Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Famous Artists Fact Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Famous Artists Fact Cards is a free printable card set for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). It has eight artists, with one fact on each card. Children cut out the cards, read them and start to notice how different artists work. It takes about 20 minutes and needs only paper, a pencil and scissors.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the adult and has notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children get a set of cards to cut out, one for each of eight famous artists. Each card has a single fact about what that artist is known for. Children read the cards, then look up one picture by each artist with an adult. They talk about the colours, lines and shapes they see, and start to build a way of describing an artist's style in their own words.
- Vincent van Gogh painted sunflowers in thick, swirling brushstrokes.
- Claude Monet painted water lilies and gardens.
- Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
- Pablo Picasso painted faces seen from more than one side.
- Frida Kahlo painted many pictures of herself.
- Georges Seurat painted with tiny dots of colour.
- Henri Matisse made art by cutting out shapes from paper.
- Piet Mondrian used straight lines and red, blue and yellow squares.
Ways to use the cards
Read and match
Cut out the cards and read them one at a time. Put them in a row. Ask your child to say which artist they would most like to know more about, and why.
Guess the artist
One person reads a card aloud without the name. The others guess. Swap roles so every child gets to read as well as listen.
Look and describe
Pick one card. Find a picture by that artist in a library book or online with an adult. Describe what you can see before you say anything about what you think.
Make and compare
Make a quick picture inspired by one card. Put it next to the picture you looked at and talk about what is similar and what is different.
Why learn about famous artists?
Looking at the work of well known artists helps children see that there is no single way to make a picture. Some artists use bold colour, some use careful lines, and some use unusual materials. When children meet this range, they begin to understand that style is a choice. That idea gives them more confidence when they make their own art.
In the National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 art includes learning about great artists in history. A short card set is a gentle way in. Each card gives one fact to hold on to, and the picture does the rest. Children then have something real to talk about, which builds vocabulary as well as understanding of art.
Quick art facts
- A style is the way an artist uses things like colour, line and shape.
- Many galleries and museums keep paintings so that people can come and see them.
- Artists often make quick sketches before they start a finished picture.
- Artists can make pictures with paint, pencil, pastel, paper and many other materials.
- Two artists can look at the same thing and make pictures that look completely different.
Skills and curriculum link
- Art history
- Reading
- Describing style
- Looking closely
- Speaking and listening
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Art and Design | Artists | Year 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can say what a famous artist is known for.
- I can notice their style.
- I can talk about what I like in their work.
Helping children get more from the cards
- Look before you readAsk your child to look at a picture for a full minute before they read the card. Then ask what they noticed first. This builds the habit of careful looking.
- Use describing wordsOffer words such as bold, soft, bright, dark, smooth, rough, thick and thin. Ask your child to pick the ones that fit the picture.
- Ask for opinionsSay, "What do you like about this one?" There is no wrong answer. Children should give a reason, even a simple one.
- Keep it shortDo a few cards in one sitting and come back for the rest. Short, regular looks at art help children remember more than one long session.
Key words
- ArtistA person who makes art, such as paintings, drawings or sculptures.
- StyleThe way an artist uses colour, line and shape so their work looks like theirs.
- BrushstrokeThe mark left by one sweep of a paintbrush.
- PortraitA picture of a person.
- GalleryA place where art is shown for people to look at.
- DescribeUse words to say what something is like, so someone else can picture it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the adult.
- Cut out the cards. Younger children may need an adult to help with the scissors. Read them through together the first time.
- Look up one picture by each artist online or in a library book with an adult. Talk about the colours, lines and shapes you can see.
- Check your thinking against the notes on page 2. Ask, "What makes you say that?" The reasons matter as much as the answers.
- Come back to it another day and play the guessing game. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Choose one card and describe the colours you can see in that artist's work. Look up one picture with an adult. Say the colours out loud, then say whether they look bright, soft or dark. Do one card today and return to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Pick an artist and make a picture in their style. First decide what you will copy, such as the colours, the lines or the shapes. Then tell someone which parts you chose and why.
Make it a game
Cut out the cards. Read one aloud without the name and ask others to guess the artist. Take turns reading. Give one point for each correct guess. An adult can help with the scissors if needed.
Talk about it
- Which artist would you most like to meet, and what would you ask them?
- What colours can you see in the picture you looked up? How do they make you feel?
- Do the lines look thick or thin, smooth or rough? How can you tell?
- How would you copy this artist's style with a pencil and paper?
- Which picture would you hang in your bedroom? Why?
- What is the difference between two of the artists on the cards?
Take it off the page
Gallery at home
Choose your favourite pictures from library books. Prop them up around a room and make a label for each one. Give a tour to a family member.
Style experiment
Draw the same simple object, such as a cup or a shoe, in two different ways. Talk about how the two drawings feel different.
Colour hunt
Look around the house or garden and find five colours you could see in a painting. Draw or colour a small square for each one and name it.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. About 20 minutes is plenty. You do not need to know about art. Look at a picture together and ask what they notice.
Teachers
Use the cards as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. They need no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair the cards with library books and a trip to a gallery if you can. Children can revisit the cards after a few weeks, or you can print them again for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in learning about art
Before this, children have usually looked at pictures and talked about what they see and like. This card set builds on that by adding names, and by asking children to notice what makes one artist's work different from another's.
After this, children can compare two artists, say how their styles differ and use an idea from an artist in their own work. They can also visit a gallery or look at a wider range of art, including work from other times and places.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What is this artist best known for?
- What do you notice about the colours or lines?
- How would you copy their style?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Famous Artists Fact Cards for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help from an adult, and older children can use the stretch idea to go further.
- What will children practise?
They learn what a famous artist is known for and notice their style. They also practise reading short facts, looking closely at pictures and describing what they see in their own words.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 20 minutes. You can do a few cards at a time and come back to the rest on another day if your child loses interest or you are short of time.
- Is it free to use?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision a few weeks later, and keep page 2 for the adult.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves if they like, or look at coloured pictures in a library book or online with an adult.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting, and page 2 offers help and stretch ideas.
- What if it feels too hard?
Choose one card and describe the colours you can see in that artist's work. Look at the picture with your child and use simple words like bright, dark and soft. Come back to the other cards later.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.