Introduction artifact

 

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Blocky Bots - foam plate printmaking

 Blocky Bots - foam plate printmaking

Materials- Sketch paper, pencil, foam plate, printmaking paper (watercolor paper or mixed media paper should also work), Print making ink (watercolor soluble is best), ink rollers, and flat plates/tray or surfaces to roll ink onto.

 

 Sketch, Etch, and Print!

 Section 1 Sketching-

I’m giving the students sketch paper and I will have them trace the outline of their foam plates. To ensure their sketches will fit onto the foam plates. 

Students will then sketch out their blocky bots! I have a quick video tutorial on how I broke down the steps. 

Any words students write will have to written mirrored/ backwards. This can be a hassle for any age group. You will most likely have to help students individually if you give them the option to add letters, words, numbers, and sometimes symbols. 

Optionally they can sharpie their sketches. 

Students will then cut out their sketches to the size of the foam plates.

 

 

 Section 2 Etching- 

Students will then Emboss their sketch onto their foam plates . For my project I gave students 6” X 9” foam plates. 

Students can hold the paper to the foam plates or optionally you can tape the paper on the plate for extra stability. 

Students will emboss their sketch onto their foam through the paper. Students can use pencils for this. Unless you have embossing tools available, careful not to give your students too sharp or small of embossing tools since they can easily poke through their foam. 

Students will then remove the sketch paper and directly onto the foam outline their sketches again. To ensure their embossed/etched lines are deep enough. 

 

Tips- Guide students on the pencil pressure. Using terms like “light as feather” when sketching.

Make sure students aren’t using too much pressure when embossing so they don’t poke through their foam. keep the foam as sturdy as possible through the process. 

Section 3 Printing-  

As a student teacher I get the benefits of being able to set up two station to help students 1 on 1. Depending on class size, material available, and grade level. You can trust students to print independently at stations. 

Accommodations: Tape is your friend here. Taping down your sketch paper to the foam plate can help students emboss their sketch onto the foam paper. Further more taping the foam plate onto sturdy paper or cardboard can further sturdy the foam plate. Instead of having to fiddle with the smaller 6” X 9” paper or foam. 

Extension Activity - After the print has dried before students cut out their prints. Students can cut them into book marks depending on the size of foam plate you had them use. Simply leave enough room for a whole punch and pull some string/ yarn for a tassel. 

 

Basil's printmaking

 Exploring the printmaking medium with foam plates and printmaking ink. A very accessible medium students could essentially use any clean foam plate, etch in their design, and print it with the right inks. A very safe intro to the printmaking medium. 

As part of the assignment, I etched in a frog. One of my favorite animals!

Extension: Students can try to sketch out their creature in an environment. Then etch their design into a plate. Have it be a 2 color print depending on grade/skill level.

Tias clay creatures

 

Students learned about using the basics of clay such as making a pinch pot, scoring, slip, and using air dry clay. Creating a bobble head of a creature of their choice. Engaging the students creativity.

I created a bobblehead of my favorite Pokémon Bulbasaur.   

Extension: Students can use what they learned to make a pinch pot related to their creature or a plant pot the bobblehead can sit in. Students could also make a 'plate' their creatures can sit in. Making a mini-environment for them. 

Rico’s flowers

Students learned about origami folding and origami techniques. Making a tulip garden with their classmates. 

 I made three flowers, two larger and one smaller. Even though we used the same origami technique. Each flower was unique in color, size, and folding techniques.

Extension: Students can draw patterns on their paper before folding the paper into a tulip or learn a new origami design. 

Jalyssa- if Picasso built a snowman

 

Students learned about Picasso and his artworks. As well as applying what they learned to a guided practice of drawing a snowman. Drawing in an abstract style similar to Picasso's. Learning watercolor techniques. As well as learning to use pencil, sharpie, crayons, and watercolor in a multimedia artwork. 

Extension: Students can write a paragraph on Picasso's work and how the art style of their snowman reflects Picasso's work. 

3rd Grade Ocean watercolor exploration

A watercolor exploration activity. Students learned about different watercolor techniques. Then they took what they learned to make underwater landscapes with creatures. Mainly exploring using crayons as a wax resist and painting watercolor over their creatures. 

Extension: students can write a paragraph on the creatures they chose to paint and at least one unique fact about one of their creatures.