Lesson 1: Alternative Mark Making
Description: The focus of this lesson was to explore alternative methods of mark making. We supplied the students with sticks, yarn, foam balls, sponges, spoons, forks, and water droppers. We also used masking tape to connect brushes to long sticks, to make an unconventional brush that you would not find in most artist studios. The students used the materials we provided and applied tempera paint to the large sheet of paper we taped to the wall. This was a collaborative piece, that we asked all our students to contribute to.
Takeaways: I really enjoyed watching the students experiment with new materials. I believe students learn a lot from experimenting and trying new things. This applies inside and outside of the classroom. I want to encourage my students to follow their curiosities and see where they lead them. One of my goals for this lesson was to give students a space to explore and I think I was successful. |
Lesson 2: Making Zines
Description: For this lesson students created and personalized their own handmade zines to reflect their personal interests, life experiences, or anything that inspired them! One of the goals of this lesson was to teach students another kind of alternative art. Zines are very popular today and incredibly accessible. Many students filled the pages with random doodles and magazine clippings and others tried to create a story, with action and characters.
Takeaways: I discovered how important step by step instructions are for students, especially the younger ones. When folding a paper into a zine, the students must follow 7 steps. It took me a few tries before really understanding how to explain it well. Another big takeaway for me is having visual aids. Providing each student with a handout or even writing the step-by-step on the board is a game changer. |
Lesson 3: Creating Puppets
Description: During this lesson, we focused on creating characters and telling stories through the art of puppet making. We also focused on crafts as a form of art. Looking at contemporary artists that use different methods to tell narratives in their works, we were inspired to create puppets that tell a variety of stories.
Takeaways: I really enjoyed the storytelling aspect of this lesson. Making puppets is an enjoyable lesson for young students because they get to engage with their art longer than just the time it takes to create it. This puppet making lesson really opened my eyes to the possibilities of planning more lessons around the big idea of storytelling. I would love to do multiple lessons with this topic. Students could create a character, a backstory, and a world for their character to live in. This could be done digitally, 2D, or 3D and could be adapted for any age group. |