Alma Woodsey Thomas Art Project Sunset Art Lesson Black History Month Activity

This Alma Woodsey Thomas Sunset Art Lesson is a joyful, colorful Black History Month art activity and artist study that introduces an important artist while students explore painting, pattern, mark making, and color.

Inspired by A Fantastic Sunset, students create their own vibrant painted artwork using repeated painted marks and concentric rings of color. It is playful, eye catching, and so satisfying to make, and the finished artworks look gorgeous on display.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Alma Thomas Sunset Art Lesson - Video Lesson + Lesson Plan - Ms Artastic.zip
• Lesson plan and printable pages (PDF)
• "Watch the Video" page (PDF) with a clickable link and QR code to the step-by-step video tutorial, so you can watch it anytime and show your class again later

HOW TO USE IT

This lesson works wonderfully for art class, homeschool art, sub plans, Black History Month studies, primary art and elementary painting lessons, or any time you want students to create colorful work inspired by a famous artist.

Play the step-by-step video for your class and use the printable pages to guide the lesson. It is simple to set up but creates stunning results, and the finished pieces are perfect for hallway displays, bulletin boards, classroom decor, or homeschool portfolios.

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

Students respond to Alma Woodsey Thomas’s artwork through their own colorful creation, exploring pattern, repetition, color, mark making, and composition as they build a vibrant circular design inspired by the feel of a sunset.

MATERIALS USED

• Pencil
• Eraser
• Black felt marker
• Liquid tempera paint
• Card stock or watercolor paper
• Paint brush
• Water

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

This resource is great for art teachers, classroom teachers, substitute teachers, and homeschool families who want an engaging Alma Woodsey Thomas art lesson or Black History Month art activity.

How can this resource be used?

You can use it for art class, homeschool visual art, artist study, Black History Month, painting units, sub plans, or as part of a larger unit on famous artists and color in art.

How long will this art lesson take?

Most classes will complete this lesson in about 2 to 3 classes depending on student age and skill level, class behavior, teacher instruction style, and the amount of time available in each class.

Why is this a great lesson for younger students?

This lesson is approachable, colorful, and highly visual. It helps students explore painting, repetition, and artist inspiration in a way that feels successful and exciting, especially for primary art and elementary art learners.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured educator on the cover of OCO Magazine (October 2025). She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this resource for classroom, homeschool or personal educational use, and print and project it for student learning.

YOU MAY NOT: share it with other teachers or post it online.

Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic