Visual & Performing Arts · Kindergarten · Art History and Appreciation · Weeks 28-36

Meet the Artist: Frida Kahlo

Exploring the art of Frida Kahlo, discussing her self-portraits and use of symbolism.

• Common Core State Standards
• NCAS: Responding VA.Re7.2.K
• NCAS: Connecting VA.Cn11.1.K

About This Topic

Meet the Artist: Frida Kahlo introduces kindergarteners to one of the most recognizable artists in world history, with a focus accessible to five-year-olds: Kahlo painted pictures of herself and included objects that had special meaning to her. In the US K-12 arts framework, this topic activates the Responding strand (VA.Re7.2.K) and the Connecting strand (VA.Cn11.1.K), asking students to look closely, describe what they see, and begin to understand that art communicates personal stories.

For kindergarteners, the most powerful entry point into Kahlo's work is the idea of self-portraiture as identity: what would you put in a picture of yourself to show who you are? Students can identify with the impulse to include a favorite animal, a family member, or a cherished object without needing to understand the full complexity of Kahlo's biography and symbolism.

Active learning strategies that invite students to create their own response artwork alongside discussion help them move from passive reception to genuine artistic thinking. Making a symbol-rich self-portrait puts the conceptual work in their hands rather than in a lecture.

Key Questions

1. Explain how Frida Kahlo used symbols in her paintings to tell her story.
2. Critique how Kahlo's self-portraits communicate her identity and experiences.
3. Design a self-portrait that includes symbols representing your own life.

Learning Objectives

• Identify symbols Frida Kahlo used in her self-portraits to represent her experiences.
• Describe how specific symbols in Kahlo's self-portraits communicate her identity.
• Design a self-portrait incorporating personal symbols to express identity.
• Explain the connection between personal symbols and self-representation in art.

Before You Start

Basic Drawing Skills

Why: Students need foundational skills in drawing simple shapes and figures to create their self-portraits.

Identifying Colors and Shapes

Why: Recognizing colors and shapes is essential for observing and discussing elements within artworks, including Kahlo's paintings.

Key Vocabulary

Self-Portrait	A painting or drawing that an artist makes of themselves. Frida Kahlo is famous for painting many self-portraits.
Symbol	An object or picture that stands for something else. For example, a heart can be a symbol for love.
Identity	Who you are. It is made up of your feelings, your experiences, and the things that are important to you.
Artist	A person who creates art, like paintings, drawings, or sculptures.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Self-portraits are just drawings of what you look like.

What to Teach Instead

Kahlo's work shows that self-portraits can include symbols, feelings, and stories. Asking students what they would add to a picture of themselves to show their personality opens up this richer understanding.

Common Misconception

You have to understand everything in a painting for it to mean something to you.

What to Teach Instead

Responding to what you notice first is a valid and important part of art appreciation. Active looking and sharing observations builds meaning-making skills that grow with each exposure to art.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Look Closely at Frida

Display 3-4 reproductions of Kahlo's self-portraits around the room. Students walk the gallery with a partner, stopping at each to name one object or animal they notice. Pairs share their observations in a whole-class discussion.

20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: What Does This Object Mean?

Focus on one detail in a Kahlo painting (a monkey, flowers, a bird). Pairs discuss: why might she have included this? What might it mean about her? Share ideas with the class, normalizing multiple interpretations.

10 min·Pairs

Studio: My Symbol Self-Portrait

Students draw a self-portrait and add 2-3 symbols (objects, animals, plants) that represent something about their life or personality. Each student writes or dictates one sentence explaining one symbol. Display alongside a Kahlo reproduction.

35 min·Individual

Peer Share: The Artist's Symbol Walk

Students display their symbol self-portraits. Partners take turns being the 'Artist' (explaining one symbol) and the 'Visitor' (asking one curious question). Class notices similarities and differences in how everyone chose to represent themselves.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Museum curators, like those at the Museum of Modern Art, select and display artworks, including self-portraits by artists like Frida Kahlo, to help visitors understand different cultures and personal stories.
• Illustrators for children's books often use symbols to help tell a story visually, similar to how Frida Kahlo used symbols in her paintings to share her experiences with viewers.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Give students a card with a picture of a simple object (e.g., a flower, a pet, a book). Ask them to draw it in a small box and write one sentence explaining what that object means to them personally. This checks their understanding of personal symbolism.

Discussion Prompt

Show students a Frida Kahlo self-portrait with clear symbols. Ask: 'What do you see in this picture? What do you think this object might mean to Frida? How does it help us understand her?' This assesses their ability to interpret symbols and connect them to the artist's story.

Quick Check

As students work on their self-portraits, circulate and ask: 'Tell me about one symbol you are putting in your picture. What does it represent about you?' This provides immediate feedback on their grasp of personal symbolism and self-expression.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I introduce Frida Kahlo to kindergarteners without overwhelming them?

Focus on one accessible idea: she painted herself and included things that mattered to her. Use a single, visually clear painting as your anchor image. Keep the biographical context simple: she was a Mexican artist who loved color and her own story.

What Kahlo paintings work best for kindergarteners?

Self-Portrait with Monkeys (1943) and Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) have clear, identifiable animals that draw children in immediately. Avoid works with more distressing imagery until older grades.

How does active learning support art history with kindergarteners?

Making art in response to an artist's work (rather than just looking and listening) helps students internalize the concepts being studied. Creating their own symbol self-portrait gives children a personal connection to Kahlo's ideas about identity and storytelling through art.

How do I connect this lesson to the students' own cultural backgrounds?

After exploring Kahlo's Mexican symbols (flowers, animals, folk art patterns), ask students to share symbols from their own families and backgrounds. This expands the lesson from one artist's story to a broader conversation about how all cultures use symbols to tell stories.