Back to the Imaginarium
Ages 6–8Creative
Famous Artists Theme Dinner
Step into the world of creativity and color — art meets food.
Step into the world of creativity and color with this Famous Artists Theme Dinner for kids ages 6-8! This dinner will inspire your young ones to appreciate art, explore iconic painters and their masterpieces, and express their creativity through food. You'll combine a love of art with a delicious meal, creating a fun, interactive experience for the whole family. Each night, your kids will discover new artists and learn fun facts while participating in hands-on activities. This dinner theme can be spread over a week or a few days depending on your family's schedule.
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. The point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Gather Your Supplies
The Provisions
Props
- Art supplies (crayons, markers, watercolor paints)
- Small canvas or paper for mini paintings
- Printouts of famous artists and their works (Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Pollock)
- Aprons (or old T-shirts) to wear while painting
- Frames (or paper borders) to display artwork
- Music playlist with classical or famous artists' soundtracks (Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky)
- Art history books or cards with fun facts about each artist
- DIY "palette" plate for food display (a circular plate with different sections)
Recipes & Food
- Van Gogh's Starry Night Pancakes (star-shaped with whipped cream and syrup)
- Picasso's Cubist Sandwiches (cut into geometric shapes with fun fillings)
- Monet's Garden Salad (colorful vegetables mimicking Monet's garden)
- Mona Lisa's Pasta (spaghetti or macaroni with marinara, pesto, or Alfredo)
- Pollock's Paint-Splattered Cake (mini cakes with colorful icing splatters)
- Art Palette Cookies (sugar cookies shaped like a painter's palette)
Language & Music
- Play classical music or famous compositions that inspired artists during dinner
- Learn about different art movements (Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract) and discuss them briefly
- Use fun art vocabulary words like "brushstroke," "palette," "canvas," and "portrait"
Peripherals
- Mini art stations with supplies to create small works of art
- Fun fact sheets about the artists featured (Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Pollock)
- Art-themed puzzles or games
- Artist activity worksheets to color or complete during meal prep
Your Week of Wonder
The Five-Day Itinerary
1
Monday
Introduction to Famous Artists & Planning
- Introduce your children to a few famous artists: Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and Pollock. Share their famous works and explain the different styles they used to create their masterpieces.
- Activity: Have the kids draw their own version of a famous artwork or create a picture in the style of the artist they learned about (cubism-inspired shapes for Picasso, swirling lines for Van Gogh).
- Dinner: Prepare a simple dinner together while you discuss the artists. Have fun preparing the Picasso's Cubist Sandwiches and let the kids assemble them.
2
Tuesday
Color and Creativity
- Today's focus is on colors and how different artists used them to express their emotions and ideas. Introduce Monet's colorful landscapes and Van Gogh's vivid paintings.
- Activity: Paint a picture inspired by Monet's garden, using bright colors and blending techniques. You can use watercolors or markers.
- Dinner: Prepare Monet's Garden Salad with a variety of colorful vegetables, letting the kids pick and assemble their favorite salad ingredients.
3
Wednesday
Fun with Food Art
- After learning about the vibrant use of color in the works of Van Gogh and Monet, today's theme is all about turning food into art!
- Activity: Use Van Gogh's Starry Night Pancakes as a fun creative activity. Make star-shaped pancakes and allow the kids to decorate them with whipped cream and syrup to mimic the swirling pattern of the famous painting.
- Dinner: During dinner, continue exploring the artists' use of color by discussing how each color in the painting expresses different emotions.
4
Thursday
Abstract Art & Jackson Pollock
- Explore the concept of abstract art through Jackson Pollock's splatter paintings, where movement and color come together in chaotic beauty.
- Activity: Create your own "Pollock-style" artwork by splattering paint on a canvas or large sheet of paper. Allow the kids to get messy with their art project while you prepare dinner.
- Dinner: Prepare Pollock's Paint-Splattered Cake as a dessert, letting the kids decorate their cakes with bright, colorful icing splatters, mimicking Pollock's abstract splatter painting style.
5
Friday
Final Famous Artist Dinner!
- It's time to celebrate your artistic journey with a grand dinner inspired by the famous artists! Let the kids dress up as artists (with aprons or their own masterpieces on display) and enjoy the creative dinner.
- Menu: Van Gogh's Starry Night Pancakes, Picasso's Cubist Sandwiches, Monet's Garden Salad, Mona Lisa's Pasta, Pollock's Paint-Splattered Cake, and Art Palette Cookies.
- Display the kids' artwork from the week around the room, play classical or inspirational music, and use the DIY "palette" plate to serve the food in colorful sections. Let the kids help prepare the Cubist Sandwiches and decorate the Pollock cake.
