Engaging students in art isn't just about teaching techniques; it's about challenging perspectives and celebrating diversity. In his renowned children's book, Beautiful Blackbird, author and illustrator Ashley Bryan beautifully demonstrates this message, offering not just a story, but a powerful tool for art educators. Beautiful Blackbird tells the tale of a very unique bird with black feathers. All of the other birds in the forest were bright colors of red, yellow, green, and blue. Despite being different, Blackbird is hailed as the most beautiful. However, envy among the other birds leads them to seek external validation. They ask Blackbird to paint their feathers black. Blackbird's response emphasizes the importance of inner beauty. Author and Illustrator, Ashley Bryan Ashley Bryan's own journey adds another layer of significance to the narrative. Born in Harlem in 1923, Bryan faced discrimination but pursued his passion for art. His experiences, including serving in the segregated United States Army during World War II, underscore the importance of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. Beautiful Blackbird not only celebrates diversity but also challenges color stereotypes. Through Blackbird's character, Bryan delivers a timeless message: true beauty emanates from within. This message, though simple, holds profound relevance, urging students to reflect on their own identities and perceptions. Printmaking Lesson As educators, we have the opportunity to share this narrative to inspire creative exploration in the classroom. Printmaking, with its rich history and diverse techniques, offers a perfect avenue for such exploration. Drawing inspiration from Bryan's vibrant illustrations, students can delve into relief printing, a technique known for its bold contrasts and expressive potential. Starting with accessible materials like scratch-foam boards or linoleum blocks, students can sketch their bird designs directly onto the surface. The process of carving and printing not only builds technical skills but also encourages experimentation and self-expression. One of the beauties of printmaking lies in its reproducibility. Through small print editions, students can explore variations in color, composition, and background, each print offering a new opportunity for artistic exploration. Just as Blackbird stands out amidst the colorful forest, students can use bright colors to emphasize their bird figures against vibrant backgrounds. This not only adds visual interest but also reinforces the central theme of celebrating uniqueness and diversity. Students may also incorporate motifs from Bryan's illustrations, such as plants and/or other birds. Students can create compositions inspired by the original story. Through this process, they not only engage with the narrative on a deeper level but also develop their visual storytelling skills. Beautiful Blackbird serves as a beacon of inspiration for educators seeking to foster creativity and diversity in the classroom. By embracing printmaking, students can celebrate their individuality, express themselves artistically, and discover the beauty in their own uniqueness. Let us harness the power of art to inspire, empower, and uplift the next generation. What projects have you taught inspired by children’s books?
How do you approach printmaking with younger students? What are your favorite tips to make printmaking easier in the art room?
0 Comments
I taught elementary art for 7 years before transitioning to the high school level in 2019. During the COVID-shutdown in the spring of 2020, I decided to resign and move closer to home. I took a job teaching at a junior high in the fall of 2020. While I had taught sixth grade before at the elementary school, I had never worked in a junior high. I knew that I could adapt some of my elementary and high school lessons to the junior high level, but I still needed to create new lessons and units. Fortunately, I was not alone, and had the unique opportunity to work in an art department with one of my grad school classmates, Mrs. Baker. She had an established curriculum and lots of great ideas for teaching junior high students. I learned a lot from her in the two years we taught together. She encouraged me to teach units that were unfamiliar to me and outside of my comfort zone. For example, I had never taught stop motion animation or used plaster cloth with students before. I use many of these lessons with my students today. A Year-Long Curriculum for 7th Grade The biggest takeaway I have from those two years was the benefits of creating a curriculum focused on careers in art. Mrs. Baker and I taught units that allowed students an opportunity to work as animators, architects, and shoe designers. I really enjoyed teaching this curriculum every semester. I've carried some of those projects with me, and now I teach at a K-8 school. My middle school scholars have art every day for the entire year. I decided that my 7th grade curriculum would have a career focus. I've added new units to create an engaging year-long curriculum. Exploring a New Career Each Month
I first selected careers that I had some familiarity with, or previous experience teaching. Careers like: Animation, Special Effects Makeup, Architecture and Illustration came easily to me. For the remaining months of the school year, I tried to think of other careers in art that students would be naturally interested in. I chose Fashion, Video Game Design, and more to fill out the year. I looked for contemporary examples of artists working in each career to share with students. I made posters for inspiration and information. I would say half of the units were new for me, so this meant I would need to research and develop new lessons. I enjoy writing curriculum, so this part was fun for me. I never structured my curriculum this way before, so it was exciting to come up with new ideas and create resources. As much as I enjoy feeling confident teaching a lesson I've taught before, I equally like to keep my teaching fresh and try new ideas out. I'm really glad I was inspired to create a career-based art curriculum this year. Young Artists Acting as Professionals So far this year, my students have responded well to the curriculum. I find that it is particularly well-received by students who were not previously interested in art. Many of the career-based units require students to solve a problem. For example, an animator needs to describe a story or movement from beginning to end. A fashion designer needs to create an outfit for a particular customer and/or event. Students approach each assignment not necessarily considering what they are creating is art. In a way, I'm tricking them into enjoying the assignment. The downside of this curriculum is you may have students who are more interested in exploring media and techniques than experiencing a new career every month. Most recently, I've had a couple of students say, "I just want to paint." We have been heavily working in dry-media, drawing and collage lately. As I develop this curriculum more, I may need to address how to keep these students engaged with different media options for each career. Animation Unit Check out my Dongi Lee lesson plan! Special Effects Makeup Unit Advertising Unit Check out my Soda Brand Design Packet! Photography Unit Check out my Kehinde Wiley Unit Plan! Illustration Unit Check out my Adam Bertels Lesson Plan! Fashion Unit Interior Design Unit Additional Careers to Explore As we close out the year, my plan is to have students imagine careers in Architecture, Video Games, and Cake Decorating. I think these will also be engaging lessons for students to create new projects. In the past, I've had students work as individuals or in groups to create a 3D model of their dream home. Students used cardboard and paint to build their house. Some used the interior design plans they created as inspiration for their architecture project, but it was not a requirement. I want students to have the freedom to explore new ideas with the 3D materials. I'm still thinking of how I want to approach projects inspired by a career in video games. I plan to research existing lessons that may be online, or brainstorm with my class what they would like to do. If anyone has had success with this type of lesson, please share your ideas! For the cake decorating unit, I plan to use some inspiration from a former student. When my 8th graders were creating papier-mache sculptures last year, one student chose to create a slice of cake. After designing and painting her sculpture, she asked if she could make a second slice in a different style. I loved how they turned out and I think it could be a good design project for the end of the school year. Each student will create a basic slice form and then decorate it with an original idea. I'm looking forward to teaching this lesson for the first time. Stay tuned! What career-based art lessons have you found successful? What are some other art careers you think students may be interested in? Who are your favorite working artists/designers to inspire students? |
Mr. DeWilde's Blog
Archives
April 2024
|