Activities before going to the computer:
• Introduce the students to the painting "Broadway Boogie Woogie" (https://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=78682) and lead a discussion about what they see, what they think is happening, and what they think the painting means.
• Invite students to talk about what music they like, then play jazz by Meade Lux Lewis and Alber Ammons, two musicians that inspired Mondrian. Inform the students that Mondrian was an artist who tried to make music come to life in his paintings.
• Inform the students that they will research Mondrian’s life and work in order to write a biographical report. Ultimately, the students will create their own versions of paintings in Mondrian’s style.
Computer research activity:
Students will work at the computer both individually and in their learning groups to access web-quests and various biographical and informational web-pages about Piet Mondrian and his paintings.
• Divide the class into groups or learning clubs with one student playing the role of the “navigator,” while the others make sketches and record data. One student will be the “recorder,” another the “presenter,” all will be “researchers.”
• Have the students research Mondrian and record their information.
• The students will then use their research to write a biographical report and prepare a class presentation about Mondrian.
Make sure to allot at least one class period (or more, depending on students’ abilities with computers and researching) to Internet researching and one class period to the report write-up and class presentation preparation.
• Have all of the groups present their findings on the life and work of Mondrian. If there is not enough time for entire presentations, have each group present surprising or interesting findings. Encourage discussion among the students.
Mondrian computer art activity:
• Have each student operate a PC computer to access various Mondrian graphics sites to become more familiar with his work.
• Instruct the students that they will use the “Paint” program on their PC computer to produce images based on grid patterns of repeating shapes, in the same style as Mondrian.
• In Paint, have students click on the Select feature to draw a picture plane by clicking and dragging the cursor to the desired size.
• Using the Rectangle and Line features, encourage the students to explore different geometrical shapes and patterns emulating those of Mondrian's paintings to create their lines, shapes, and patterns. Encourage the students to vary line thickness, by using that tool.
• Upon successful completion of the linear composition, have students select the Pick Color and Fill With Color features to apply their desired color palette paying close attention to repetition and pattern. (Optional—Have students complete one piece in a primary color scheme, a color scheme of their choosing, or even a secondary or tertiary color scheme.)
• Also point out the Eraser/Color Eraser options.
• When the students’ pieces are complete, have them title their piece, save it, then print it out (in color).
Culminating activity:
After reporting on Mondrian and experiencing the graphics software, play jazz music for the students. Have them listen to the music and create a painting in Mondrian’s grid style using straight lines and repeating shapes. Have them paint primary colors to represent different sounds in the music.