Project Based Learning - Art collaboration in the schools

cover

This is the cover of the book "Sunshine for Lunch" that I collaborated on with first grade teacher Ellen Guest at Mills Lawn Elementary.  I went into the classroom with materials and images for the children to use to design their book.

Ellen and I helped them figure out a theme for each page of the book.  The students then painted watercolors on a 4x4 paper.  I photographed the paintings to duplicate for the actual book so that the students could have the originals.

The students also were guided to create torn-paper collages as a group activity.  2-3 students made various elements which came together to form the central image.  The 'kids' that they made are simply delightful.  See below.  Here is a photo of the first page.  I assembled everything into a large book, 12x16, with hand-made cover and binding.  I photographed each page and made a smaller version to duplicate.  Each child will receive their own book.  They can take their watercolor paintings and glue them into their own book!
Principal Matt Housh allowed us to use his printer for the work of copying.  Amy Minehart held an art class to help the students make home-made paper which incorporated seeds and petals.  The students took some home to their families and some was used to construct the 'big' book.Yellow Springs Arts Council helped along with numerous parents and community members.

page 1

working notes

Here are working notes for design ideas, things the students want to have in the book, themes, etc.  

Here are the beautiful 'kids' the students made.

Collage Fun with First Graders



kids doing great work with torn paper collage

   I've started working with a first grade class in the local elementary at the invitation of their very creative teacher.  We talked over her idea of helping her students make a book that focuses on the energy they get from the vegetable soup they made and enjoyed last fall.  We like the idea of helping them design the book, using their understanding of the food chain, based on the chain of energy from food, from the sun, etc. 

  I am helping with the hands-on part of providing the layout, inspiration, instruction on torn paper collage, watercolor sketches for the surrounds of the pages, etc.  This is our first set of collages - very nice, I think.

  We have a few more items to add to this page, including the words they'll help write.  Then I'll glue everything up and together we'll make a great big book!  It incorporates both science and art!

more to come.....

Libby