By now we are all quite busy with lesson plans, clubs, NJAHS and NAHS on our plates, but there is always time to learn something new. Here are some great tips and ideas about paper and collage and substitute lessons.
It’s all in the wrist. The art of paper cutting has been around for centuries and in many cultures around the world. In China, this beautiful folk art dates back to about the second century C.E., in Poland from about the mid-1800s, and in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, North Arica and the Middle East for several centuries.
This traditional folk are can be done with students in grades K-2 by modifying the design details. For younger students, I have them fold their paper in half, either vertically or horizontally so that they produce a symmetrical design. After explaining the process, the students draw their design, and color in the parts they are going to cut out. This makes it much easier for them to see what they are cutting. Older students can use craft knives to cut more delicate designs.
Polish paper cuts traditionally depict scenes from daily life, trees, flowers and birds. In China, the cutouts were traditionally done with red paper, as red is associated with festivities in that country. The negative space in these cutouts was important as they would generally put the designs on doors and windows and the light would shine through the negative space. Like the Polish paper-cut designs, Jewish folk art focused on daily life as well.
Magazines are not just for reading. Don’t know what to do with all those donated magazines? Here are a few projects that can be modified for every grade level: create a color wheel or do an entire color theory unit with torn pieces of color from magazines; make a collage and print (foam prints, silkscreens, collagraphs, etc.) on them. They make a great background; collage a famous piece of artwork from magazine scraps.
Collage away! It’s more fun than you think. When I sometimes tell my students that we are going to make a collage, the general response is “awww,” and definitely not in a positive manner. This past year I switched it up a little and now all my students want to do is collage work. I showed them examples of Picasso, Schwitters, Cornell, Matisse, Bearden and various other artists. The student artworks were amazing this year, with such things as photos, image transfers, old slide casings and photo corners included in their work. One student even used modeling paste.
Sub plans for all. As a teacher for the past 20 years, I know that when we have to take a day off it is so hard to find an art teacher to substitute for you. Here are some plans that any substitute can use, even if they are not an art teacher.
The plans I leave for preK-2 are always literacy based. Young students always tend to finish early, so including a book will be of great interest to the students and keep them engaged and on task for a long time. Here are some of the books I use with a quick art lesson:
The Rainbow Fish: Have students draw a fish and either color insides the fish or glue pieces of pre-cut tissue paper.
Where the Wild Things Are: students can draw their own wild thing. With the upper grades and middle school I have them create their wild thing using a pen and ink, hatching, cross-hatching and stippling. When it is complete I have them add water color to it.
Giraffes Can’t Dance: students love this story and it also tied in character traits that we all use at our schools now. Students can draw a picture of Gerald the giraffe dancing.
Tar beach: students can draw a picture about what they do in summer and create a quilt-like border using scraps of wallpaper.
The following ideas can be adapted for third- through 12th-grade students: drawing crumpled-up brown bags; Zentangle; drawing a pun; and five- to six-step metamorphosis.
Arts & Activities Contributing Editor Glenda Lubiner (NBCT) teaches art at Franklin Academy Charter School in Pembroke Pines, FL. She is also an adjunct professor at Broward College.
Reprinted with permission from Arts & Activities magazine. Visit their website: www.artsandactivities.com
