Mixed-Media Flying Portraits
Students will create a mixed-media painting, inspired by Paula Nicho Cumez’s “Crossing Borders.” Each painting will be a self-portrait, with the student flying high in the sky. They will imagine a place they’d like to fly to, dream about, and what they might want to leave behind. Students will use watercolor paint, collage papers, and dry art media: colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc. Each student will write a short narrative about their finished piece.
The lesson is written for the 6th grade level, but may be adapted for younger or older students.
This 11-page lesson plan includes: information about Cumez, objectives, National Core Arts Standards, materials list, procedure (with step-by-step photos!) and assessment, as well as resources and student examples for inspiration.