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Example Lesson Plan
LARGE PRINTED PORTFOLIOS
By Noelle Burns who works for the Watertown Unified School District in Watertown, WI
Introduction
Students have created beautiful artworks throughout the year. This project is great to do at the end of the year once all your art shows are finished. I have found over my years of teaching that making these folders assures that the artwork will arrive home safely plus be kept for years to come. I do different folders for each grade level, but would like to share the one I do with my kindergarten classes. It can also be done at an older level if you wish. This folder would cover the element of color and also involve different areas of printing.
Time Required
2 class periods (50 minutes each)
Objectives
Students will:
- Be introduced to primary and secondary colors or if you prefer I have also done it with tints and shades.
- Understand what a brayer is verses what are gadgets.
- Create a portfolio which will hold their artwork from the entire year. One they will take great pride in taking home.
Vocabulary
- Primary colors
- Secondary colors
- Cool colors mixed into tints and shades
Brayer - Gadgets used in printing
- Portfolio
Directions
I use tagboard that is 24” X 36” in white if doing secondary colors or a manilla colored tagboard if I do the tints and shades. I prefold them as this is hard for the kindergarten student to do. On separate plates I put the primary colors or the cool color shades of midnight blue, dark green, and dark purple. Students then are taught how to use a brayer and are allowed three rolls with each color on the large sheet of tagboard. I encourage them to fill their empty spots with their nine rolls of color and also let them know they can overlap rolls. This is allowed to dry until the next class period.
During the second class period students will print using gadgets I have collected over the years such as laundry bottle caps, a potato masher, a hand whip, leftover masking tape rolls, paper towel rolls, decorative foam rollers which were purchased, corks, forks, or any other gadgets that leave a cool print. I encourage them to print over all areas and balance their artwork using the secondary colors or tints of the cool colors. I remind them that printing is an up and down motion unlike rolling with the brayer. Once these dry I staple the bottom only of their folders as artwork that is large will still hang out the sides. If work is smaller and fits inside the folder then you can also staple the long side. The best part of the year is seeing the children show their parents their artwork at the art show and the pride they have as the artwork is placed in the folders and they take them home. Their faces just beam!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Materials List
- Tagboard 24” X 36”
- Tempera Paint
- Brayers
- Decorative sponge rollers
- Gadgets
National Standards
A.4.2-Learn basic vocabulary related to their study of art
B.4.1-Understand that artists and cultures throughout history have used art to communicate ideas and to develop functions, structures, and designs
C.4.1-Explore the elements and principles of design
C.4.7-Develop basic skills to produce quality art
C.4.8-Explore the natural characteristics of materials and their possibilities and limitations
E.4.1-Communicate basic ideas by producing studio art forms, such as drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, jewelry, fibers, and ceramics
F.4.6-Learn simple media techniques
G.4.2-Know that artwork has meanings
J.4.2-Understand that the choice of materials and techniques influences the expressive quality of art
I.4.6-Understand that artists develop a personal style that reflects who they are
I hope you try to make portfolios with all your students and see their smiles and years later have them tell you they still have them at home. You will be able to see the pride they hold for the art they did.
