Mona Lisa's Summer Vacation

I love this project so much!  The results are always so fun and whimsical!
I have done it a few times.  You can find another version of the same idea here with a lesson on the Dada Movement in art - http://cinnamonraisintoast.blogspot.com/2010/01/dada-project-with-mona-lisa.html

Here are the results of our latest efforts...

Basically you just need to download a picture of Mona Lisa and then let your imagination run wild!

I asked the kids what they were going to do on the summer break.  Then I told them to pretend you were taking Mona Lisa with you.  Imagine her in that environment.  Mona Lisa visiting the Taj Mahal, Mona Lisa selling ice cream, Mona Lisa at the botanical gardens, on a boat, picking flowers....you get the idea!

DaDa project with Mona Lisa!

The Dada art movement only had one rule - Never follow any rules!
Marcel Duchamp is one of the most famous Dada artists.
He asks the question - What is ART?  He hoped to challenge people's perceptions of what art could be.
His famous painting is of Mona Lisa with a moustache.

I thought it would fun to take the infamous painting of Mona Lisa, that kids of all ages will most likely recognize, and see what happens when we give her a new identity.

Materials - 
- Color copies of the Mona Lisa, can be found online
- 8x10 or 11x14 white paper
- Glue sticks
- Pencils, markers or paints - your choice!

Directions -

1.  Each child will get a color copy of the Mona Lisa.  We discuss the original painting first then I begin to talk about DaDa, explaining that there are no rules and show Duchamp's example.  We talk about creating a new Mona Lisa, giving her a new body or new environment...maybe she's a butterfly, maybe a firefighter....whatever their little hearts desire!
2.  The children begin by cutting out Mona Lisa's face, using her hair too is optional.
3.  Each child then glues down her face on their white paper and begins to sketch their idea for the new Mona Lisa
4.  Once their sketch is complete they add color.
Remember - there are no rules...so if they ask, can Mona Lisa have 2 heads instead of one?
You simply say YES!