Grade 2 Art And Craft Paint and colour – Painting shapes Notes

What we will learn

In this lesson children will learn to identify simple shapes and paint them using colour. They will practise mixing two colours to make new colours and use shapes to make a picture.

Specific Learning Outcomes

• Identify and name basic shapes: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval and star.
• Choose and use paint brushes and colours safely and neatly.
• Paint a shape inside an outline without going too far outside the lines.
• Mix two primary colours (red, blue, yellow) to make a secondary colour (green, orange, purple).
• Create a simple picture using two or more shapes (e.g., house, sun, fish, shield).
• Talk about their work and display it in the classroom or at home.

Materials (Kenyan context)

• Poster paints or water colours (red, blue, yellow, white, black)
• Small paint pots, water container and old newspapers to protect the table
• Different brush sizes, sponge or cotton wool for texture
• A4 paper or card, pencil and rubber
• Cloth or apron (old kitenge or worn T-shirt is fine)

Simple Visuals — shapes to paint

Tip: Copy these shapes on paper with pencil, then paint inside the lines.

Suggested Learning Experiences (step-by-step)

1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Ask children to name shapes they see around the classroom or at home (doors — rectangles, clocks — circles, roofs — triangles).
2. Demonstration (7 minutes): Teacher draws a big circle on the board and paints it. Show how to hold a brush and rinse it in water. Show colour mixing: red + yellow = orange, blue + yellow = green, red + blue = purple. Make small mixing circles on the board.
3. Guided practice (15–20 minutes): Give each child paper with faint pencil outlines of 3 shapes (circle, triangle, square). Ask them to choose colours, paint neatly inside shapes and try one colour mix for a new colour. Teacher walks around and gives help.
4. Creative activity (10–15 minutes): Use painted shapes to make a picture — e.g., circle = sun, rectangle + triangle = house, oval + triangle = fish. Children cut and paste (optional) or draw more details with crayons/markers after paint dries.
5. Share and reflect (5–8 minutes): Children show their work in pairs and say the shapes and colours they used. Teacher displays some works on the wall or a class string.
6. Clean-up (5 minutes): Teach how to wash brushes, put paint lids on, and tidy the table.

Classroom links to Kenyan life

• Paint a simple Maasai shield using ovals and circles and the Kenyan flag colours (black, red, green, white).
• Make shapes of fruit found in Kenya — mango (oval), banana (long oval), orange (circle).
• Use shapes to draw familiar buildings: a Kiosk (rectangle + rectangle), a house with a tin roof (triangle + rectangle).

Assessment ideas (simple)

• Observe each child painting: can they name at least two shapes and choose neat brush strokes?
• Check one painting per child: is colour mixing attempted? Are shapes painted mostly inside the lines?
• Ask two questions: "What shapes did you use?" and "Which colours did you mix?" — note answers.

Safety and good practice

• Use non-toxic child-friendly paints only. Keep a cloth for spills.
• Do not taste paints. Wash hands after painting.
• Encourage care of school materials—clean brushes and close paint lids.