands while saying verse to remember God's careful design

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Positive and negative space is a fundamental concept in art and design

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage careful cutting and patience
  • Help children see space as something active, not just empty
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find cutting intricate shapes challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Understanding that space around an object can be just as important as the object itself

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a window artwork with cutout designs
  • Explore negative space in nature photography
  • Make a shadow puppet show highlighting shape and space

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 14 →Back to Art