Description
Teach your students about contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama with this engaging Yayoi Kusama Mushroom Art Lesson. Students learn to draw patterned mushrooms, experiment with color groups and color theory, and create striking infinity net backgrounds inspired by Kusama’s famous artwork.
This flexible elementary art project includes Roll & Draw activities, drawing guides, coloring pages, and assessment tools to help students build drawing confidence as they explore contemporary art.
★ Why Teachers Love This Lesson
✔︎ Introduces students to Yayoi Kusama’s artistic style, including dots, patterns, and infinity nets
✔︎ Flexible project options make it easy to differentiate for multiple grade levels
✔︎ Combines drawing practice, pattern design, and color theory in one complete lesson
✔︎ Includes both structured and choice-based activities like Roll & Draw and Choice Drawing pages
✔︎ Supports assessment with included rubrics and a color theory quiz
★ What’s Included (50 Pages)
✔︎ Teacher Instructions (8 pages)
✔︎ Student Instructions with 3 project ideas (3 pages)
✔︎ Mushroom Drawing Guide (1 page)
✔︎ Mushroom Template (1 page)
✔︎ Roll & Draw activity pages (2 pages)
✔︎ Choice Drawing Pages (2 pages)
✔︎ Print-and-Go Version (1 page)
✔︎ Infinity Net Step-by-Step Guides (5 pages)
✔︎ Infinity Net Sample Pages / Coloring Pages (5 pages)
✔︎ Mushroom Example Pages (2 pages)
✔︎ Mushroom Coloring Pages (6 pages)
✔︎ Color Wheels and Color Group Quiz (5 pages)
✔︎ Rubrics for Assessment (2 pages)
✔︎ Yayoi Kusama Color Portrait Page (1 page)
✔︎ Kusama Coloring Pages (3 pages)
✔︎ Yayoi Kusama Timeline Activity with teacher key (3 pages)
Total: 50 pages
★ How It Works
Students begin by learning about Yayoi Kusama, a contemporary artist known for her bold patterns, dots, and infinity-inspired designs.
Step-by-step, students will:
- Learn to draw a mushroom using the guided drawing page.
- Choose a cap shape, stem design, and pattern using the Roll & Draw or Choice Drawing pages.
- Add dots and patterns inspired by Kusama’s artwork.
- Select a color group or color scheme using the included color wheel and examples (there’s even an optional color quiz).
- Create an infinity net background by repeating shapes and patterns across the page.
- Color their artwork using crayons, markers, colored pencils, or mixed media.
Students can either:
✔︎ Draw the infinity net around their mushroom
✔︎ Create a full page infinity net and glue the mushroom on top
✔︎ Use coloring pages for an easier entry point
Optional extension activities include:
✔︎ Creating a timeline about Yayoi Kusama’s life and artwork
✔︎ Coloring a portrait of the artist
✔︎ Completing the color group quiz
These options allow teachers to adapt the lesson for different skill levels, centers, early finishers, or distance learning.
★ FAQs
What grade levels work best with this lesson?
This lesson works well for upper elementary students, but it can be adapted for younger grades using the templates and coloring pages.
Do students need to know how to draw already?
No. The resource includes step-by-step mushroom drawing instructions that help students follow along easily.
What materials are required?
Students can complete this lesson with simple supplies such as paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, or paint.
Can this be used for early finishers or art centers?
Yes. The Roll & Draw pages and coloring pages work well as art center activities or extension projects.
★ National Standards
VA:Cr1.1.3a: Elaborate on an imaginative idea.
VA:Cr2.1.3a: Create personally satisfying artwork using a variety of artistic processes and materials.
VA:Cr2.3.3a: Individually or collaboratively construct representations, diagrams, or maps of places that are part of everyday life.
VA:Re7.2.3a: Determine messages communicated by an image.
★ Learning Objectives
✔︎ Students will generate ideas for artwork inspired by a contemporary artist.
✔︎ Students will create artwork using patterns, shapes, and repeated designs.
✔︎ Students will construct visual compositions using structured pattern systems such as infinity nets.
✔︎ Students will analyze visual elements such as color, dots, and patterns used in artworks.
★ What Happy Teachers are Saying
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness, this is such a great resource! Thank you! I put several of the “How To” drawings of infinity nets into plastic sleeves for students to use during free drawing time. I love Yayoi Kusama and we always draw her dot pumpkins so it was fun to have something different. I look forward to making the mushrooms. Thanks again for sharing.
~ Loving Hearts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I highly recommend this resource, especially the “how to draw infinity nets” which I believe otherwise might have been intimidating to some students. My students LOVED this from start to finish.
~ Jill E.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My kiddos loved this resource. Yayoi was a really awesome artist to study and they loved creating the mushrooms! So much you can do with this unit.
~ Kasiani P.
✨ Help your students create bold Yayoi Kusama-inspired mushroom artwork while practicing drawing, pattern design, and color theory in one memorable art lesson! ✨
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Easily download this PDF with a link that is automatically emailed to you immediately after your purchase and you can begin drawing right away!
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Created by Stacey Peters, © Expressive Monkey
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