Claude Monet STEM Invitation: Water Lilies & The Japanese Bridge

For this invitation, we explored the works of Claude Monet by reading The Magical Garden of Claude Monet and Meet Claude Monet. We also shared an image of his famous Japanese Water Lilies painting to spark curiosity and inspire the children’s building experience. Using STEM as our approach, we transformed the painting into a hands-on learning invitation by setting up our Discount School Supply Tuff Tray with black and white Cosy Direct Ones, Plastic Water Channeling Guttering (6-pack), open-play toy cones, jumbo craft sticks, iridescent cups, Acrylic Display Risers Hexagonal, shelves, water lilies in purple & white, flat marbles, and Colorations Metallic Green Paint to represent the water.

The children were invited to create their own interpretation of Monet’s painting through building, designing, and open-ended exploration. Experiences like this allow children to extend their learning beyond simply viewing art, they begin to think like artists, engineers, and problem-solvers all at once. Preschool STEM activities are especially valuable because they encourage children to ask questions, test ideas, and stretch their creative thinking skills.

Introducing the engineering and design process feels natural in early childhood because children already love to build, experiment, and solve problems. This invitation transformed a simple building activity into an opportunity for deeper thinking, helping children explore perspective, creativity, and their own interpretation of Monet’s work.

There was no right or wrong way to approach this experience, which made it so meaningful. The possibilities were truly endless. By providing open-ended materials and the freedom to explore, children could create, imagine, and build in ways entirely their own. The magic of Claude Monet truly came to life through their creations, as the children transformed simple materials into their own beautiful interpretation of his peaceful water lily gardens.